'You will end your career': Parineeti Chopra was suggested not to do Amar Singh Chamkila

New Delhi, India

Imtiaz Ali's Amar Singh Chamkila has been dominating the headlines since its release on Netflix. The movie has earned widespread acclaim for its story, the performance of the two lead cast Diljit Dosanjh and Parineeti Chopra, direction and music. 

The biographical drama has also marked a significant milestone in Parineeti's career. In the movie, she played the role of Chamkila's wife Amarjot. For the unversed, Parineeti chose to work with Imtiaz by leaving Sandeep Reddy Vanga's Animal. Starring Ranbir Kapoor, the movie was a blockbuster. 

''Do not do this film, you will end your career"

During her recent interview with Bollywood Hungama, Parineeti revealed the shocking reaction she got when she told her co-stars that she would gain weight for her role. 

Recalling when she told her co-stars after taking up this role, she said, "I remember telling a lot of my fellow actors that I am doing this film and I would put on weight for it. A lot of them said, 'Are you mad? Are you out of your mind? You're going to end your career. But my mind said, 'No, I will definitely do this film.''

While Parineeti was working on this movie, she lost out on many projects due to significant weight gain for the role. 

“As I was shooting for Chamkila for over two years, I lost out on a lot of work. I looked my worst, and people were speculating I am pregnant, I have done Botox, and all sorts of rumours were there about me. I was hardly seen on red carpets,'' she said.

Further, the Ishaqzaade actress added that she didn't care about people's views on how she looked before adding that an actress like Vidya Balan is her inspiration. 

Parineeti added, “I have not been seen around because I am looking like this (pointing towards herself). I have still not lost weight, and I am still not looking like myself. But I don't care. People like Vidya Balan inspire me with films like The Dirty Picture. Even in Hollywood, people transform themselves and lose everything. That's the kind of actor I am.”

The 35-year-old star who got married to politician Raghav Chaddha in 2023 said, that she got married with the weight she had gained for Chamkila. 

“I got married with all the weight that I had gained, so whenever I look at my wedding pictures, I will only be reminded of Chamkila,” she added.

Reacting to the overwhelming responses to her performance, Parineeti shared a gratitude post on her Instagram. Sharing a still of herself from the film, the actress wrote that she's overwhelmed with the response she has received. 

"Currently curled up in my blanket. Overwhelmed with your words, your calls, and the movie reviews. (Tears are not stopping)“PARINEETI IS BACK.”These words are ringing loud. Hadn't thought of this. Yes I am back, and not going anywhere."

WION's review of Amar Singh Chamkila reads, "With the help of real-life footage of the two singers, their photos and animations, Imtiaz Ali creates a fascinating and immersive experience that captivates your attention in every frame. Chamkila is much more than an AR Rahman musical. It is about caste politics in Punjab where a Dalit's success is hard to digest for Puritans. It is about the loneliness that the protagonist feels throughout his lifetime, even when he has reached giddy heights of stardom It is about two artists who provided so much happiness in times of unrest and riots through their music yet were mere providers for their families and loved ones- and nothing else. It is also about artistic freedom and artists challenging the religious authority with their powerful work- something that is slowly diminishing in current times across the world." Read more here