Gippy Grewal’s Akaal lands into controversy

Punjabi singer-actor-producer Gippy Grewal’s upcoming period action drama Akaal has found itself at the center of a heated controversy in Punjab, with accusations of misrepresenting Sikh characters drawing sharp backlash.

Patiala police have taken into custody religious leader Baba Bakshish Singh, who spearheaded protests against the film.

According to Baba Bakshish Singh, Akaal features Sikh characters indulging in activities like alcohol consumption and smoking—depictions he claims distort and disrespect Sikh values and history. He also expressed outrage over showing Sikh characters as "mundit" (clean-shaven), a representation he believes is incompatible with the reverence due to historical Sikh figures like Hari Singh Nalwa and Jassa Singh Ahluwalia.

Akaal, directed by Gippy Grewal, boasts a star-studded cast including Nimrat Khaira, Gurpreet Ghuggi, Prince Kanwaljit Singh, Nikitin Dheer, and Shinda Grewal. The film is produced by Karan Johar, Adar Poonawalla, and Apoorva Mehta under the Dharma Productions banner.