Amar Singh Chamkila’s first wife says Amarjot’s family took everything from her after singer’s passing: ‘Didn’t even leave a spoon’

Director Imtiaz Ali spoke about the strained relationship shared by the families of Amar Singh Chamkila's first wife Gurmail, and second wife Amarjot.

By: Entertainment Desk

New Delhi | April 30, 2024 01:00 PM IST

3 min read

Amar Singh chamkila second marriage amarjot

Amar Singh Chamkila was already married when he tied the knot with Amarjot Kaur (right).

Director Imtiaz Ali spoke about screening his latest film, Netflix’s Amar Singh Chamkila, for the late singer’s two families. Chamkila was married twice, and was killed alongside his second wife Amarjot by masked gunmen in 1988. The circumstances behind Chamkila’s marriages remain murky, with some suggesting that he kept his first wife hidden from Amarjot, and others saying that he came clean. Gurmail herself claimed to always being married to him, and opened up in a new interview about the disputes that she had with Amarjot’s family after his passing.

She told Love Punjab, “I have witnessed a lot of hardships after he passed away. He was the light of our lives, but also the sole breadwinner. The children were very young, and I was helpless. We didn’t see a penny of his earnings, because the court cases started after he died. They went on for 15 years, but we eventually won. The judge took witness statements from people in our village. They testified that I was his wife.” She continued, “After he passed, there were a lot of hardships. I would earn money, and also manage the family. Our youngest son couldn’t take his father’s passing, and he died after being run over by a car. It was a very difficult time. But I made sure my daughters got an education.”

Also read – Amar Singh Chamkila: Imtiaz Ali set out to make a movie about the slain singer, but he made a movie about himself instead

Opening up about how life changed after he supposedly married Amarjot, Gurmail Kaur said, “He used to come meet me by himself. Sometimes, he’d bring her along also. We would make meals together, but she wasn’t a very good cook, so I’d tell her that I’d do it myself. They had a cook for themselves.” Asked if she developed a fondness of Amarjot over time, Gurmail said that she showed her hospitality whenever she visited, but that was about it. “We didn’t have any domestic disputes, but after Chamkila died, our house was swept clean by them. They took everything, including the house. Didn’t even leave a spoon behind. But who had the energy to fight them at the time. They had no reason to visit me after his passing.”

In an interview with News18, Imtiaz spoke about both Gurmail and Amarjot’s families attending the film’s premiere in Mumbai but refusing to be photographed together. “Amarjot and Gurmail’s families were there and were trying to take pictures with me separately. But I told them ki ek picture saath mein lo. Jaiman calls Gurmail mummy ji. Things happen in life but if they all can stick together, it’s always good,” he said. Starring Diljit Dosanjh and Parineeti Chopra, Amar Singh Chamkila debuted to positive reviews on Netflix on April 12.

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