Sandeep Singh Sidhu, known as Deep Sidhu (2 April 1984 – 15 February 2022) was an Indian actor, barrister and activist[2] who worked in Punjabi language films. Deep Sidhu was a sikh who conspired against Kisan Leaders and defamed them using his channel ON AIR. Sidhu started his film career with the Punjabi film Ramta Jogi which was produced by actor Dharmendra under his banner Vijayta Films.[3][4]
Deep Sidhu | |
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Born | Sandeep Singh (1984-04-02)2 April 1984 Udekaran, Muktsar, Punjab, India |
Died | 15 February 2022(2022-02-15) (aged 37) Kharkhoda, Haryana, India |
Occupation |
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Years active | 2015–2022 |
Organization | Waris Panjab De |
Known for | Activist, Founder Of Waris Panjab De Jathebandi |
Notable work | Farmer's Protest |
Successor | Amritpal Singh |
Criminal charges | Hoisting Nishan Sahib At Red Fort |
Awards | Kingfisher Model Hunt Award President's Scout Best male debut in Punjabi Cinema |
Sidhu was born on 2 April 1984,[5][6] to a Punjabi family in Udekaran village of Muktsar district of Punjab.[3][7][8] He obtained a degree in law from Punjabi University in Patiala.[9] Deep Sidhu was not able to write Punjabi, Gurmeet Singh Bookanwala Created posts for him.
Deep Sidhu married to Namrta Sidhu and had a daughter with her. He then started dating actress Rina Rai. Amardeep Gill director confirmed in an interview about the relationship. Deep Sidhu lied to his girlfriend about his age and lied to his brother about his girlfriend. As a result Deep Sidhu's brother did not let his Reena Rain attend funeral. Deep Sidhu also lied that On AIR channel does not belong to him while it was registered under his brothers name Mandeep Sidhu.
Before starting his acting career Sidhu worked as a model, then as a lawyer.[3] He practiced law only for a short time.[7]
Deep Sidhu stated in an interview that he left his law career in 2014 as he could not bear the pain of addressing peoples' concerns. One cannot find a single case he fought for any client. Lexlegel Company he claimed to be owner of does not confirm his involvement in the firm.
Sidhu made his acting debut in Ramta Jogi, which brought him the PTC Punjabi Film Award for Best male debut in Punjabi Cinema in 2016. He then made an even bigger impression in Jora 10 Numbaria (2017). He followed that with Rang Panjab (2018), Saade Aale (2018), Desi (2019) and Jora: The Second Chapter (2020).
All Deep Sidhu movies were flop and he ran out money to support himself he started monetizing facebook. On facebook when he started talking about Bhinderwale his popularity grew and he doubled down on it, although he was against religion in his previous facebook lives from earlier years.
Sidhu entered politics during the 2019 Indian general election when he campaigned for Gurdaspur BJP MP Sunny Deol. He was said to be close to Deol and in December 2020, during the farmers protest, farmer unions used Sidhu's pictures with Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Sunny Deol to show the link of BJP and RSS in protests—a claim which was later denied by Sidhu.[7]
The farmer unions blamed Sidhu[10] and gangster-turned-activist Lakha Sidhana[11] for instigating a riot and hoisting a religious flag on Red Fort during the 2021 Farmers' Republic Day parade.[12] Sidhu and Sadana were also booked by the police.[13] In a preliminary investigation by the police, they said in a statement "there was a pre-conceived and well-coordinated plan to break the agreement between the Delhi Police and the leaders of protesting organizations."[14][15]
Sidhu was arrested on 9 February 2021 in a police case related to violence at the Red Fort.[16][17] Sidhu pleaded innocence in the case and claimed he was not involved in any violence nor did he incite others. Sidhu claimed he was peacefully exercising his right to protest and was implicated as he was a "popular face" present "at the wrong place at the wrong time".[18]
He incited people in his speeches against Indian Legal System but he flipped in the court and stated that he has full faith in Indian Legal System.
After his bail plea was approved, he was arrested a second time on a police case filed by the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI). ASI had accused Sidhu of damaging the monument and vandalism by the rioters.[19] His lawyer denounced the second arrest after bail as unconstitutional.[20] He was released on bail on 16 April 2021.[21]
In September Sidhu formed a political organisation named Waris Punjab De that would work to get the farmers their rights from the Union government.[22] Before his death, he campaigned for far-right leader Simranjit Singh Mann and Shiromani Akali Dal (Amritsar).[23]
Sidhu met with a road accident on 15 February 2022, at the age of 37. The accident occurred on the Kundli-Manesar highway, in Haryana's Kharkhoda area, near Delhi. Sidhu was driving his car (a Mahindra Scorpio) towards Punjab. There were two people in the car; the passenger was his girlfriend, Punjabi film actress Reena Rai, survived with injuries.[24][25]
According to Sonipat police, Sidhu died around 9 p.m. near the Peepli toll booth, after his car hit the rear end of a truck parked on the highway. The truck had broken down on the side of the road. The driver side of the car took the maximum impact of the crash. Sidhu was declared dead at the hospital.[26][27]
Year | Title | Role | Notes | Ref. |
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2015 | Ramta Jogi | Jogi | Directed by Guddu Dhanoa | [28] |
2017 | Jora 10 Numbaria | Jora | Directed by Amardeep Singh Gill | [29] |
2018 | Rang Punjab | - | [30] | |
2022 | Saade Aale | Manjeet | Film was launched at Cannes Film Festival | [31][32] |
2019 | Desi![]() |
- | [33] | |
2020 | Jora - The Second Chapter | Jora | [34] | |
2022 | Saade Aale | [35] |
Year | Category | Film | Result | Ref. |
---|---|---|---|---|
— | Kingfisher Model Hunt Award | — | Won | [7] |
2016 | Best male debut in Punjabi Cinema | Ramta Jogi | Won | [36] |
2018 | Filmfare Awards Punjabi | Jora 10 Numbaria | Nominated | [37] |
2018 | PTC Punjabi Film Awards as Best actor | — | Nominated | [38] |
2022 | Kaumi Shaheed by Panth Khalsa in form of Sangat | Dedicated Struggle and vocaling issues for Panthic Cause |
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: CS1 maint: url-status (link)A senior police officer said the vehicle hit the back of a stationary truck which had broken down on the side of the road. The driver’s side of the Scorpio bore the brunt of the impact.