Amrit Saab turned actor, with four Punjabi films including Rishte Naate

While many know Amrit Saab for his groundbreaking contributions to Punjabi music, fewer are familiar with his leap into the world of acting. A career that began in the late 1990s with humble music gigs took on a new dimension as Amrit ventured into cinema, adding another layer to his ever-expanding creative identity.

In recent years, Amrit has made his mark as an actor with four Punjabi films, including the much-anticipated Rishte Naate. His transition from music to acting was a natural one, driven by a desire to explore new artistic expressions and connect with audiences in different ways.

The Moment of Realization: A Shift in Focus
For many years, Amrit’s focus was on music. His career was skyrocketing, and he was living the dream of a rising star in the Punjabi music scene. But as his musical journey expanded, so did his creative horizons.

It was around the mid-2010s that Amrit felt a new calling. “I’d been performing for years, telling stories through my songs,” he explains. “But I wanted to tell stories in a different way. On the screen, where people could see the emotions, not just hear them.”

And so, he made the decision to step into acting—a leap that many musicians would shy away from. But Amrit had always been someone who embraced challenges and explored new opportunities.

The Acting Debut: Breaking Into Punjabi Cinema
Amrit’s first venture into acting came with a small but impactful role in a Punjabi film that allowed him to test the waters. His natural charisma and ability to connect with the audience quickly became apparent, and it wasn’t long before bigger opportunities came his way.

His breakout role was in Rishte Naate, a family drama that explored complex relationships and the dynamics between traditional values and modern life. It was a film that resonated with audiences, particularly with those who had been following Amrit’s music career for years.

In Rishte Naate, Amrit played a character caught between his personal ambitions and the sacrifices made for his family. His role was powerful, as it required him to step into a complex emotional space and convey the depth of familial love, duty, and conflict.

Why Acting Felt Like the Next Step
For Amrit, acting wasn’t about glitz or glamour. It was about storytelling. He had been writing lyrics for years, shaping narratives through song. Now, he was taking that same storytelling gift and bringing it to life on screen.

In interviews, Amrit has spoken about how acting allowed him to expand his range as an artist. “Music allows you to express certain emotions. But acting? Acting allows you to express the full range of human experience,” he says.

It’s a shift in perspective that makes perfect sense for someone who has spent his entire career exploring emotions—whether through the joy of a wedding song, the pain of lost love, or the pride of Punjabi culture.

The Challenges of Transitioning from Music to Film
Amrit’s transition to film wasn’t without its challenges. The world of cinema is vastly different from the world of music, and adjusting to the rhythms of acting—where timing, delivery, and facial expressions play key roles—required a learning curve.

But Amrit’s experience in front of an audience helped him adjust quickly. Having been on stage countless times, he was used to reading the room, engaging with audiences, and feeling the energy of a performance.

However, film acting required a different kind of introspection. It wasn’t just about the audience’s reaction—it was about the internal process, digging deep into a character’s mind and motivations. But Amrit rose to the challenge, leveraging his deep understanding of human emotions, honed through years of songwriting.

The Appeal of Rishte Naate and Other Projects
Among his four films, Rishte Naate stands out as a turning point in his acting career. It wasn’t just a commercial film—it was a story about family, love, and tradition, themes that had always been central to Amrit’s music.

Rishte Naate was not a typical Punjabi film. It wasn’t filled with fast-paced songs and choreographed dance numbers. Instead, it focused on the intricacies of relationships, the bonds of family, and the decisions that define lives. The film resonated with audiences in a way that showcased Amrit’s ability to anchor a complex narrative through his performance.

As he took on more roles, Amrit also started to explore films with grittier themes, moving beyond his music persona into more serious, dramatic roles. He found himself drawn to characters that represented conflict and transformation, much like the themes in his own music.

Blurring the Lines Between Music and Film
For Amrit, the transition wasn’t a complete break from his roots in music. In fact, his career in acting began to blur the lines between film and music, as he brought the same depth of emotion and authenticity to his on-screen performances that made his songs so impactful.

In many ways, his films became an extension of his musical legacy, where his expressions and performances translated the emotional storytelling he’s known for into visual art. Whether it was a heartfelt scene with his onscreen family or a dramatic confrontation in the middle of the film, Amrit’s ability to create a connection with the audience was clear.

Expanding His Horizons: Future Film Projects
Currently, Amrit is working on three other films in addition to Rishte Naate, all of which showcase different sides of his acting talent. While he doesn’t want to be typecast into one genre, he’s particularly passionate about working on projects that explore cultural identity, the immigrant experience, and the evolution of family dynamics in the modern world.

He also credits his experience in Punjabi cinema as a way to stay connected to his roots. Much like his music, Amrit sees acting as an opportunity to give voice to the Punjabi diaspora, especially when it comes to the issues they face in both India and abroad.

Acting and Legacy: Amrit Saab’s Cinematic Future
Looking ahead, Amrit sees acting as another form of legacy building—but one that’s about more than just fame. “Acting is not about being a star. It’s about telling stories that people can relate to,” he says. “If I can make someone feel something, then I’ve done my job.”

He understands that his impact isn’t defined by a box office number or by how many awards he wins. Instead, it’s about creating moments that last long after the credits roll.