B’wood goes Haryanvi

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An uneven beard, stud in the ears, careless dressing, rowdy walk and a bidi tucked behind the ear — the desi Haryanvi look sported by actor Imran Khan in Matru ki Bijlee ka Mandola has got everyone talking about the Bollywood’s newfound love for a rather raucous Haryanvi culture.

After Love, Sex and Dhokha, Love Khichdi, Khap, Jalpari, Kismat Love Paisa Dilli and Rockstar many more films with Haryanvi backdrop like Zila Ghaziabad are in pipeline.
Haryanvi is a distinct flavour that seems to be working out for Bollywood, says scriptwriter Sanjay Chauhan, who visited many villages in Haryana while working on a film with Haryanvi tradition and female foeticide at its core, Jalpari. “For long Punjabi culture has dominated the Hindi films. I think the Haryanvi backdrop in the films is proving to be a much needed change for the fans,” says Sanjay.
It seems the Haryanvi culture is gaining popularity not just among audience but also actors. Shah Rukh Khan was recently quoted saying, “I think I have played a variety of roles but one character that I really want to play is a Haryanvi.”
Mallika Sherawat recently played a hard-to-please Haryanvi girl for the first time in Kismat Love Paisa Dilli. Randeep Hooda, who donned the Haryanvi jaat avatar for a film Love Khichdi says that it was one of the most interesting characters that he had ever played. “I also took classes to master over the Haryanvi lingo, which is very entertaining,” says Hooda.
Sanjay adds that every culture has some unique aspects to it, and these aspects make the films revolving around the Haryanvi community not just interesting but informative. “For example, Haryanvi people are very much in your face. They have distinct dressing style and body language that adds to the character on screen,” he adds.
If not the lead character, at least one Haryanvi character in the film makes it lively, says comedian and actor Vir Das, who also wants to play a rough and tough character. “What makes this click is the Haryanvi humour, which is very engaging. It’s witty and has an intelligent quotient to it too. Probably that’s why it is becoming very popular among audience too,” adds Vir.