In an interview with this writer in 2015 Diljit had said, “I knew ‘Soorma’ was a role of a lifetime. I am ashamed to say that when Shaad Sir (director Shaad Ali) came to me with the project I did not know anything about Sandeep Paaji.
He also spoke about the lack of respect in the country for hockey players. “It’s a shame that we do not give the same respect and position to hockey as we do to other games in the country.
The preparations to play the part took Diljit right into the field. “A role like Soorma happens once in a lifetime. I learnt to play hockey from scratch. And it had to be hockey on a competent level. I was playing Sandeep Singh. I couldn’t afford to look like an amateur. I learnt the game from Sandeep Paaji and his elder brother (Bikram Singh). By the time I was ready to face the camera I was confident of my game. Bahot mehnat karni padti hai (One has to work really hard). The fact that people have found me convincing as Sandeep Singh is reward enough for me.”
While playing Sandeep Patil, Diljit came to respect Sandeep immensely. “I was playing a legend whom I had come to respect immensely as I got to know about him. I could not afford to goof up. Now I am humbled by the response to my performance. Sandeep Paaji has brought great honours for our country. I’m honoured to play him.”
Diljit hoped Soorma would create awareness about the game of hockey. “When I go to Haryana and my home state Punjab, I see children everywhere playing hockey. But not outside these two states. Why? Why is there no glamour prestige and power attached to the game of hockey in the rest of the country? If ‘Soorma’ can create even some awareness of what a difficult and involving game hockey is, I would think my efforts have paid off.”