Can lives change overnight? Paramvir Singh Cheema believes so. The actor, who featured in Tabbar (2021) and Chamak (2023), broke out this January with Black Warrant. He says that ever since Vikramaditya Motwane’s prison drama dropped on Netflix, he has received multiple congratulatory messages from directors and actors.

“I got a message that read, ‘Hi, this is Arjun Kapoor.’ I thought it’s fake. But then, it really was Arjun. A lot of directors messaged to appreciate my work. I was not expecting this to happen,” he smiles.

In the Zahan Kapoor-led series set in the 1980s, Cheema plays a fellow jailer adjusting to his new role while tension brews in his hometown in Punjab. The actor reveals that he auditioned with the scene that sees him worried about his family in the aftermath of Indira Gandhi’s assassination in 1984.

“When I auditioned with that scene, I told Vikram sir, ‘I have to do it. It’s important that the right person plays this role.’ Hailing from Punjab, I’ve seen families getting separated, or someone leaving home and never coming back. [During the shoot], Vikram sir was happy with the way I portrayed my character’s outburst. I was worried [about a possible backlash] as my family is in Punjab and anything can happen these days. But then, Vikram sir made the scene so beautiful and human,” he shares.

It’s easy to see that Cheema consciously chooses stories that reflect his roots. “Identity is important to me. Every role I choose should show my identity.”

His upcoming works are testament to that. The actor brings the Punjabi music industry’s underbelly to the fore with Chamak 2, and the 1971 Indo-Pakistan war to the screen with Border 2. “I gravitate towards stories that bring out Punjab’s reality. People say you need guts to do this. Why do you need guts to speak about your lived-in experience? I want my stories to show the truth of our times.”

He hopes Border 2—starring Sunny Deol, Varun Dhawan and Diljit Dosanjh—will be his gateway to mainstream cinema. “The language of cinema is different. In Border 2, you can’t be subtle. I’ve been a fan of Border [1997]. So, when Border 2 came, I told myself I have to do this, even if it requires passing on something else,” says the actor, who has also bagged an Aanand L Rai film.

For long, Punjabi pop numbers were known for groovy beats, catchy lyrics and the artistes’ swag. But the murder of Sidhu Moose Wala in May 2022 brought to the forefront the underbelly of the Punjabi music industry. Over a year-and-a-half since Moose Wala’s untimely demise comes Chamak, a musical thriller that tells the story of a Punjabi singer shot dead in broad daylight. When we get on a call with creator-director Rohit Jugraj, he says that the series doesn’t flinch from looking at the underbelly of the Punjabi music scene.

“Punjab is a land that reveres music the most. There, music is big, and the amount of money singers make is shocking. When money increases, crime follows. I have seen extortion of artistes. The underbelly of Punjab and crime are age-old issues; people are only hearing about it now. The biggest Punjabi stars don’t live in the state, they live abroad. This is not because of Sidhu Moose Wala’s [murder]. It has been happening since 1986, two years before folk artiste [Amar Singh] Chamkila was killed. Artistic jealousy is to the point that they can kill each other. Artistes have been shot dead while performing at shaadis, like Dilshad Akhtar was in 1996. What boils my blood is that people didn’t know about it till a global icon died.”

The Sony LIV series— starring Paramvir Singh Cheema, Mohit Malik and Isha Talwar—tells the story of pop star Kaala, who returns to India from Canada to unravel the mystery around the death of his father, who was a popular singer in Punjab. It’s evident that the story is not inspired by Moose Wala’s killing. But his death had a huge impact on the project. “We spoke about him every day on set. Not a day passed when we didn’t listen to his music or think of him,” rues the director. 

The late pop star was originally to star in Chamak. The director recalls, “I had reached out to Sidhu bhai for a cameo in the second episode. He had said, ‘Veere, yeh karenge!’ But it wasn’t meant to happen. When [his murder] happened, we were yet to take the show on floors. I have to give it to Saugata Mukherjee [head of content], Danish Khan [business head] at Sony LIV that they decided to make this show. After Sidhu’s death, I thought they would back out. But they went all in and said, ‘Let’s make it well.’ They gave me the freedom to tell the story unabashedly. And they decided to retain his mention in the series as well.”

Another reason why the show matters is the timing of its release. Coming amid the strong anti-Khalistani wave from peace supporters across the world, the show takes us into the psyche of Punjabi musicians. Major pop stars like A P Dhillon, Shubh have had to cancel shows due to the hate directed at them. With Chamak, Jugraj has tried to show that the sanctity of music and the passion for uniting people through art is the core essence of Punjabi artistes.

“The music of Punjab is pure. There are two states in India that focus on culture more than religion—Bengal and Punjab. Punjabi music is far bigger than politics. Artistes, musicians, filmmakers have all strongly condemned terrorism of any kind. No one stands by that thought process.”

The director hopes that Chamak will have a second season, in which he wants to capture Punjabi music’s impact on the global scene. “This is the year Diljit Dosanjh played at Coachella. His attire, his music are now a phenomenon, and that has been highlighted in the show.” So, has Dosanjh made a cameo in the upcoming show? “Maybe,” he signs off with a grin.

Chamak; (right) Rohit Jugraj

Sometimes, beyond the razzle-dazzle of stardom is an artiste coming to terms with his fame, grappling with the perks and perils of it. With Chamak set against the vibrant world of Punjab’s music industry, director Rohit Jugraj attempts to provide a glimpse into the triumphs, trials and tribulations faced by musicians seeking to make their mark in the world. Actor Isha Talwar, who plays a key role in the SonyLIV series, remembers saying an instant yes to the project.

“I play a girl-next-door in Chamak that delves into the nitty-gritty of the Punjabi music industry. This show goes beyond the glitz and glamour to explore the artistes’ journey and their complex relationship with fame. It’s close to my own journey in many ways,” she smiles.

The actor, who will be seen alongside Paramvir Singh Cheema and Manoj Pahwa, says she learnt to play the dhol for the offering. “No Indian wedding or party is complete without a Punjabi number. But what’s interesting is how these artistes navigate their way in big industries,” says Talwar, who was recently seen in Saas Bahu Aur Flamingo.

Over the years, Punjabi music has gained global popularity. A prime example is Diljit Dosanjh’s recent performance at Coachella 2023. But the Punjabi music industry has had its turbulent chapters too. In May 2022, popular rapper Sidhu Moose Wala was shot dead, and the episode revealed a web of gang-related violence in the state.

Asked whether the series is based on a particular pop star, Talwar says, “Chamak is a fictitious show that peeks into the behind-the-scenes [activity] of an artiste’s life.”