Gippy Grewal Discusses the Impact of 'Akaal' on Punjabi Cinema's Hard-Hitting Roles

Synopsis

Gippy Grewal's film 'Akaal' aims to reshape the Punjabi cinema landscape by showcasing intense roles. He believes this venture can change audience perceptions and prove that serious narratives have a place in an industry known for comedies.

Key Takeaways

‘Akaal’ challenges traditional Punjabi cinema norms.
The film explores complex human emotions.
Gippy Grewal believes audiences are open to serious narratives.
Horse riding posed significant challenges during filming.
‘Akaal’ features a talented ensemble cast.

Mumbai, April 1 (NationPress) With his latest project, ‘Akaal’, Punjabi actor-singer Gippy Grewal aims to disrupt the conventional boundaries of Punjabi cinema, demonstrating that intense, hard-hitting roles can thrive in an industry typically characterized by light-hearted comedies and family dramas.

In a recent discussion, he expressed his views on the revolutionary potential of 'Akaal', a film that explores the deeper, more intricate aspects of human emotions. He asserts that this film could transform the audience's understanding of intense roles in Punjabi cinema. Gippy stated to IANS, “In Punjabi cinema, it’s not just about comedies—there are other genres as well. However, comedy films often become the biggest successes, making it seem like they dominate the industry. But if a role like the one in Akaal achieves success, it will definitely alter perceptions. People will recognize that serious, impactful roles can also resonate.”

The ‘Ardaas’ actor further elaborated, “I believe the Punjabi audience is always open to a great film. This film is not solely focused on action. While it does contain action akin to major films like Baahubali, it is not an endless sequence of action. It is built around a coherent story that explains the events and their context. The action is integral, but it serves the narrative. The entire screenplay is structured around it.”

When questioned about the most challenging aspect of filming ‘Akaal’, Gippy Grewal revealed, “The hardest part was managing the horse work. Most of the actors were inexperienced riders, which was difficult. Nowadays, there are simpler methods to create the illusion of horse riding using props, but I wanted to avoid that as much as possible. It wouldn’t have the same impact. You don’t receive the full experience unless you’re actually on a real horse.”

“I had to persuade the actors quite a bit, and I even rode a horse myself for the film. It’s a challenge since animals can be unpredictable. There were moments when the horses threw the actors off, and they got frightened. This added to the difficulty, especially during a war scene where we needed to ensure everyone’s safety. That was a significant hurdle.”

Gippy Grewal not only stars in ‘Akaal’ but also serves as the director and writer for the film. The project features a talented ensemble cast, including Nimrat Khaira, Apinderdeep Singh, Mita Vashisht, Prince Kanwaljit Singh, Nikitin Dheer, Gurpreet Ghuggi, Shinda Grewal, Ekom Grewal, and Jaggi Singh in significant roles.

‘Akaal’ is scheduled to hit theaters on 10th April, 2025, in both Punjabi and Hindi.