Parineeti and Team Chamkila at the launch of a trailer
Mumbai:
Actor Parineeti Chopra on Thursday said she had to audition for the role Amarjot in Netflix Amar Singh Chamkilaa film that also fulfilled her wish to work with director Imtiaz Ali.
Chopra, who previously lent her voice to songs from her films Meri Pyaari Bindu And Kesari‘, said Ali and the film’s composer AR Rahman wanted to test her singing skills before casting her in the biopic on the life of murdered Punjabi singer Amar Singh Chamkila.
She stars opposite Diljit Dosanjh, who plays the title role in the film.
“I remember it was a Zoom call with Rahman sir, Imtiaz sir and Diljit. I thought it would be just an introduction, but then Rahman sir asked me, ‘Do you know how to sing?’ I replied, ‘I love to sing.’ And then he said, ‘Okay, sing and show.’ “I sang ‘Dama Dam Mast Qalandar’ and all the Punjabi songs I could sing. That’s how he auditioned me,” Chopra said at the trailer launch of the film here.
The film revolves around the life and times of Amar Singh Chamkilaa popular Punjabi singer of the 1980s who was shot dead in 1988 along with his singer wife Amarjot.
Chopra said she was waiting for a collaboration with Ali, known for films like Jab we met, Rock star And Love Aaj Kalfor almost a decade.
“I waited more than nine years to work with him. The day I came into the film, I made a list of directors and the gentleman’s name was number one. Even though I had the feeling that he never would work with me, I still put him on the list. Now it’s happened,” she said.
Working on Amar Singh Chamkila has spoiled her, the actor added.
“’Chamila’ has ruined the experience of every other film I will ever do now because I have worked with the best director, co-star and music director. I was allowed to immortalize a person, musician and legend like Amarjot ji (on screen). I’m curious to see what I’ll do in my next film.
“To shoot Chamkila was like meditation. It was full of music and yet it was the calmest, most disciplined, beautiful and harmonious set… By the end of the day I felt fulfilled. It used to feel like I was coming back from a gurdwara. I think I have done something good in my life because sir gave me this film,” Chopra said.
Amar Singh Chamkila will stream on Netflix from April 12.