Anjum Batra, who portrays 'Kesar Tikki', closest friend of 'Amar Singh Chamkila' recently opened up about Tikki's family reaction to the film.
Imtiaz Ali’s latest film based on the life of the Punjabi singer, Amar Singh Chamkila, starring Diljit Dosanjh in the titular role and Parineeti Chopra as the singer’s second wife, Amarjot Kaur, has left the audience speechless. Be it the gripping story of the singer, the director’s cinematography or the fabulous acting of the star cast, Amar Singh Chamkila has undoubtedly left an impression on the audience's minds ever since it was released on Netflix on April 12, 2024.
As shown in the latest film, Chamkila’s closest friend, ‘Kesar Tikki’, helped the singer at every step of his career. Anjum Batra, who played the latter's role, opened up in an interview with Midday, about what ‘Tikki’s daughter told him. He mentioned that Chamkila’s friend passed away in 2024 and he regretted not meeting him. Revealing that Tikki’s family has invited him to their home in Ludhiana, Anjum added:
“Tikki passed away in January 2024. I regret that I never got to meet him through the film’s making. But his daughter texted me three days ago after watching the film, saying, ‘You look just like my dad.’ The family has invited me to their home in Ludhiana; I’ll meet them soon. They also sent me old pictures of Tikki sir and Chamkila ji.”
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When Chamkila and Amarjot were brutally assassinated in Mehsampur in March 1988, Kesar Tikki was seen blaming himself for their death as he had cursed them when they left for Canada without him. In the same interaction, Anjum revealed that he liked that character hook. The actor also shared how he prepared for his role as ‘Kesar Tikki’ in the film.
Anjum said that even before the filming started, he had to work on superficial things like the weight and appearance of the character. Further sharing how Imtiaz Ali had interacted with Chamkila’s closest friend, the actor shared that the filmmaker knew how exactly to play the role of Tikki. In his words:
“Before the film started, I worked on superficial things like weight gain and matching the look. Imtiaz sir had interacted with Tikki ji. So, he knew exactly how the part had to be played. He is the kind of director who fills you with so much material that you know the man and the performance just comes out when the camera rolls.”
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The year 2024 proved to be lucky for Anjum Batra. After the success of Netflix’s courtroom drama, Mamla Legal Hai, which has been renewed for a second season, the actor is basking in the success of Amar Singh Chamkila as well. Previously, he has been a part of projects like Force, 83, The Dirty Picture, Dev.D, and others. During his conversation with Midday, Anjum said:
“Actors are hungry for love and validation. It has taken me nearly 15 years to come to this point where I am getting recognition.”
What are your thoughts on Anjum Batra’s revelations about Kesar Tikki’s daughter’s review of his portrayal of Tikki on screen? Let us know.
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