Diljit Dosanjh Wanted To Reject Jatt & Juliet Due to Issues With Producer: 'But He Gave Me Blank Cheque'

Punjabi superstar Diljit Dosanjh confessed he almost did not star in the Jatt & Juliet franchise. The actor, at the trailer launch of Jatt & Juliet 3, revealed he was about to reject the first film of the franchise due to his differences with the film’s producer, Darshan Singh Grewal. However, when the filmmaker offered a blank cheque, Diljit’s life took a massive turn. Jatt & Juliet released in 2011, with Diljit sharing the screen with Neeru Bajwa. The film emerged as the biggest blockbuster of the Punjabi film industry at the time.

“When Jatt & Juliet 1 was being made, Darshan Singh Grewal — the producer of Jatt & Juliet. We had problems with each other. So when the movie offer came to me, I wanted to go and reject the film in person. I had gone to his office to refuse the offer because of our history. When I reached his office, he signed a blank cheque in filmy style and told me, ‘Paaji, fill the amount, I want to do a film with you.’ I didn’t foresee this,” Diljit Dosanjh confessed.

“I took my manager at the time aside and discussed, ‘Now what do we do? We cannot refuse this na.’ I then asked who draws the most money in the Punjabi industry right now. He got me the amount and I decided to put that sum with TDS so that the producer could withdraw his offer. He replied, ‘Add another one lakh to the amount and sign the film,'” he added.

The actor-singer revealed the team was then sent to Canada and the filmmakers ran out of funds midway. The producers then reached out to White Hill Studios and after discussions, brought them on board as a co-producer. The filming resumed but the film ran out of funds yet again. The team then turned towards Speed Records for help and they came on board the film. Diljit credited Darshan for not only making the film but also upgrading his pay scale in the Punjabi film industry.

“After the first Jatt & Juliet became a hit, Darshan sir came to me again and offered me a blank cheque for the sequel. Now, I decided to put in an amount that no one in the industry gets. My (pay) standard was raised because of this film,” he said.

Jatt & Juliet 3 returned 12 years after the second film in the franchise released. The film is set to release on June 27.