Rupinder Rainer had the opportunity to catch up with Parmish Verma to talk about his upcoming movie Tabaah.

You worked with Wamiqa Gabbi in Dil Diyan Gallan and now in Tabaah right?

Yeah, so both Dheeraj and Wamiqa worked with in the past and they're both super talented, fantastic actors and I felt that in Tabaah, it's not just one individual who gets Tabaah, it's people around him too. So, Dheeraj is playing my best friend, Kanwaljit Ji, he's playing my father, Wamiqa is playing the opposite lead, so I think my casting is very good. I was happy with my co-actors.

Why did you think she was the right person to be alongside yourself?

Because I've worked with Wamiqa before and I felt that she was in the same boat as me. As you could see that she's done more work in Hindi films than Punjabi films, because I think she was getting opportunities outside of Punjab, with more variations, I would say. And I felt Wamiqa is somebody who was super talented and probably wasn't getting the right kind of work that she probably wanted. And I thought she might be great for the film which is completely driven by passion, I would say. She's done a fantastic job.

You always watch my films, you give me genuine feedback and you've been somebody who's watched my work from music videos to my films to music. So I feel when you would go watch the film, you would know what I'm talking about. Even in the trailer, you don't see any songs. There is no promotional track to this film. This isn't how in a normal Punjabi film, including mine, where you would introduce a character in the trailer and 20 seconds in the trailer, you're already dancing and then the next 15 seconds you're crying. So I think you show all the emotions in order to oversell your product, I've got everything that you need to watch in a film.

But this is different. This is a film. Now, if this is interesting, you would go watch it regardless. My job is, instead of trying to sell you the film, let me show you part of it. This is how the film came in existence. This is why I made it.

And I feel the audience these days is way more advanced than the makers because I think the Punjabi audience is now watching films, web series in all different languages, in all different platforms. And they understand how developed this art form has become. So it was just about time when I think somebody takes a call and say, hey, I'm going take a step back from the theory that we have for our films, the theory that we have for our promotions, and I'm going do something independent.

And I really hope that people like it. If they don't, then I can always go back and join the bandwagon. I don't think I can be more honest than this.

No, it's good to be honest because at least then people will provide you honest feedback and then you will take it honestly. So, it's all a game of honesty, really.

Yes and with music, I am, right? With music, I'm doing everything that a commercial artist should be doing. And I'm enjoying every single moment of it because I feel in music, I can only do commercial music. There aren't very tabaah like songs that I could sing. But there aren't tabaah like films that I can make. So, I just shifted my focus.

I remember many years ago, at first you were really concentrating on video direction. And then you slowly went into singing and then you went into acting?

I mean, the ultimate goal was to become an actor.

Any final words to our readers?

The film is releasing on 18th October and I really hope you like the film. If you could watch the film with your friends, I think it would be perfect. If you go watch it with your friend who's always been there for you, I think you'd be able to watch and feel more.

This isn't something you go and watch. This is a film to feel. In today's day and age, everything is short form content, you know, TikTok, reels.

We jump from one emotion to another in 15 seconds. But I think films these days, it's an opportunity for us to surrender to an emotion. We put our phones away and you enter a world of that particular story for two hours.

And I think if you go watch the film, you'll be able to take a break from everything that's happening. And, you know, you might go back and feel something which is so real that I think everybody's been through. Heartbreak, love, friendship etc. I think these are real emotions. This is a real film and I really hope you enjoy it. Please go watch on the 18th of October and I really hope that you like the film.

Thank you very much and all the best with your release.

Thank you!