Dhurandhar 2 Fame Udaybir Sandhu On Losing Chamkila Role That Went To Diljit Dosanjh: I Was Liked For The Role

Actor Udaybir Sandhu says he narrowly missed playing Amar Singh Chamkila, a part later given to Diljit Dosanjh, even though the team liked his audition. The role eventually went to a singer, in line with director Imtiaz Ali’s vision, but Udaybir’s test still earned a different part in the same film.

Udaybir is currently being noticed for playing Pinda in Dhurandhar: The Revenge, which has brought fresh attention to an earlier near-breakthrough. The 27-year-old calls that missed chance a major moment in the journey so far, but says the experience shaped both confidence and approach to work rather than leaving any resentment.

Udaybir Sandhu Amar Singh Chamkila Diljit Dosanjh casting journey

Speaking to Hindustan Times, Udaybir recalled how close he came to landing the titular role in Amar Singh Chamkila. "I had auditioned for Chamkila's part. I had done a lot of research and I was totally invested in it. I was the one who was liked for the part," Udaybir said about that intense preparation.

According to Udaybir, the final decision turned on Imtiaz Ali’s preference for an actual singer in the lead. "He always wanted a singer for it… they didn't think a non-singer would be able to perform it," Udaybir shared. The makers later chose Diljit Dosanjh, who already had a strong musical background and screen presence.

Udaybir Sandhu Amar Singh Chamkila Diljit Dosanjh roles

Udaybir said the team informed him when Diljit Dosanjh was confirmed for Amar Singh Chamkila, and the choice made sense. "When I got to know that Diljit had been cast for the role instead of me, I understood the decision. He did a great job in the film, but I could have played it very well too because I was invested," Udaybir added.

That audition still changed his career path, as it led to a different character in Amar Singh Chamkila. "It was due to my audition for Amar Singh Chamkila that I later got the chance to play (late Punjabi singer) Shinda's role in the film," Udaybir said, noting how one lost opportunity opened another door within the same project.

Udaybir Sandhu Amar Singh Chamkila Diljit Dosanjh career timeline

Udaybir believes such turns are part of building a long-term acting career. "If you get a chance early on, it's almost like a fluke… you stop doing that kind of hard work. So you need that struggle, that hustle," Udaybir said, stressing that setbacks push performers to keep improving skills and discipline.

Before Dhurandhar: The Revenge, Udaybir appeared in several projects across languages and formats. Udaybir’s Hindi debut was Gold, starring Akshay Kumar, where Udaybir also helped train the cast in hockey because of a national-level background in the sport. Udaybir then worked in Ikk Kudi with Shehnaaz Gill and gained additional experience as a model in India and South Africa.

Looking back at the Chamkila casting and later roles, Udaybir sees a clear link between preparation, rejection and growth. The near-miss with the lead, the eventual part as Shinda, and the recent response to Pinda in Dhurandhar: The Revenge together show how each project, big or small, has gradually pushed Udaybir’s film career forward.