Diljit Dosanjh, the acclaimed singer-actor, recently opened up about his early career struggles, revealing that he used to perform at birthday parties and weddings for as little as Rs 5,000 to make ends meet. In an interview on the podcast “Q with Tom Power,” Dosanjh shared how his family’s poverty drove him to accept every opportunity that came his way.
Family’s Financial Struggles Shaped His Work Ethic
Dosanjh described his upbringing as “below average,” stating, “If you got sick, you wouldn’t have money to go to the doctor, so don’t get sick because you don’t have money.” This financial insecurity motivated him to dream of becoming “rich and famous,” as he believed financial stability was a necessity.
After the release of his debut album “Ishq Da Uda Ada” in the early 2000s, a few people approached his music company to book him for birthday party performances. “My album came out in 2002 and 4-5 people came to my company and said we want to book this guy for a birthday party… So when they gave me the money, I thought this was the path,” he recalled.
Never Said No to Any Performance Opportunity
Dosanjh emphasized that he accepted every gig, regardless of the pay. “I didn’t say no to anybody. If someone offered Rs 5,000, Rs 10,000, Rs 15,000, I said yes. I didn’t say no to anybody. I went everywhere day and night,” he said. He noted that live performances soon became his biggest source of income, calling the earnings “amazing” and noting, “There’s so much money in that field.”
Shift from Weddings to Concerts
The actor-singer also explained why he eventually stopped performing at weddings. Some senior artists in the Punjabi music industry looked down upon such performances. “The senior artists from my field didn’t like that I do too many shows. And I thought, ‘Oh my God, you guys think that if I’m not doing wedding songs I’m done? No, because I love Michael Jackson. Everyone used to say that Punjabi music will not go to that level. And then I decided that I won’t do wedding shows, I’ll do concerts,” Dosanjh stated.
Recent Film Success
Dosanjh was most recently seen in filmmaker Imtiaz Ali’s “Main Vaapas Aaunga,” also starring Naseeruddin Shah, Sharvari, and Vedang Raina. The film, released in theatres on June 12, grossed over Rs 75 crore at the worldwide box office.
