Diljit Dosanjh Birthday: Punjabi cinema’s shining star who became a global icon

Diljit Dosanjh is an Indian singer, actor, and filmmaker active in Punjabi and Hindi cinema. He debuted on Billboard's Social 50 chart in 2020. His songs and albums have also charted on international charts such as the Canadian Albums Chart, the UK Asian Chart (Official Charts Company), and the New Zealand Hot Singles. His films— Jatt & Juliet 2, Sajjan Singh Rangroot, Honsla Rakh, and Jatt & Juliet 3 —are among the highest-grossing films in Punjabi cinema.

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Hailing from Dosanjh Kalan village in Jalandhar district,  Diljit began his career in 2002. He gained recognition in Punjabi music with the albums Smile (2005) and Chocolate (2008), followed by his blockbuster album The Next Level (2009) with Yo Yo Honey Singh. In 2010, he made a cameo appearance in the Punjabi film Mel Karade Rabba and then moved into acting. In 2011, he made his lead actor debut in the Punjabi film The Lion of Punjab.

Diljit made his Bollywood debut in 2016 with the crime thriller Udta Punjab, for which he won the Filmfare Award for Best Male Debut and was also nominated for Best Supporting Actor. His performance in Good Newwz (2019) was again praised and earned him another Filmfare nomination. As of 2020, Diljit has won the PTC Award for Best Actor five times. He has also appeared as a judge on three seasons of the reality show Rising Star.

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In 2020, Diljit entered the Billboard Social 50 chart with the release of his 11th album, GOAT. In 2024, he announced the Dil-Luminati Global Tour , which saw him perform in Paris, England, Ireland, Italy, and the Netherlands in Europe, and in India, he performed in Delhi, Hyderabad, Ahmedabad, Lucknow, Pune, Kolkata, Bengaluru, Indore, Chandigarh, and Guwahati.

Early life

Diljit Dosanjh was born on January 6, 1984, in Dosanjh Kalan village, Phillaur tehsil, Jalandhar district, Punjab, to a Jat Sikh family. His father, Balbir Singh, was a former employee of Punjab Roadways, and his mother, Sukhwinder Kaur, is a homemaker. He has two siblings—an older sister and a younger brother. Due to financial constraints, Diljit moved to his uncle's home in Ludhiana as a child, where he completed his schooling at Guru Harkrishan Public School, Ludhiana.

Had to stay away from parents in childhood

Diljit revealed that when he was just 10 or 11 years old, his parents sent him to his maternal grandparents' house. He said, "I was very sad because they didn't even ask me. I would only see my parents every three or four months. At the time, I didn't understand why this happened, but today I realize it was probably for my own good."

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Life lessons learned from father

Remembering his father, Diljit said that he was a very simple man. “My father was a ticket checker in the roadways. He was a very simple and kind-hearted person. He had no big aspirations in life. He just had a bicycle and loved mangoes.” Diljit further said, “Once my father told me – ‘Son, you will get food to eat, a house to live in, whatever else you want in life, achieve it on your own.’ These words became the biggest lesson for me.”

 Runs the house by singing at weddings and birthday parties

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Diljit recalled his struggles during his early days on the show, saying that his father's salary would run out by the second or third week of the month. "I used to sing at weddings and birthday parties to help support the family. After my first album, someone booked me for a birthday party. We sang there, and earned money for the first time. We got ₹2,000 at that time. That very day I realized this was my path. After that, I never missed a function—be it a wedding or a party, I sang everywhere."

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Diljit's music career

Diljit released his debut album, "Ishq Da Ud Ada" (2003), under T-Series' Finetone Music label. His third album, "Smile," made him a star, with songs like "Nach Diyan Alraan Kunwariyan" and "Pagan Pochaviyan Wale" becoming superhits.

Diljit Dosanjh's net worth 

Diljit Dosanjh's net worth in 2025 is estimated to be around ₹172 crore (approximately $20.5 million USD)

Upcoming Project

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Diljit Dosanjh's upcoming major film is Border 2, a sequel to the 1997 war film, which will be released on January 23, 2026. In it, he plays Indian Air Force officer Nirmal Jeet Singh Sekhon. He recently completed shooting another yet-to-be-titled project with director Imtiaz Ali (after Amar Singh Chamkila). 

FAQs

Q1. Who is Diljit Dosanjh?

 Diljit Dosanjh is an Indian singer, actor, and film producer who works in Punjabi and Hindi cinema.

Q2. When and where was Diljit Dosanjh born?

He was born on 6 January 1984 in Dosanjh Kalan (Jalandhar district), Punjab.

Q3. How did Diljit Dosanjh start his career?

She started her singing career in 2002 and gained recognition with the album Smile (2005).

Q4. Which was Diljit Dosanjh's biggest music hit?

The album The Next Level (2009), which was with Yo Yo Honey Singh, became a major turning point in his career.

Q5. When did Diljit Dosanjh make his acting debut?

He debuted as a lead actor in the 2011 Punjabi film The Lion of Punjab.

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