Darasing Khurana answers a volley of questions and the responsibilities of promoting the film... BY Lipika Varma

Darasing Khurana’s debut film Baiji Kuttange is all set to release on 19, August 2022. The film’s female lead Miss Universe 2021 Harnaz Kaur Sandhu has not been promoting the film.Thus the film is in news presently.

Upasana Singh has filed a petition in the Chandigarh court against her for in the Chandigarh District Court against her for not co-operating in the promotions of the film as per the contract.

Indian actor, model, radio jockey, and male pageant titleholder who won Mr. India International 2017 and represented India at Mister International 2018 which was held in Yangon, Myanmar. He is also the Brand Ambassador for DATRI, an India-based blood stem cell donors registry. In 2021, he was awarded with the title Global Peace Ambassador.

You are debuting with the Punjabi film titled Baiji Kuttange that also features Harnaaz Kaur Sandhu. What special experience would you like to share from your time of shooting?

The name of the film is Bai ji Kuttange and it is the first ever action-comedy film made in Punjabi. Bai Ji is a man of principles and hates dishonesty. Chaos and confusion reign when his own family and employees make elaborate plans to hide their lies. The entire drama and confusion starts because of my character.

How was it working with Harnaaz?

It was an absolute pleasure working with Harnaaz. We really connected well on the sets and became very good friends. We'd go out to eat at new places in Chandigarh post pack up.

Harnaaz is a big foodie and she knows all the hidden gems of Chandigarh. We were shooting in the outskirts of the city and it would take us an hour and a half to reach the location. The driver would pick me up from the hotel and then pick up Harnaaz on the way and we would then go to the sets together.

We have great memories of those travel times where we'd sing songs, discuss food, pageants, life in Mumbai and much more along the way. We also travelled to Amristar to visit the Golden Temple and both of us being big foodies, couldn't resist having Parathas and Lassi at the Dhaba.

Is it a theatrical release? What are your expectations as theatrical releases aren’t faring well at the box office?

Yes, it’s a theatrical release. As for the expectations, ups and downs are a part of life. Just because a few films did not perform well at the box office does not mean that others won’t too. Every sunset brings a promise of a new dawn.

While Bollywood has been struggling this year to present a box office hit, some Punjabi films have done very good business this year. Bai ji Kuttange is a film packed with action and comedy and I am really hopeful of it doing well at the box office.

How unprofessional is it for an actor not to promote their own film?

It’s like giving birth to a child and then abandoning them the moment you are hired as a CEO. Money, position and fame will come and go but the world will remember how you made them feel and how committed you were. So, once you've given your word, there should be nothing that should stop you from keeping it.

Your lead female actress, Miss Universe, has not been promoting the film and this will create hiccups to the producers? What is your take on it as the lead male actor?

Yes, it definitely is creating hiccups for the producers. Film business is like the share market. Especially when you give chances to newcomers, you envision and believe that they would put in their 100% and yield name and profit for the producer. So, it’s hurtful to see how the actress of our film isn't promoting it.

Actors who may refuse to promote their own film after having risen to certain heights, considering their debut project to be anything less in comparison to their present status? Your take?

Keeping up to your word will take you a long way. My mentor had told me years ago, in this industry, you can be a 9 when it comes to acting but be a 10 as a human being and your commitments, and I have always kept that advice close to me.

What are your future projects? Elaborate a bit?

There's an interesting line up of projects that I have in the coming time. I am doing a Marathi film, an international song and a Bollywood film with a very senior producer.

You are also associated with conducting social well-being for the human race. Elaborate a little in a nutshell?

I am the brand ambassador of DATRI, the World’s second largest blood stem cell donors’ registry that is committed to save lives of people suffering from Blood Cancer, Thalassemia and Leukemia. We have registered close to 5,00,000 people to be potential life savers.

Also, I realised a lot of people were suffering from anxiety and depression during the pandemic, but they wouldn’t seek help from professional therapists since therapy is expensive in India.

I decided to help these people and started ,”Pause.Breathe.Talk’ foundation where we provide therapy at just INR 250 that usually costs INR 2500. A lot of people have benefitted through this initiative.