Harpal Singh Sokhi on His Film Role and Laughter Chefs

Celebrity chef and television personality Harpal Singh Sokhi has opened up about his acting journey, revealing details about his upcoming film Love You Loktantra, which is set to premiere on DD National. Sokhi, currently a featured cast member on Colors TV's hit cooking reality show Laughter Chefs, reflected on how the project deepened an unexpected bond with his on-screen co-star Krushna Abhishek.

The film, shot during the COVID-19 pandemic, marks Sokhi's second cinematic appearance following his Bollywood debut in Bank Chor (2017), produced under the Yash Raj Films banner and directed by Bumpy.

"Love You Loktantra is my second film, and I have played a small role — I am a bar owner where actor and comedian Krushna Abhishek is performing," Sokhi told this correspondent.

Sokhi explained that the scope of his role was limited due to prior professional commitments, including a product launch in Australia at the time of filming. Despite the brief screen time, he expressed pride in the project reaching a wide audience through the national broadcaster.

"I am happy that Love You Loktantra is being premiered on DD National across the world. It is always a good feeling when you see yourself in films," he said.

The chef-turned-actor described his interaction with Abhishek on set as limited, noting that the comedian was engaged primarily in a dance performance sequence during the shoot. What makes the memory particularly meaningful, Sokhi says, is what followed years later.

"Little did I know that I would be doing Laughter Chefs with him in the future. Our relationship definitely evolved so much since the time we met," Sokhi recalled.

On the experience of acting itself, Sokhi — who is not a trained performer — admitted to finding a certain magic in the craft. He pointed to Bank Chor as the more expansive of his two film appearances, where he was given nearly 18 minutes of screen time opposite Riteish Deshmukh and Vivek Oberoi.

"There is this magic in acting when you know that you are not actually playing yourself and convincing with your craft. Whoever has seen Bank Chor knows that my character is not a funny one — it was on the serious side," he noted.

Love You Loktantra arrives on Doordarshan as part of the channel's continued programming of Bollywood titles for its nationwide and international viewership. The film's DD National premiere is expected to bring renewed visibility to a project that had largely flown under the radar since its COVID-era production.

Sokhi's dual presence — as both a culinary expert on primetime television and an occasional film actor — reflects a broader trend of food personalities crossing over into mainstream entertainment. His continued appearance on Laughter Chefs alongside Abhishek and other celebrities underscores how the professional relationship that began on a film set has grown into a sustained on-screen partnership.

As of publication, no official premiere date for Love You Loktantra on DD National has been formally announced.

Also Read: Chef Harpal Singh Sokhi on Food Trends & Social Media