Improvs, sargams, sandwiches: Paramvir Cheema’s BTS tales from ‘Chamak: The Conclusion’

In an exclusive conversation with Mathrubhumi English, actor Paramvir Cheema delved into the making of ‘Chamak: The Conclusion’, the gripping second installment of the musical crime drama helmed by director Rohit Jugraj. Having not only portrayed the complex character of Kaala but also lent his own voice to several songs in the series, Paramvir opens up about the challenges of hitting the right notes, the intense preparation behind stepping into the shoes of an aspiring rapper, and the unexpected camaraderie he built with veteran actor Manoj Pahwa on set.

From musical struggles to moments of improvisation, the actor reflects on the journey that has shaped both his performance and his passion for storytelling. Read excerpts:

Before Diljit Dosanjh was cast, you were considered for the lead role in Imtiaz Ali's 'Amar Singh Chamkila'. Can you share your experience during that casting process and how it influenced your career choices?

Three to four people, including me, were selected. I was asked to block the dates, but then finally they went ahead with Diljit. I had cleared four rounds of the auditions, and Mukesh Chhabra had asked us to block our dates. It was during that time that I was offered ‘Chamak’. I was sceptical whether Imtiaz Ali would want to work with a newcomer. When I read the script of ‘Chamak’, I found it to be a bigger character arc because there is a huge difference between a film and a series. Since Sony LIV had suggested my name, I opted for ‘Chamak’, and that is also when I found out that Imtiaz Sir chose Diljit to play the role.

‘Chamak’ has a brilliant line-up of actors. Who is that one co-star that you enjoyed working with the most, and why?

Manoj Pahwa. First of all, he is a very senior actor. He knows his thing – how it is to be done. He also used to help me during the scenes with his suggestions. Furthermore, he used to keep things very light on the sets. He would always talk about food. I was on a diet, but while being with him on the sets, I had stopped dieting. He would talk about sandwiches, chutneys, mango lassi, and whatnot. The way he used to explain the process of making a sandwich would make me crave it. My mouth is still watering while talking about it. We started having dinner together on the sets. The chefs would also make food according to him. I have enjoyed the most with him on the sets.

Music plays a pivotal role in ‘Chamak’. How did you prepare to represent an aspiring rapper authentically?

I was always inclined towards music from a very young age, but I was never confident of my singing. I was a bathroom singer, and in fact, when teachers would punish me in school, they would ask me to sing. But when ‘Chamak’ happened, I thought to myself that I was able to sing back then, but singing for ‘Chamak’ is a big responsibility on my shoulders since I am the lead of the show and music is the heart of ‘Chamak’. I started discussing it with Rohit about what the look is going to be, whether I need to keep long hair, etc. Most of my references came from Aarif Lohar, Sidhu Moosewala, Gurdas Mann, and Tupac (Shakur) for hip-hop. ‘Chamak’ has different genres of music – from hip-hop to folk. It was critical to figure out and show that music comes naturally to Kaala. After taking these references from the singers, I did a workshop for 10-15 days, and then eventually it all came naturally to me.

What was the most challenging scene for you in ‘Chamak: The Conclusion’, and why?

Paramveer: Honestly, sargams were my biggest struggle. There were certain songs where I struggled to hit specific notes, particularly when singing complex sargams – it was a real challenge for me to catch those tricky tones. I'd get stuck on certain notes and then start wondering if I was even singing them right. But my director was always there to offer words of encouragement, telling me I was doing an impressive job, and that really helped me stay on track.

With ‘Chamak’ being a mix of music, crime, and drama, what aspect of the series do you think resonates most with the audience?

I guess the music of ‘Chamak’ is what people will resonate with the most. The toxicity among Kaala, Lata, and Jazz is also very relatable. In fact, I have received messages saying their relationship is perplexing and that it’s very toxic.

Since ‘Chamak’ has a strong thriller element, were there any scenes where you had to do a lot of improvisation?

There are many improvisations that I did in this show. Firstly, there is a scene where Kaala thinks that Pratap Deol is the one who killed his father. He then goes to the place where his father was killed. There, as per the written scene, Kaala was to get to know the song he had to perform. But what he does with a gun, using it as a tumba, was all part of improvisation. Another scene when Kaal throws Lata out of the house and a song starts to play – that was also a part of the improvisation. Apart from these two, there are also so many improvisations that I did, and the director kept them as they are in the series.

Kaala’s character is seen by many as a mix of vulnerability and aggression. How did you strike that balance in your performance?

With the help of reading, the director, and my co-stars, I think it all came very naturally to me. I never thought about how to balance between the two, but the scenes were written in such a way that I simply thought of sticking to the script. I would simply read the scenes and think about how Kaala will behave or act. I used to stick to the emotions that were written in the scenes, and they were written very nicely. All I used to do was to follow what was written.

What’s one behind-the-scenes moment from ‘Chamak: The Conclusion’ that fans would love to hear about?

I have several behind-the-scenes moments with Jagga (Prince Kanwaljeet Singh) where he would randomly create stories about Kaala and Jaaga and would narrate them to me while we were not shooting. Somehow, these same stories would pop up out of nowhere in between our shots, and I would end up laughing. It probably helped us elevate the equation of Kaala and Jagga, and it can be seen in the series. I love him. I have always been a fan of his work in the Punjabi industry. I had an excellent bond with him on the sets.

Do you think the portrayal of Punjabi culture in mainstream media is authentic, or do you feel it still has a long way to go?

It is getting authentic, but there is still a long way to go. Right now we are just picking up stories from the current generations, I would say, but there are many stories in Punjab. Punjab’s history is vast. I think it is Punjab’s history that needs to be explored more.

‘Tabbar’, ‘Chamak’, and ‘Black Warrant’ – how do you think these roles have shaped you as an actor?

From every project, I get to learn so much. It’s always a learning day, even though I have worked with so many actors and in so many genres. Every time I learn something new on the sets, it gives me a kick to work harder. With every project that I do, I continue to explore myself. I think I’m only getting better and better with every new work that I do, and I’m truly thankful to the Almighty that I have got the opportunity to work with such good directors.

You will be marking your theatrical debut with the Sunny Deol-led ‘Border 2’. How is the filming coming along? Also, how has it been filming action sequences alongside Sunny Deol?

I can’t say much about the film at the moment, but the audience will see me in action for the first time.

Are there any upcoming projects you’re working on that fans should be excited about?

I am doing a film with Anand L Rai, and then there are two to three more projects underway. I am doing a Punjabi film that I can speak of right now, but other films, I can’t really talk about right now.