Refused to remove turban for Bollywood:Secretly married and has a son; 'Paaltu' feud with Kangana to controversies- Diljit Dosanjh's story

Diljit Dosanjh is once again in the headlines after the controversy surrounding his recent film Satluj, which was removed from an OTT platform following government directions. But controversies are nothing new for the Punjabi superstar. Whether it is concert disputes, social media feuds, legal notices, or debates over his films, he has often found himself in the spotlight. Yet few know that this global star came from a small village in Punjab, with no film background and no industry connections. How did a boy from Dosanjh Kalan become one of India's biggest global stars? Let's know in this week's Flashback Friday. Became Daljit Singh to Diljit Dosanjh for the stage Born on 6 January, 1984, in Dosanjh Kalan village near Jalandhar. Originally named Daljit Singh, he later adopted 'Diljit' and added his village name 'Dosanjh' to create his stage identity. His father worked with Punjab Roadways, while his mother was a homemaker. Sent away from home at the age of 11, started singing at the Gurudwara Diljit was sent to live with his uncle in Ludhiana when he was just 11. He has spoken about how emotionally difficult that phase was. Unable to study after Class 10 because of financial constraints, he turned to music. He learned to sing by performing kirtans at a Gurudwara before singing at local weddings and religious events. Those small performances became the foundation of his career. Proposed a girl at age 8; got secretly married to Sandeep Kaur In a candid interview, Diljit revealed a charming childhood tale of attempting to flee home at age 8 after a schoolyard romance led to teacher intervention. While media reports suggest he was previously married to Sandeep Kaur, with whom he has a son, and divorced in 2017, the artist maintains strict privacy regarding his personal life. Diljit became a US citizen in 2022. First album and film both flopped, but it didn't disappoint him Success did not come overnight. Diljit's debut album failed to make an impact. His first Punjabi film, The Lion of Punjab (2011), also flopped at the box office. However, one song from the film Lak 28 Kudi Da became a massive hit and changed his fortunes. After the film's failure, Diljit even considered quitting acting before new opportunities came his way. 'I won't remove my turban'- Condition on which he worked in Bollywood Regarding his Bollywood debut, Diljit had once shared 'I was even told that someone who wears a turban cannot become a hero in Bollywood. People used to say that those who wear turbans won't get hero roles in Bollywood. Instead of changing himself, he said, “I won't remove my turban. I thought if that's the case, then it's fine, I won't do films, but then I got film offers on my own.' That decision eventually made him one of the most recognisable Sikh faces in global entertainment. Debuted in Bollywood ‘Udta Punjab’ with Shahid, Kareena and Alia After ruling Punjabi cinema, Diljit made a successful Bollywood debut with Udta Punjab (2016), winning the Filmfare Award for Best Male Debut. He followed it up with films like Soorma, Good Newwz, Jogi, and Amar Singh Chamkila, proving his versatility as both an actor and singer. The star who took Punjabi music to the global stage; performed at Coachella Diljit transformed Punjabi music into a worldwide phenomenon. He became the first Punjabi artist to perform at Coachella in 2023, making history on one of the world's biggest music festival stages. His Dil-Luminati Tour sold more than 7.4 lakh tickets worldwide, with concerts across India, North America, Europe, Australia and New Zealand. Showcased Punjabi culture at the red carpet Diljit has proudly represented Punjabi culture wherever he performs. He wore a traditional Punjabi turban at the Met Gala red carpet, drawing praise for showcasing his roots on an international fashion stage. Hollywood star Will Smith has danced with Diljit, while Rihanna enjoyed his performance at Anant Ambani and Radhika Merchant's pre-wedding celebrations, a moment that went viral worldwide. Diljit Dosanjh and his controversies ‘Paaltu’ feud with Kangana over nepotism went viral on social media Despite his success, Diljit has frequently found himself in controversies. In 2020, during the farmers' protest, there was a Twitter war between Diljit and Kangana. Both had strongly criticised each other. The entire controversy started with Kangana's post. The actress shared a photo of an elderly woman, Mahinder Kaur from Bathinda, during the farmers' protest and identified her as Bilkis Dadi from the Shaheen Bagh protest. In response, Diljit tweeted and strongly criticised her. Criticised for working with Pakistani actress Hania Aamir In Sardaar Ji 3, Diljit was criticised for working with Pakistani actress Hania Aamir. The film was banned in India, and Diljit faced sedition charges. While many have criticised the actor for casting the Pakistani artist in the film after the Pahalgam attack, some people in the industry have backed the Punjabi singer and came out in his support. Spelling of ‘Panjab’ in his post erupted controversy Diljit Dosanjh had a concert scheduled in Chandigarh on December 14, 2024. Before the concert, he shared this information on social media, but during this, he wrote the spelling of Punjab as 'PANJAB', after which controversy erupted. His Dil-Luminati Tour drew notice for songs referring to alcohol On November 15, 2024, Diljit performed a concert in Hyderabad. Before the concert, he received a notice from the Telangana government not to use words like alcohol and liquor on stage. During the concert, while discussing the notice, Diljit challenged the government, saying that if alcohol were banned in every state, he would never sing songs about alcohol. Recognition beyond borders Along with commercial success, Diljit has also earned critical acclaim. His performance in Amar Singh Chamkila received international appreciation, while the film emerged as India's only entry at the 2025 Emmy Awards with Diljit receiving a Best Actor nomination. From singing in a Gurudwara to selling out stadiums across continents, Diljit Dosanjh's story is one of resilience, authenticity, and ambition. Whether through his music, films, or cultural identity, he continues to break barriers while proudly carrying Punjab to the global stage.