Fresh off the success of ‘Dhurandhar: The Revenge’, actor Udaybir Sandhu is currently basking in the attention coming his way. Having played Pinda, the loyal friend of Ranveer Singh’s character, he has struck a chord with audiences. While the spotlight is finally on him, the actor remains reflective about his journey, revisiting moments that almost changed the course of his career.Opening up about a missed opportunity, Udaybir revealed that he had auditioned for the lead role in ‘Amar Singh Chamkila’ (2024), which was eventually played by Diljit Dosanjh. “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,” he shared with Hindustan Times. However, the makers had a different vision in mind.
Why the role didn’t work out for Udaybir Sandhu?
According to Udaybir, director Imtiaz Ali was keen on casting a singer for the role. “He always wanted a singer… they didn’t think a non-singer would be able to perform it,” the actor explained, shedding light on why the part slipped away despite his strong audition.Despite missing out on a major opportunity, Udaybir holds no grudges. Reflecting on the casting decision, he said, “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.”Interestingly, the same audition opened another door for him. “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,” he added.Looking back, Udaybir believes that the challenges he faced have added value to his current achievements. “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,” he concluded.
A glimpse into Udaybir Sandhu’s career
Apart from Diljit Dosanjh, ‘Amar Singh Chamkila’ also featured Parineeti Chopra in a key role. Udaybir made his Bollywood debut with ‘Gold’ (2018), starring Akshay Kumar. A former national-level hockey player from Punjab, he even trained actors for the sport during the film. Before ‘Dhurandhar: The Revenge’, he was also seen in ‘Ikk Kudi’ opposite Shehnaaz Gill, steadily building his presence in the industry.
