Parmeet Sethi, who played main antagonist in Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge, reveals aftermath: 'Did not even get main villain roles'

Parmeet Sethi, who became a household name for his memorable portrayal of Kuljeet—the arrogant and wealthy antagonist in the 1995 classic Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge—recently opened up about how that role shaped, and to some extent, limited his acting journey. The actor revealed that while the film made him instantly recognizable, it also led to him being typecast in similar negative roles. Looking back, Sethi confessed that he regrets rejecting many of those offers that could have sustained his visibility in the industry.

Typecast After DDLJ

In a conversation with Screen, Sethi recalled that after DDLJ became a phenomenon, he was immediately cast in Diljale, another box-office success. Yet, despite the momentum, the career growth he anticipated did not materialize. He explained that post these hits, most offers that came his way were for secondary antagonist roles—the villain’s son, brother, or sidekick—and not the main negative lead.

"All the roles that were offered to me after that were villain and negative roles, also not the main villain – villain’s son or brother, so I keep rejecting those..." he said.

Feeling dissatisfied with the limited scope of such characters, he began turning them down, unaware that such rejections would have long-term consequences. “I learned too late,” he said, adding that after a few years, he realized how quickly the film industry forgets those who are not constantly seen on screen.

Advice That Came Too Late

Sethi shared that DDLJ director Aditya Chopra later told him he should have accepted every offer during that crucial period to maintain visibility. Laughing about it now, Sethi said he teasingly told Aditya that the advice would have helped had it come earlier. He had assumed that rejecting uninspiring roles was the right choice for artistic integrity, not realizing that consistency mattered more in the early years. He went on to reveal that even in projects he did sign, he was sometimes pushed aside because producers feared he might overshadow the main villain.

On Working with Aditya and Yash Chopra

Sethi fondly remembered the atmosphere on the DDLJ sets, praising Aditya Chopra’s clarity of vision and directorial precision. According to him, Aditya narrated the film to him scene by scene and shot it exactly as described. He admired how Yash Chopra, despite being a legendary filmmaker himself, never interfered in his son’s creative process. Instead, Yash ji and his wife, Pamela Chopra, created a warm environment by often visiting the sets with homemade dishes like mutton, pasta, and lasagna. Sethi contrasted that old-world camaraderie with today’s sets, where personal connections are replaced by entourages, multiple managers, and luxury vanity vans.

Lessons from a Legendary Filmmaker

Reflecting on his later interactions with Yash Chopra during Badmaash Company, which also marked his directorial debut, Sethi recalled the veteran’s practical wisdom. Yash ji often said that “films never fail; budgets do,” emphasizing that spending should always be visible on screen. He believed in investing in the quality of the film rather than extravagance behind the scenes.

Directorial Debut and Personal Life

Badmaash Company, produced by Aditya Chopra and starring Shahid Kapoor and Anushka Sharma, told the story of four middle-class friends who turn to an illegal business scheme that spirals into an international con. The film went on to gross over ₹50 crore worldwide, cementing Sethi’s successful transition to direction.

Off-screen, Parmeet Sethi shares a happy life with actress Archana Puran Singh. The couple has two sons, Aaryamaan and Ayushmann, who often feature with their parents in family vlogs shared online.