When Imtiaz Ali began working on Amar Singh Chamkila, he knew he wasn’t just telling a story he was revisiting the life, myth, and legacy that still resonates in Punjab. However, even he didn’t expect how emotional and memorable the filmmaking journey would become. The film released on Netflix on 12th April 2024 and soon made its way to the global trending lists. With its recent International Emmy nomination for TV Movie/Mini Series, along with Diljit Dosanjh’s nomination for Best Performance, Imtiaz reflects on the behind-the-scenes experiences that have stayed with him long after filming ended.
Imtiaz Ali reveals surreal memories from the sets of Amar Singh Chamkila as film heads to International Emmys: “It was challenging, but it turned into something spectacular”
He remembers vividly the day the crew returned to Mehsampur to recreate the death scene of Chamkila, a moment so raw in Punjab’s collective memory that even decades later, the air around it feels altered. “We were shooting the death scene at the exact spot where Chamkila was killed,” Imtiaz recalled. “What struck all of us was how nothing had changed. The house, the patch of ground outside it, even the koti where he had eaten lunch before he was shot, everything was exactly the same after 34 years.” After piecing together accounts from locals, the team located the precise point where Chamkila had collapsed. “Watching Diljit playing Chamkila shoot for the scene and fall to his death on that same spot, it was bizarre, surreal, almost unsettling,” Imtiaz admitted.
But the film had moments of electric joy too, Imtiaz adds, as he talks about the one memory that comes to his mind every time he talks about the film, “the most unique aspect of this film was the live performances of Diljit Dosanjh and Parineeti, especially in the akhadas. For Imtiaz, who had never filmed live singing before, these scenes were a revelation. “It was challenging, but it turned into something spectacular. With live musicians onstage, and Diljit and Parineeti singing in real time before large crowds in recreated concert setups across Punjab, the energy was unmatched. Every word you hear in the film was recorded live. Nothing has been altered. The music you feel is the music we felt in that moment.”
Through these memories, it becomes evident that for Imtiaz Ali, creating Amar Singh Chamkila was far more than a filmmaking assignment it was a deeply personal and immersive journey. The film’s emotional depth, its musical energy, and its careful authenticity were born from moments like these moments that shaped not only the narrative on screen but also the people behind it.
Today, with the film nominated at the International Emmy Awards for TV Movie/Mini-Series and Diljit Dosanjh recognised in the Best Performance category, the journey feels complete. Imtiaz and Diljit have already travelled to New York, carrying with them the support of their team and the legacy of Chamkila. The winners will be announced on 24th November at the gala ceremony, but for those who worked behind the scenes, the sense of achievement was felt long before the awards night.
Also Read: Imtiaz Ali and team kick off shoot of Diljit Dosanjh, Sharvari, Vedang Raina starrer in Punjab
More Pages: Amar Singh Chamkila Box Office Collection , Amar Singh Chamkila Movie Review
BOLLYWOOD NEWS – LIVE UPDATES
Catch us for latest Bollywood News, New Bollywood Movies update, Box office collection, New Movies Release , Bollywood News Hindi, Entertainment News, Bollywood Live News Today & Upcoming Movies 2025 and stay updated with latest hindi movies only on Bollywood Hungama.
