Dream role
Talking about her breakthrough role in Je Jatt Vigad Gaya, she says, “I’ve done movies before in side roles, but I was looking for a project where I could play a lead role. When Manish sir, the director, narrated the story and offered me the part, I was excited and asked him when we could start. I loved it, and, as you know, the first lead role is always special.”
Persistence pays
Coming from a middle-class family, Deep faced countless obstacles, but it was her persistence that kept her going. “Talking about this makes me very emotional. With everyone talking about the movie now, it brings back memories. I recently shared a reel on Instagram showing my journey and was so overwhelmed. When you dream about something and it finally happens, it’s incredible. Coming from a middle-class family, without a godfather in the industry or any support, it’s been a tough journey. Standing here today, surviving, and progressing on pure hard work and self-belief, it feels like if you keep going, eventually, even God helps you along.”
Challenges, choices and reality
When asked about her decision to move away from catalog shoots and music videos, Deep reflects on the struggle of balancing survival with her long-term goals.
“When you’re just starting, there’s a lot of pressure. I had to look for ways to survive, but I didn’t want to do anything that lacked value. You know how Punjab makes a lot of music videos—there are so many people involved, but I felt it wasn’t taken seriously. So, I didn’t get into it. Instead, I did a lot of catalog shoots. I’d have 14-hour shifts, sometimes changing 80 outfits in a single day. I always kept in mind that once I did a movie, I wouldn’t go back to catalog shoots.”
Her choice to focus on films instead of music videos was driven by her desire to be taken seriously in the industry. “I’d heard that people who do music videos aren’t taken seriously in the industry. Yes, you can earn a lot through music videos but I didn’t want to risk it. I used to travel to Mumbai, Surat, even Indore, for catalog shoots—sometimes traveling all day and then coming back. It motivated me to focus on movies. I remember the last day I did a catalog shoot, I was running fever. When I came back, I told myself I wouldn’t do it anymore and shortly after, I got this movie.”
Outsider’s struggle
As an outsider in the industry, Deep has witnessed the struggles of newcomers firsthand. She believes that everyone aiming for something extraordinary must face challenges, regardless of the field. “I think anyone wanting to do something different from your regular nine to five jobs should be ready to face struggles. Nothing comes without effort and in my experience, it’s essential to go through challenges. But I’ve always felt that if I had done something else, like a business, I would still have had to struggle. Hard work is crucial, and I deeply respect Diljit Dosanjh. He’s been in this industry for 20 years, putting in extreme hard work, and it’s truly inspiring.”
The journey is never easy, but Deep’s belief in destiny shines through. “If I question why it took eight years to get here, there could be countless reasons. Maybe I wasn’t ready before, or, maybe, it was destiny.”
A journey of destiny and dedication
Her parents’ initial apprehension about her career choice is another chapter of her journey. “It was tough at first. Coming from a simple family, it was hard for them to understand. But slowly, they began to support me. Parents just want their kids to be safe and happy, and I think all parents are understanding if you know how to explain your dreams to them.”
