From Tambu Wala village to silver screen: Dheeraj Kumar on art, family and staying real

Dheeraj Kumar, widely recognized as Shinda from the film Warning, recounts his journey from a humble village to the silver screen. Born and raised in a close-knit family in Tambu Wala village, near Jalalabad in Fazilka, his upbringing greatly influenced his personality. His parents and siblings instilled in him values of honesty, respect, discipline, and kindness. As a child, he was described as impulsive, mirroring his father's fiery temperament, but eventually learned the importance of his mother's patience.

In his career, Kumar has ventured into various fields such as acting, theatre, music, and cricketer, although his initial aspiration was to become a cricketer. After his father's death, he found a way to honor his father's dreams by pursuing acting. He holds a degree in Arts, B.Ed in Music and Hindi, MA in Music, and MA in Theatre. He entered the film industry in 2015 with Rupinder Gandhi, The Gangster.

Kumar emphasizes the importance of staying true to oneself in the face of professional pressures and social media's influence. He finds inspiration in Irrfan Khan, and also credits his mother, sisters, wife Raavi Kaur, and sister-in-law for their unwavering support. He believes that through challenges, one learns to rebuild and grow stronger, and that family remains the greatest source of strength.

To the youth, Kumar advises working honestly, respecting every profession, and never losing sight of family. He cautions that AI cannot replace art, and encourages families to nurture at least one child's interest in the arts to preserve sensitivity and human emotion.