Oct 05, 2026 7:30pm IST
Sunny Singh on Ranbir Kapoor as Lord Rama in ‘Ramayana’: ‘I have found him to be a beautiful soul’ (EXCLUSIVE)
Sunny Singh is returning to his roots with his Punjabi debut “Thaapi.” He looks at it as a homecoming of sorts after years of playing Punjabi characters in Hindi films. The “Pyaar Ka Punchnama” and “Sonu Ke Titu Ki Sweety” actor is also keen to revisit his family’s action legacy and hopes to take on an action film. Singh also opens up about Ranbir Kapoor and Nitesh Tiwari’s much-awaited “Ramayana,” which he is excited to watch.
You have often played Punjabi characters in films such as ‘Pyaar Ka Punchnama’ and ‘Sonu Ke Titu Ki Sweety’. Does making your Punjabi film debut feel like a homecoming of sorts?
Absolutely. I was born and brought up in Mumbai, but my roots are in Punjab. I have always wanted Punjabi cinema to grow. I remember when “Jatt & Juliet” became a huge hit and did great numbers; it was a very proud moment for us. After “Pyaar Ka Punchnama” and “Sonu Ke Titu Ki Sweety,” there were discussions about me doing Punjabi films, but for some reason, they never materialized. Punjabi cinema has some really good content and the storytelling is strong. The actors are also incredible performers. So, for me, it feels like I am back home, surrounded by my family.
Punjabi cinema has grown a lot, with films earning critical appreciation and commercial success. What do you think the industry is getting right? And is there anything it can learn from Hindi or other regional cinemas?
As an actor, I feel that we should look at it as Indian cinema first. The regions may be different, but ultimately, it is all cinema. I have worked in “Adipurush,” which was also made in Telugu, and now I am doing a Punjabi film. What I particularly like about Punjabi cinema is its humor and the comic element. Even the romantic songs have a certain innocence. Most importantly, the stories feel real and have depth. I feel the same way about Marathi cinema. Their stories are also very rooted and real. Even if budgets are low, filmmakers from these industries give their work their all. Now we are also seeing people from regional industries working in the Hindi film industry, while actors from here are also working in regional cinema. This collaboration is great for Indian cinema.
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What was it about ‘Thaapi’ that made you want to come on board?
When I got a call from the director, Jagdeep, the way he narrated the story made it very clear and visual for me. Then he told me Neeru Bajwa was doing the film, which I was thrilled about because I have always admired her performances. She is like a queen of Punjabi cinema. The entire conversation happened over the phone, and by the end, I told them, “Tell me when I should shoot.” I believe the script chooses you, and this script chose me.
You shared the film’s teaser with Ajay Devgn and said that you have always looked up to him. What kind of a bond do you share with him?
My father (Jai Singh Nijjar) and Ajay sir's father (Veeru Devgan) worked together for around 40 years. They had a bond like brothers and are very close family friends. When I was growing up, I used to visit their office. I knew him (Ajay Devgn) before he entered films and call him bhaiyya (brother). I was very young when his first or second film was released, but I remember all of us cheering for him. He has always treated me like a younger brother and supported me. He saw the teaser and was happy with it.
Is there a particular Ajay Devgn performance that is a favorite?
“Zakhm.” I think it is a great performance. The intensity he brought to the role was incredible.
Your father is a veteran action director, but you haven’t explored the genre. Given your family's association with the action industry, do you feel the urge to do more action films?
When I started giving auditions, I thought I would only do action films. I always looked up to Ajay Devgn sir and Akshay Kumar sir. But I started with comedies and romantic comedies, and that worked for me. Comedy is very difficult because getting a character's comic side right isn't easy. I was lucky to have the right mentors. But yes, I would love to do action films now. That is something I have always wanted to explore.
You were part of ‘Adipurush,’ a retelling of ‘Ramayan. Now, there is Nitesh Tiwari’s “Ramayana” coming up, with Ranbir Kapoor playing Lord Rama. Are you looking forward to watching the film?
I am excited about it. Whenever I have met Ranbir, I have found him to be a beautiful soul. A lot of people look up to him and he is a very good actor. Nitesh (Tiwari) sir is making it, and the entire team is fantastic. Yash is playing Ravan, and the whole combination is very exciting. It is also a little risky because these are characters and stories that people hold very close to their hearts. But I think the people involved in the project are very talented, and I am looking forward to seeing how it turns out. I am sure it will work wonders.
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