‘Diljit Dosanjh and Kareena Kapoor never sat on Udta Punjab sets,’ when director Abhishek Chaubey revealed insights

‘Diljit Dosanjh and Kareena Kapoor never sat on Udta Punjab sets,’ when director Abhishek Chaubey revealed insights

• Abhishek Chaubey values acting over physical perfection in casting decisions
• Diljit Dosanjh's performance in Udta Punjab praised for authenticity
• Kareena Kapoor showed discipline and avoided makeup to suit the film's tone

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Filmmaker Abhishek Chaubey has always believed that performance matters far more than surface-level perfection. Known for his gritty, character-driven storytelling in films like Ishqiya and Udta Punjab, Chaubey has often spoken about prioritising acting truth over conventional notions of star image or physical appearance.

In a recent interview, the director revisited his experience of working with Diljit Dosanjh and Kareena Kapoor, sharing revealing behind-the-scenes insights from the sets of Udta Punjab.

Speaking to Mashable India, Chaubey explained his casting philosophy with refreshing honesty. “I can compromise with how my characters look, but never with the acting. If the acting is right, it covers for the character’s appearance,” he said, underlining a belief that guided one of his most interesting casting decisions in Udta Punjab.

Recalling the conception of Diljit’s character Sartaj Singh, Chaubey admitted that the actor was nothing like what the team had initially imagined.

“When we had conceived the character of Sartaj in Udta Punjab, he was supposed to be this mountain of a man. A proper six-foot guy with a heavy voice. Typical Punjabi look,” the director said.

“But when we did the casting, we cast Diljit Dosanjh, who looked nothing like we imagined for the character. But he was a great actor. He is an actual Sardar.”

That leap of faith paid off. Diljit’s understated, deeply human performance became one of the film’s most praised elements, proving Chaubey’s point that authenticity on screen comes from conviction, not just physical resemblance.

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The filmmaker also shared lesser-known anecdotes about Kareena Kapoor’s working style, revealing a side of the superstar that often goes unnoticed. Referring to a behind-the-scenes photograph with the actor, Chaubey said, “Kareena gives this expression that she doesn’t care about what you are saying, but that’s not true. She actually listens very carefully.”

One of the most striking observations Chaubey made was about the discipline and curiosity both Kareena and Diljit brought to the set. “I will tell you something very interesting about Diljit and Kareena. They never sat on set,” he said. “Usually, what happens after an actor gives his or her shot, they either return to their vanity or sit on the back with a book or so, but these two would never sit. These two would just follow me everywhere I go.”

According to Chaubey, this behaviour had nothing to do with insecurity or image management. It stemmed from genuine involvement in the filmmaking process. “Kareena is a superstar and yet she would always stand behind me and so did Diljit Dosanjh. I would ask him to sit, but he never would. I would shoot in various locations in the village and Kareena would always stand and watch,” he added.

The director went on to praise Kareena’s instinctive understanding of cinema. “There is this great thing about Kareena. She is a true blue industry kid and she has an instinctive understanding of the kind of film and the performance that is expected of her,” he said. “Whether it is a David Dhawan film or a Govind Nihalani film, she knows how to mould herself.”

Chaubey also revealed that Kareena often resisted conventional beautification on set. “She knew what kind of film we were making. She was aware of the kind of pitch that was needed for the performance. She wouldn’t put on makeup. I used to request her, ‘thoda makeup karlo,’ but she wouldn’t. She was amazing.”

Released in 2016, Udta Punjab starred Shahid Kapoor, Alia Bhatt, Kareena Kapoor, and Diljit Dosanjh. Made on a budget of around Rs 34 crore, the hard-hitting drama went on to earn close to Rs 100 crore globally, emerging as one of the highest-grossing films of the year and leaving behind stories that continue to resonate, both on screen and off it.