From Thokar to Daudaak: Hardeep Grewal's Journey of Dreams, Struggle and Punjabi Cinema

From Music to the Big Screen

Hardeep Grewal's journey in Punjabi entertainment began with music, where he established himself as a singer and lyricist before moving into films. His work has often carried themes of ambition, determination and overcoming setbacks, ideas that have also shaped his transition into cinema.

His film career expanded with Tunka Tunka in 2021, followed by Batch 2013 in 2022. Across these projects, Grewal has taken on multiple creative responsibilities, including acting, writing and production, gradually building an identity beyond that of a conventional screen actor.

For Hardeep Grewal, storytelling has moved from songs to the larger canvas of Punjabi cinema.

The Story Behind Daudaak

Daudaak follows an aspiring 400-metre athlete whose dream is to become a national champion. His journey takes a dramatic turn when he finds himself accused of murder, forcing him to fight not only for his sporting ambitions but also to prove his innocence.

The film combines sports, drama and thriller elements, turning the idea of a race into something much bigger than competition on a track. The protagonist's struggle becomes a fight for reputation, survival and a second chance.

In Daudaak, the race is no longer just about reaching the finish line; it becomes a fight for survival and redemption.

Why Daudaak Fits Hardeep Grewal

Daudaak feels closely connected to the kind of motivational storytelling associated with Hardeep Grewal's work. His earlier film Tunka Tunka was also built around sport, discipline and the pursuit of a dream, making Daudaak another opportunity for him to explore an athlete's struggle through cinema.

The difference this time is the presence of a darker thriller element. Instead of focusing only on sporting challenges, Daudaak places its protagonist in a situation where his identity, reputation and future are all at stake.

From the sporting world of Tunka Tunka to the darker conflict of Daudaak, Hardeep Grewal continues to explore characters who refuse to give up.

Hardeep Grewal's Evolution as a Storyteller

Grewal's career has developed across several creative roles. He has worked as a singer, lyricist, actor, writer and producer, allowing him to remain involved in different stages of storytelling rather than limiting himself to performance.

His filmography includes Tunka Tunka, Batch 2013, Je Paisa Bolda Hunda and Six Each, while his credits across acting, writing and production reflect an expanding role within Punjabi cinema.

The Man Behind the Performer

Before becoming recognised as an actor, Hardeep Grewal built his identity through Punjabi music. His early work, including the album Thokar and songs associated with his motivational musical style, helped establish the creative voice that later carried into his film projects.

That transition from music to cinema is important to understanding his work today. Rather than abandoning the themes that defined his songs, Grewal has increasingly carried ideas of hard work, ambition and perseverance into longer-form stories.

The journey from Thokar to Daudaak reflects an artist continuing to tell stories about people who keep moving forward despite setbacks.

Daudaak's Creative Team

Daudaak is directed by Garry Khatrao, with Jaskaran S credited as producer. Hardeep Grewal is credited as the film's writer and lead actor, placing him at the centre of both the performance and storytelling sides of the project.

The film's combination of sports, drama and thriller gives the team an opportunity to present a Punjabi story with an emotional core while moving beyond the conventional sports-film formula.

A New Race for Hardeep Grewal

With Daudaak, Hardeep Grewal returns to a sports-driven narrative while taking his character into a more intense and uncertain world. The film's central athlete is chasing a national championship, but the circumstances around him turn that ambition into a battle for survival and redemption.

For Grewal, the project represents another step in an evolving career that has moved from music to acting and increasingly into writing and producing. Daudaak therefore arrives not simply as another film release, but as another chapter in the larger creative journey he has been building over the past decade.

Release

Daudaak is scheduled to release theatrically on 23 October 2026 in Punjabi. Directed by Garry Khatrao and featuring Hardeep Grewal in the lead, the film combines sports, drama and thriller elements around the story of an aspiring 400-metre athlete whose life changes after a murder accusation.