The trajectory of the Indian entertainment industry witnessed a revolution when the International Academy of Television Arts & Sciences released its 2025 Emmy nominations. Punjabi popstar-actor Diljit Dosanjh receiving a nomination for Best Performance is an achievement that will go down in history. His portrayal of the controversial folk artist Amar Singh Chamkila in the Netflix-released biopic of the same name, directed by Imtiaz Ali, has not only won the hearts of everyone back home but has also caught global attention. A Role Steeped in Legacy To play such a character is commendable in itself. Dosanjh, in any case, already an international Punjabi music legend, took on the role with forceful realism. Chamkila's unruly stage persona not only told the tale of a rockstar who was too ahead of his time, but also extended to vulnerable heights of lyricism. Dosanjh's acting impacted every kind of audience, no matter how familiar they were with Chamkila's music from before. This film's international chokehold on us proves how finely tuned the acting on screen was. The Imtiaz Ali Touch Ali's script becomes a harmonious celebration once Dosanjh's acting and Parineeti Chopra's layered portrayal of Amarjot come into view- it is a marriage that has depth of one of the highest artistic values. It is no surprise that international juries found Chamkila to be a compelling contender for the Emmy stage. The Weight of the Nomination Diljit Dosanjh's ever-growing persona in front of a global audience is also responsible for his recognition within Emmy territories. He has broken the ice with the world by collaborating with A List artists, performing on almost every stage, and notably became the first Indian Punjabi artist to perform at Coachella. His path to bridging cultures has earned him another notch on his belt and created another groundbreaking addition to his resume. Why This Matters for Indian Entertainment First, it points to the growing worldwide importance placed on Indian narratives outside Bollywood caricatures. Chamkila is hardly a neat city romance or mythical epic: it is the cruelly raw biopic of a Punjabi folk singer whose music once saw censorship and who was also violently taken away in his prime. That such a film should have gone its way is testimony to global audiences' desire to have stories rooted in local authenticity. Second, it highlights how streaming platforms like Netflix have transformed the reach of Indian cinema. Without digital platforms, a story like Chamkila may have remained confined to domestic circuits. Today, it is accessible to audiences from New York to Nairobi, enabling it to enter conversations around global awards. Lastly, it encourages Indian creatives- actors, writers, directors- to look beyond borders. If Diljit can use a local folk figure and create an Emmy-award-winning performance out of it, then others, too, can aspire to narrate regional stories with universal appeal. The Symbolism of Chamkila's Resurrection
Even more astonishing is that the movie itself, Amar Singh Chamkila, has been shortlisted in the Best TV Movie/Mini-Series category, putting India on two seats of glory in one of the globe's most eminent television award galas.
Amar Singh Chamkila, knighted as the “Elvis of Punjab," was known for all the negative eyes on him and his music, making him a personality who sang about "improper topics" right from poverty within rural boundaries to physical intimacy. His cult-like following was nothing short of a wildfire that spread within the duration of one verse. His talent met an abrupt end at the peak of his career when he and his wife were murdered in 1988.
Most credit for the film's impact is due to director Imtiaz Ali, who has long been renowned for his forays into love, longing, and human paradoxes. Ali shifted from urban romances to Chamkila, with a tale anchored in Punjab's earth. He approached Chamkila not merely as a people's hero but as a symbol of the power of art to question the powerful and inspire people to think.
Dosanjh is now among global stars like David Mitchell (Ludwig) and Oriol Pla (Yo, Adicto). Regardless of whether he wins, the nomination signifies that Indian actors are no longer limited to national recognition. They are among an increasing list of performers vying on the same level in global fields.
It would be obvious to present this nomination as a victory for Diljit Dosanjh, but its repercussions are far-reaching.
And there is a kind of poetry in Chamkila himself being brought back to life on such an international platform. Once considered crude by elites and killed for it, Chamkila's art has now been justified by one of the world's most significant cultural awards. His journey- shot in cold blood at the age of 27 and then remembered with finality at the Emmys after many years- makes the undying power of art more lucid against the tides of time, censorship, and plunder.
The 53rd International Emmy Awards will take place in New York on 24 November 2025, it is undoubtedly a harbinger for a time when Indian actors and tales will find themselves gaining acceptance in areas once held by Western narratives. For Dosanjh, this is another milestone in a career that effortlessly balances music and film. For Indian popular culture, it is a testament to the fact that authenticity pays, and the world is, at last, eager to hear stories spoken in Punjabi, Bengali, Tamil, or any of the multiple Indian languages - so long as they are spoken in honesty and in craft. During Chamkila's lifetime, his voice was very frequently overpowered by controversy. In 2025, due to Diljit Dosanjh and Imtiaz Ali, it resonates more than ever before, this time on the world stage.
01 Oct 2025
Ahana Ghosh
