Parmeet Sethi regrets rejecting villain roles after DDLJ, recalls Aditya Chopra’s advice: ‘You should’ve picked up the phone…’
In an interview with SCREEN, actor Parmeet Sethi revealed that he regretted rejecting negative roles after the success of Dilwale Dulhaniya Le Jaayenge.
Parmeet Sethi is still best remembered for his portrayal of the entitled brat Kuljeet in Dilwale Dulhaniya Le Jaayenge (1995). As the film completes 30 years, the actor told SCREEN how Aditya Chopra’s iconic romantic drama helped shape his career. Parmeet shared that Aditya had advised him to take up every role that came his way, though, as he admits, that advice came a little too late. He also spoke about his experience of working with the late filmmaker Yash Chopra and the lessons he learned from him.
During the candid chat, Parmeet Sethi was asked about the aftermath of DDLJ, and he replied, “Immediately after that, I got Diljale, which again was a hit film. But, somewhere down the line, the kind of response I hoped for, that didn’t come. All the roles that were offered to me after that were villain and negative roles, also not the main villain – villain’s son or brother, so I keep rejecting those. As I realized 2-3 years down the line, once you’re out of sight, you’re out of mind.”
He added, “A few years later, when Adi and I met, he said that you should have done everything that came your way. I told him, ‘You should have picked up the phone and told me this na, you are the experienced one, not me.’ I was just thinking that I have to reject if I don’t like the role. However, I did a few negative roles after that. And, I won’t take names, but I was sidelined even after being signed because they thought I would take the limelight away, thinking he will eat up the main villain. For me, I entered films, I made it as a film star, everything was a bonus.”
While praising Aditya Chopra’s filmmaking approach and how his father Yash Chopra didn’t interfere with the process, Parmeet Sethi shared, “Yash ji didn’t interfere even for a second, not even a single word when Adi was directing. The way he narrated the film to me shot by shot, he shot it exactly the same way, no difference at all. It was all Adi, the film was clear in his head. Yash ji was the father figure on the set. He and Pamela ji used to come with homemade pasta, mutton, and lasagna. The atmosphere uplifted the whole unit. Not like today, 50 managers and 50 vans. These walls have been created now.”
“I had more interaction with Yash ji during Badmash Company. I will always remember his wise words. Like he used to say, ‘Picture fail nahi hoti, budget fail hote hain.’ If you made it in the right budget then you will earn some money, more or less. He said that he spends money on the right places. Whatever will be seen on the big screen, I spend money on that. If someone is sitting in a big makeup van, that won’t be seen in a film. That’s where he was conservative,” he concluded.
Navya Kharbanda is an Entertainment Journalist and Cinematic Commentator at The Indian Express, where she specializes in bridging the gap between classic Bollywood heritage and contemporary Gen-Z perspectives. Her work is characterized by a blend of nostalgia-driven analysis and on-the-ground reporting from major film festivals and industry events.
Experience & Professional Background
Navya is a prominent voice on The Indian Express entertainment desk, known for her ability to secure candid interviews with both legendary veterans and rising stars. Her career highlights include:
The Indian Express: Covers a wide range of topics from high-stakes box office analysis to in-depth celebrity profiles. She is a regular at major events like the International Film Festival of India (IFFI).
SCREEN Interviews: Navya has conducted a series of "exclusive conversations" for SCREEN, featuring industry stalwarts like Anupam Kher, Vishal Bhardwaj, Vidhu Vinod Chopra, and Suhasini Maniratnam.
Archival Reporting: She is noted for her sensitive handling of archival interviews and retrospectives, recently covering the legacy of late superstar Dharmendra and the career reflections of the late Satish Shah.
Expertise & Focus Areas
Navya’s beat is uniquely defined by her "Gen-Z Revisit" series, where she re-evaluates cult classics through a modern lens. Her core areas of expertise include:
Cinematic Retrospectives: Analyzing 80s and 90s landmarks like Satyam Shivam Sundaram, Qayamat Se Qayamat Tak, and Mohabbatein to explore how themes of romance and rebellion resonate with today’s youth.
Industry Insights: Tracking the career resurgences of actors (e.g., Akshaye Khanna) and the evolving dynamics of film production and distribution in the OTT era.
On-Set Dynamics: Reporting on behind-the-scenes stories from major productions, ranging from the technical challenges of Mirzapur: The Film to the work ethics of superstars like Shah Rukh Khan.
South Indian Cinema: Expanding her coverage to include the impact of regional icons and the rise of pan-Indian fantasy epics like Magadheera.
Authoritativeness & Trust
Navya Kharbanda has established her authority by consistently providing "Journalism of Courage" in the entertainment sphere. Whether she is interrogating the sexism in patriarchal classics or reporting on the fair-pay debates at international film festivals, her work prioritizes factual accuracy and critical objectivity. Her ability to synthesize deep industry history with modern audience trends makes her a trusted source for readers seeking both entertainment news and thoughtful cultural commentary. ... Read More
