Wamiqa Gabbi gets real about her early Punjabi films: I did them to survive, not out of love

Wamiqa Gabbi reveals she took up certain Punjabi films purely to sustain herself, not out of passion. Here's how her career shifted after 2019 with 'Jubilee', 'Khufiya', 'DC' and now 'Jai Hanuman'

By  Jasleen Kaur August 12th 2026 05:15 PM

PTC Web Desk: Actress Wamiqa Gabbi has stirred up quite a bit of discussion after speaking frankly about a part of her career she doesn't usually talk about — the early Punjabi films she signed simply to keep working and pay her bills.

In a recent interaction, Wamiqa Gabbi didn't hold back. She admitted that quite a few of those early projects weren't picks she made out of excitement. Some scripts and roles just didn't spark anything in her. But at that point in her career, having steady work on hand mattered far more than waiting around for a role she genuinely loved. In her own words, it came down to keeping her career alive, so she said yes to films even when she wasn't fully invested in the character or the story.

A turning point she traces back to 2019

Wamiqa is upfront about the fact that she sees her career very differently now compared to those earlier days. According to her, the shift really began around 2019, when better offers started coming her way, parts that actually let her dig into more complex, meaningful characters instead of just showing up on screen.

Projects like 'Jubilee' and 'Khufiya' played a big role in that transformation. They gave viewers a chance to see a side of her acting they hadn't noticed before, proving she could fully immerse herself in a role rather than just play a part in someone else's story.

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As expected, her honesty has triggered a mixed response online. Some people questioned what this admission says about her relationship with Punjabi cinema, while many others praised her for being upfront about the money struggles and career pressures young actors often go through when they're just starting out.

Where her career stands today

Wamiqa's journey now looks nothing like where it began. She's carved out a name for herself as an actor who can hold an audience's attention through sheer performance, without leaning on glamour or star power to do the heavy lifting.

Her recent film DC has added further momentum to this new phase, with praise coming in for her work and growing buzz around what she'll do next.

Up next: A role In Jai Hanuman?

Adding to the excitement, reports indicate Wamiqa has signed on for a part in Rishab Shetty's Jai Hanuman. Her character is being kept firmly under wraps for now, though shooting is expected to kick off soon in Hyderabad.

Jai Hanuman, helmed by director Prasanth Varma, is the follow-up to 2024's blockbuster Hanu-Man. With Rishab Shetty headlining the sequel, the news of Wamiqa possibly joining the cast has only added to the curiosity surrounding this big mythological project.

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