Diljit Dosanjh, who just concluded the Dil-Iuminati tour, is one of India’s most prominent pop stars and a global icon who has enhanced India’s visibility at renowned events like Coachella and appearances on Jimmy Fallon’s show.
Diljit’s journey from humble beginnings adds to his appeal. He recently shared a nostalgic story about his first paycheck, which has endeared him even more to his fans. During an early interview, Diljit recounted his initial foray into earning at 18 when he performed at a birthday party and earned Rs 3,000.
What he did with his first earnings epitomizes why many regard him as the G.O.A.T. Rather than spending the money on himself, Diljit honoured a promise to a mentally challenged local man who lived alone, using one-third of his earnings to buy a bicycle.
A fantastic start to 2025
A very memorable meeting with PM @narendramodi Ji.
We talked about a lot of things including music of course! pic.twitter.com/TKThDWnE0P
— DILJIT DOSANJH (@diljitdosanjh) January 1, 2025
He donated the remainder of his paycheck to the Gurudwara Sahib, demonstrating his commitment to his community.
Reflecting on his music career, Diljit broke into the music scene in 2004 with his debut album, Ishq Da Uda Ada. His third album, Smile, produced by Sukhpal Sukh, catapulted him to fame.
In 2020, his album G.O.A.T. entered Billboard’s Social 50 chart and topped Billboard’s Top Triller Global chart.
Diljit’s acting career began with a bang in 2016 with Udta Punjab, bringing him widespread critical acclaim. Since then, he has starred in numerous films, including Good Newzz, the Jatt & Juliet franchise, Amar Singh Chamkila, Crew, and more.