At an age when many people are considering slowing down professionally, Jaswant Singh Zafar is embarking on an entirely new career. The 60-year-old engineer-turned-writer from Patiala has made his acting debut in the Punjabi film ‘Rehmat’, sharing screen space with veteran actor Naseeruddin Shah. According to BBC India, Zafar heads the Punjab government’s language department. An engineer by training and a writer by profession, acting was never part of his original career plans. However, his association with theatre during his college years eventually led him to the big screen.Directed by Gurvinder Singh, ‘Rehmat’ premiered at the Locarno Film Festival in Switzerland last month, where it competed for the festival’s top prize, the Pardo d’Oro. The Punjabi-language film explores grief and forgiveness against the backdrop of political turmoil experienced by the Punjabi community.
Jaswant Singh Zafar on making his acting debut opposite Naseeruddin Shah
For a first-time actor, sharing the screen with an actor of Naseeruddin Shah’s stature could understandably be intimidating. However, Zafar said he did not feel particularly nervous while working with the veteran. He recalled how other newcomers had felt nervous around Shah, while the veteran actor himself remained warm and encouraging throughout the shoot.“I came to know that people [acting for] the first time, they got so nervous in front of Naseeruddin Shah. Moreover, he was very friendly. After every shot he was telling me, ‘It doesn’t seem like this is your first film’,” he said.
Why Jaswant Singh Zafar was chosen for ‘Rehmat’
Zafar revealed that the filmmakers were looking for someone with authentic rural roots for the role of Harjap Singh. His own background ultimately made him a natural fit for the character. While his professional background may have been far removed from mainstream acting, his familiarity with rural Punjab helped him connect with the character.“I belong to a rural area. When the project of this film came up, they were in search of an actor or a person with a rural background. My personality was very befitting in the character of the film – Harjap Singh,” he explained.
‘Rehmat’ and the experience of Locarno
Making his debut was already a significant milestone for Zafar, but the film’s premiere at the prestigious Locarno Film Festival added another unexpected chapter to his journey. He admitted that receiving appreciation from international audiences was a completely new experience for him.“When someone says, ‘You’re the fittest person for this job or work,’ then it is self-motivation to take on that. The experience at the Locarno Film Festival – the people appreciated me. A few people were taking pictures with me, and they were asking questions. That was very new, and that was, you can say, very surprising for me,” he said.
About ‘Rehmat’
Directed by Gurvinder Singh, ‘Rehmat’ is a Punjabi-language drama centred on themes of grief and forgiveness. The film unfolds against the backdrop of political turmoil and examines its impact on the Punjabi community. Alongside Jaswant Singh Zafar and Naseeruddin Shah, the film features Suvinder Vicky, Diya Kamboj, Mita Vashisht, Harwinder Aujla and Navjot Randhawa.
