By Subhash K Jha
Mumbai, Aug 1: Jatt & Juliet in 2012 and now its sequel, have broken all previous records at the Punjabi boxoffice, making a superstar out of actress Neeru Bajwa who struggled for years trying to find her foothold in Hindi cinema and through the television industry. But nothing seemed to work for this sprightly girl until fate took her to Punjabi cinema.
And now with the two Jatt & Juliet films Neeru is known as the Hema Malini of Punjabi cinema.
The Hindi remake rights have been been bought by Rakesh Upadhyay. Apparently Rakesh who is closely associated with Akshay Kumar, has sounded out Akshay to play Fateh Singh the Zany Punjabi villager who who goes to outlandish lengths to get a Canadian citizenship.
In the original Punjabi star Diljit Dosanjh played the title role.
Neeru who plays the perky dress designer Pooja in Punjabi has been penciled in to encore her part in Hindi.
Neeru chooses to be diplomatic about the crossover into the realm of the remake.But she can’t get over the turn of fortune in her life and career.
Says Neeru, “I’d say my journey has been a long and tough one. But it’s been enriching and fulfilling.I think life is about finding one’s own space in this world. And I think I did just that. I still believe that language is no bar to good cinema.”
Neeru says she had a gut-feeling that Punjabi cinema had the potential to take her career out of the rut that it got into in Hindi cinema. “I saw Punjabi cinema as a growing industry. So I stuck to my basic rules of life. No compromise. I did my work sincerely and passionately.I just went with the flow.”
Neeru who has been part of several Hindi films including Ram Gopal Varma’s Phoonk 2 and Chirag Paswan’s debut film Miley Na Miley Hum is game to cross over into Hindi cinema again. “I’d love to be a part of Hindi or any other cinema. But now I crave to satisfy the actor within me.Language is no barrier.”
Of course Neeru is aware she has a responsibility towards the Punjabi audience. “I know I’ve to live up to their expectations. But I am not bogged down by ambitions.I like to keep my life and my aspirations simple and uncomplicated You may think I’m oldfashioned. But I believe hard work,honesty, patience and God’s blessings are what pays in life.”