Ammy Virk: Why My Films Avoid Double Meaning Humor for My Daughter

Ammy Virk has made a significant mark in the entertainment industry over the past decade, gracefully transitioning between Punjabi and Hindi films. While his experiences in Punjabi cinema have been diverse, his Hindi projects, particularly Khel Khel Mein and Bad Newwz, highlight his comedic talent.

When asked if he thinks Bollywood often relegates Punjabi actors to comic roles, he responds, “Comedy is no small task. Although we’ve started to see some experiments, like Diljit Dosanjh’s work in Amar Singh Chamkila, it’s clear we can take on serious roles as well. I have tackled such roles in Punjabi films like Qismat and Harjeeta, which even earned a National Award. Ultimately, the film’s nature dictates what we can or cannot do.”

Recently, Virk was featured in Goday Goday Cha 2. He notes, “Comedy is a big deal. Nowadays, making someone laugh is a challenge. With so much content available through various platforms, people have heard most jokes before. We need to engage audiences physically and emotionally to elicit genuine laughter. We aspire to do comedy throughout our careers, but it’s often more challenging than it appears.”

Virk firmly believes in maintaining a clear line when it comes to humor. “I need to uphold that line for my daughter. One day, I want her to be able to ask, ‘Papa, what is this?’ after seeing what I create. Having acted in around 30-35 films, I can confidently say none have contained double-meaning jokes,” he asserts. He adds, “Even words like ‘saala’, we do our best to avoid, despite it having a benign meaning. Perhaps I used them unknowingly in my early days, but now we consciously steer clear of them.”