Jimmy Shergill, Siddhant Chaturvedi, Mona Singh and Alizeh Agnihotri are set to come together for filmmaker Vikas Bahl’s next directorial. The untitled coming-of-age musical drama is set against the rise of the UK Punjabi music scene in the 1990s and will explore a generation caught between its cultural roots and life in Britain.
Jimmy Shergill headlines Vikas Bahl’s musical
The film is set in the early 1990s, when Punjabi music was finding a new audience among young British Asians. At a time when pirate radio, underground gigs and makeshift music spaces were becoming important platforms for emerging artists, a distinct sound was beginning to take shape. The film will look at that period through a story of friendship, family, music and identity.
Shergill, who has worked extensively across Hindi and Punjabi cinema, leads an ensemble that brings together actors from different generations. The actor has previously featured in films such as Maachis, Mere Yaar Ki Shaadi Hai, Tanu Weds Manu and was last seen in Operation Safed Sagar, apart from his work in Punjabi cinema.
While details about his character are being kept under wraps, his presence adds a familiar face to a film rooted in the British Punjabi experience. Mona Singh, known for her work across television, films and streaming, is also part of the cast.
Bahl, meanwhile, is returning with a story that moves into the world of music and immigrant culture. The filmmaker has previously directed films including Queen, Super 30 and Shandaar, and his latest project takes him into a very different cultural setting.
Siddhant Chaturvedi, Alizeh Agnihotri join cast
Chaturvedi, who shot to fame with Gully Boy, will be seen alongside Alizeh Agnihotri, who made her acting debut with Farrey. The film marks an interesting mix of established performers and younger actors, with the ensemble at the centre of a story about a changing cultural landscape.
The film will revisit a time when young British Asians were creating their own spaces and experimenting with Punjabi sounds while drawing from the music around them. The movement eventually helped Punjabi music grow beyond local communities and reach audiences across the world.
For the characters in Bahl’s film, however, music is more than a backdrop. It becomes a way of expressing themselves, navigating family expectations and figuring out where they belong.
The makers are yet to reveal the film’s title, character details or release date. More information about the project is expected to be announced as production progresses.