Dear Jassi 2023, Tarsem Singh

My first memorable experience on a film set was working on Dear Jassi. The film was being directed by Tarsem Singh — a Grammy award–winning, celebrated filmmaker from Hollywood. I remember wondering why someone of his stature would travel all the way to one of the remotest villages in Punjab to make a film.

But soon I realised: Tarsem was creating his dream project.

Having spent three months on that set changed my life. On the very first day, he addressed the entire crew and said something that has stayed with me: “This isn’t a Punjabi film, but a film in Punjabi.” That one line revealed his vision and set the tone for everything that followed.


I was an intern, assigned to handle picture vehicles. Because it was a period film, the art department had created custom number plates. Every evening, before the next day’s shoot, I would prepare a list of all vehicles, check their plates, and coordinate with the junior artists who used them in the background.

It was meticulous work, but it taught me so much about responsibility and attention to detail. Luckily, halfway through the shoot, I was upgraded to Key PA for my credit — the Associate Director appreciated my enthusiasm and dedication. That recognition meant a lot.

This project pushed me to give my absolute best, and I’m still grateful for how much I learned and how many people I got to connect with. The synergy on set was unbelievable. As I grew into the role, I began to understand how a film truly comes together.


A film is like a dish: the director is the chef, the DOP is the chef’s hand, the actors and music are the ingredients, the editor is the fire that simmers everything into place — and the crew, we are the cookware. Each one of us matters.

What the dish becomes, what process it follows, why the chef chooses broccoli instead of cauliflower — all of that stems from the chef’s vision. But it also depends on how calm the chef is. If the chef is angry, the cookware might be mishandled, the ingredients might burn, or the hand might get hurt.


My biggest learning as a budding director was this: enjoy the process. Passion doesn’t have to be aggressive.


Tarsem set a powerful example of what a director should be like. He was around 61 then — super fit, endlessly energetic, climbing ladders whenever he wanted to, fully involved, fully alive on set. He listened to music to stay in the zone. And most of all, he was incredibly easy to talk to.

Yugam Sood, Actor

Whenever he didn’t like a take, he wouldn’t get upset. He would simply say, “Amazing! One more.” He took everyone along with him, inspiring confidence, respect, and joy. I am truly grateful to God. That experience shaped me — not just as a filmmaker, but as a person.