When Punjab comes first: Neeru Bajwa puts ‘Thaapi’ on hold

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The Punjabi actor’s decision to suspend the film’s release puts solidarity and the call for justice ahead of cinema

By Manya Bhasin

Chandigarh: For Neeru Bajwa, the screen has long been a space to tell stories. This time, however, the Punjabi actor has chosen to make a statement beyond cinema.

Bajwa has announced that her film Thaapi will remain on hold, expressing solidarity with Punjab and support for the call for justice for Parminder Jotta. The decision has brought attention to the sentiment surrounding the issue, placing the film’s release in the background as the actor makes her position clear.

The move has drawn appreciation from supporters who see it as a gesture of solidarity during a sensitive period for Punjab. For them, the decision reflects a willingness to put public sentiment ahead of commercial considerations. Before the announcement, Thaapi had generated interest among viewers, with its sports-drama narrative and the performances of Bajwa and Sunny Singh adding to the anticipation surrounding the film. The pause has now shifted the conversation from the big screen to the larger concerns that prompted the decision.
Through her social media message, Bajwa emphasised the importance of standing with Punjab during a difficult time. Her statement was not centred on box-office prospects or release schedules, but on solidarity with her homeland and the public sentiment surrounding the demand for justice.

The hashtags #PunjabFirst and #StandWithPunjab further underlined the message she wanted to convey: that, at certain moments, the concerns of a community can take precedence over professional commitments.
For an industry in which release dates, promotional campaigns and box-office expectations are carefully planned, putting a film on hold is a significant decision. It also brings into focus the relationship between popular artists and the communities whose stories, language and culture shape their work.

The film’s release has been suspended indefinitely, with no new date announced. According to the announcement, Thaapi will remain off screens in India and overseas until the situation in Punjab stabilises.

While film sets are usually filled with rehearsals, cameras and calls for action, Bajwa’s decision has brought a different kind of commitment into focus — one rooted in solidarity, identity and the willingness to stand by a cause beyond the world of entertainment.
For now, Thaapi can wait. The message Bajwa has chosen to place in the spotlight is about Punjab.

(The writer is an intern with The North News.)