Shaunki Sardar actor Nimrit Kaur Ahluwalia: 'Feel that my credibility as an actor has really increased in the eyes of the people' | Exclusive

Nimrit Kaur Ahluwalia made her much-awaited debut in the Punjabi film industry with the film Shaunki Sardar. The actress shared the screen with the popular Punjabi singer-turned-actor Guru Randhawa. In an exclusive chat with OTTPlay, Nimrit opened up about the film, working experience, her preparation for the role, and more.

Excerpts from Nimrit Kaur Ahluwalia interview

What drew Nimrit Kaur Ahluwalia in the role in Shaunki Sardar?

"It was not a typical character that we see. As an actor, there was something to glue onto in the stiry and contribute to the graph of the story and I think that's what encouraged me to take on this part."

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How did you prepare yourself for the role and have you had any workshops?

"In terms of preparation, due credit to my writer and director. A lot of the work for an actor happens when it is nicely written and somewhere he gave me the space to be able to communicate with me and have discussions with me at every step of the way that helped me in a better understanding of how he sees the character and of course we had our own preps that we do which is very different and personal to you that weighs on to the character. For this, I did not have any particular workshop but I definitely had a dialect coach on board because it was the first time I was working on a new language so I had a dialect coach but in terms of particular workshops, I did not feel the need because the director and I had enough time to prepare and create the character."

How is Shaunki Sardar different from any other Punjabi cinema?

"Yes, absolutely. Usually, what happens is that most of the Punjabi films get really bifurcated in terms of genre. But our film has the right amount of flavor in terms of family drama, a lot of emotion. There is romance too. There's a lot of suspense. There is revenge. There's action. So in that sense, I feel like it's a thorough entertainer. And the way it's been made is also very different from how you would see a typical, you know, like preconceived notion that you have to have for a Punjabi film. It's a different take and a very different viewpoint that you get to see."

How was the shooting experience with Guru Randhawa in the film?

"Really nice. I luckily got to meet Guru even before we went on tour. An absolutely warm person, very welcoming. And we got to shoot in Punjab as well as in Melbourne. So I think when you get along well on a personal level, it really reflects on screen. So I think that's the kind of friendship and camaraderie that we also carried while shooting."

What do you hope the audience take away from your performance in Shaunki Sardar?

"I mean, it's something that I used to hope for. But now, looking at the audience response, that hope has turned into a reality. I just wanted people to, you know, acknowledge me for my work and for my acting. And that's something that's being appreciated, not just by the audience, but the critics and the industry people as well. So I'm just feeling very, very grateful."

How do you think this role and film will impact your career in the upcoming projects?

I think it has built my credibility as an actor. I think that's the most important thing. When you're in a project which is as big as this, with names that are so big, to create a space for yourself, I think that's the first task. So the fact that I've been able to do that, I mean, the kind of response that I'm getting, I just feel that my credibility as an actor has really increased in the eyes of the people."

And how was it stepping into a new genre for your first Punjabi film?

"A lot of fun, yeah. I think every actor is looking for new opportunities to explore a new side to yourself, to grow. So I just felt really, really excited doing that. The audience response has been great, so congratulations for that."

What's next for Nimrit?

"So I do have two releases that are lined up. Hopefully, one should happen somewhere around October. The other one should happen in the first quarter of next year. (6:26) I am also going on tour with a project in December, so things are looking great."

Meanwhile, Shaunki Sardar was released on May 16, 2025. The movie is a Punjabi action drama starring Babbu Maan, Guru Randhawa, and Nimrit Kaur Ahluwalia. It is directed by Dheeraj Kedarnath Rattan.