What do Jab We Met, Singh is Kinng, Namastey London, Rab Ne Bana Di Jodi, Veer Zaara, Rang De Basanti have in common? In one word – Punjab. There are many more movies in Bollywood that have released in the past decade with Punjab in the background and actors portraying Punjabi characters in the foreground. Bollywood’s obsession with Punjab only seems to get stronger with time. 

Why is it so?
I could only think of two reasons:

1. There is no other community in India thats as widely regarded as Punjabis at being jovial, good hearted and strong at the same time (something that epitomizes the lead characters of Bollywood movies). The origin or propagation of this perception may, in part, be a result of Bollywood itself. But, that doesn’t really matter, does it? The perception is not totally without reason as well – Indians perceive Punjab as a land of fertility, of good harvests, of happy farmers. It is a natural choice for being the breeding ground of big hearts and even bigger bodies (remember Dara Singh, Sunny Deol). 

2. It might not be the most populous state in India, but in terms of how many people from this state inhabit other parts of this world, it certainly leads the way. It might not be an exaggeration to say that every Punjabi in India has at least one relative in Canada or the United Kingdom. With overseas collections playing an increasingly important role in the success of Bollywood movies these days, it makes business sense for movie producers and directors to keep Punjab in limelight. 

I have a liking for Punjab myself, but I’d love to see more variety of characters on screen.