While Yograj didn't shine any light on who killed Chamkila and Veerendra, he admitted that Bhindranwale would send a large group of men to ensure that he, Yograj, wasn't targeted. Veerendra was the biggest Punjabi star of his era, and died mere months after Chamkila and his wife, Amarjot, were slain ahead of a performance in the village of Mehsampur in 1988. Incidentally, Veerendra posthumously appeared as the lead in the box office hit Patola, which featured musical cameos by Chamkila and Amarjot.
In an interview with Untold Punjab, Yograj recalled his interactions with Bhindranwale, and the conversations he had with both Veerendra and Chamkila. "I went to meet him, and there he was, a very soft-spoken man. He offered me a tall glass of milk; I still remember. I asked, 'Ki hukum?' and he sent me away. He said that I have a different purpose to serve," Yograj said about his meeting with Bhindranwale, adding that men would show up on his sets to protect him from attacks.
Yograj Singh revealed that he had warned Amar Singh Chamkila about threats to his life, and just days later, Dharmendra’s cousin Veerendra was shot dead—highlighting the perilous atmosphere for Punjabi entertainers in the 1980s.
In a recent interview, actor and former cricketer Yograj Singh—father of cricketer Yuvraj Singh—shared chilling memories of the turbulent era in Punjab when artists were under threat from extremist groups. His comments shed new light on the tragic deaths of two iconic figures: Amar Singh Chamkila, the legendary Punjabi folk singer, and Veerendra, a popular actor and cousin of Bollywood star Dharmendra.
🔥 Key revelations from Yograj Singh:
- He met Chamkila shortly before his death and warned him that his rising fame and controversial lyrics had made him a target.
- Chamkila and his wife Amarjot were gunned down in broad daylight in 1988, a murder that remains unsolved and shrouded in speculation.
- Just three days after Yograj met Veerendra, the actor was also shot dead. Veerendra was known for his roles in Punjabi cinema and was reportedly targeted during a film shoot in Gurdaspur.
🕊️ A dangerous time for artists
- The 1980s in Punjab were marked by militant unrest, and public figures—especially those in entertainment—were often seen as cultural influencers and thus potential threats.
- Yograj Singh claimed he was the only Punjabi actor allowed to continue working during this period, suggesting he had to navigate the industry with extreme caution.
🎬 Renewed interest due to Netflix biopic
- The Netflix film Amar Singh Chamkila, starring Diljit Dosanjh and Parineeti Chopra, has reignited public interest in Chamkila’s life and mysterious death.
- Viewers are now exploring the broader context of violence against Punjabi artists during that era.
Yograj’s account adds a deeply personal and haunting layer to the legacy of Chamkila and Veerendra—two artists whose lives were cut short amid a storm of cultural and political upheaval.
You can read the full story on The Indian Express The Indian Express.
