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Ammy Virk is looking back at the misrepresentation of Sikhs in Bollywood and calling on the industry to give back to comic stereotypes.
Ammy Virk is more than just an actor or singer. He is a storyteller who easily slid between the worlds of music, drama and comedy. As he prepares for the release of one of his most beloved Punjabi comedies, Saungkan Saungno 2, Ami reflects on the evolving portrayal of Sikhs in films, culture and mainstream Indian cinema.
Ammy Virk opens up about the portrayal of Sikhs stereotypes in Bollywood, saying the industry has often reduced it to comic relief. He advocates more subtle and respectful expressions.
For decades, Sikh characters in Hindi films were often surrounded by narrow stereotypes. But the story is beginning to change. Ammy, along with Diljit Dosanjh, represents a new wave of artists pushing boundaries and traverseing substantial and key roles that reflect the depth and diversity of the community.
“I don’t completely condemn the Hindi film industry for that,” Amy says honestly when asked about the long-standing typecast. “They saw this kind of stereotype around them. If you go to Sri Hazru Sahib in Maharashtra, you will find Sikhs who have lived there for generations. Their appearance and culture are very different from that in Punjab.
However, he didn’t completely remove the film from the hook. “Of course, there were also some character assassinations. The Sikhs may have been shown to be sophisticated too. The idea of Sikh prime ministers, thinkers and pop stars. They also represent who we are,” he adds. “But now I’m happy with the change. People like Diljit Paazi are doing very well and representing us worldwide.”
Ammy’s latest film reunites with longtime collaborators Sargun Mehta and Nimrat Khaira. Their off-screen friendship was a key factor in creating memorable moments on screen. Reminiscing the particularly emotional scene from Qismat 2, Ammy shares: “It was frozen. Sargan and I were filming the climax. Tania was in a hurry to get a blanket, and we were still cracking.
With Saunkan Saunkne 2 preparing for a theatrical release on May 30th, Ammy is a force in Punjabi cinemas based on tradition, but constantly pushing forward with richer and more subtle representations of his people and their stories.
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