06 May,2026 01:17 PM IST | Mumbai | Aakruti Bagla
Paramvir Cheema (Pic/By special arrangement)
The first season of Sapne Vs Everyone won audiences over with its relatable storyline and endearing characters. Season two returns with Ambrish Verma, Paramvir Cheema, and Vijayant Kohli in lead roles. The show offers a powerful glimpse into a hard-hitting story of ambition, revenge, and identity unfolding across Mumbai's film industry and real estate landscape. In an exclusive chat with mid-day, actor Paramvir Cheema opens up about setbacks, struggles, and losing Dhurandhar 2.
For actor Paramvir Cheema, setbacks aren't failures; they are stepping stones. Reflecting on his journey, the actor shares how difficult phases have only helped him grow stronger. "Major learnings come from setbacks. I call them learnings because that's how I choose to see them. Every setback has given me more clarity. Never feel like nothing will happen after a setback; that's what our show reflects."
Opening up about a particularly tough phase, Cheema recalls how the COVID-19 pandemic disrupted his life. "During COVID, I left Bombay and even quit acting for a while. That was a major setback," he admits. However, it was his father's advice that changed everything. "He told me, âDon't stop auditioning. You've given four years of your life to this. I've supported you, don't give up now.' That stayed with me."
Taking his father's words seriously, Cheema returned to auditions and soon landed a role in a show on SonyLIV, Tabbar.
Apart from Sapne Vs Everyone, Paramvir also had the release of his Punjabi film with Sonam Bajwa. From not having work to now working on multiple projects, he reflects on his early days and shared, "I was struggling really hard. There was no work. First of all, I was not getting good auditions. I was not able to crack them. Then I thought of doing casting for a bit to understand why I am not getting work. And then I started my job with Kavish Sinha."
Admitting how he is choosy when it comes to work, the actor revealed, "I have left more than what I have done. So, I think if you take the right choices and you are just focused, you know where you want to be, then things work out."
The actor recently shared how he turned down the role of Pinda in Dhurandhar 2. When asked if he regrets saying no to such projects, he replied, "Whenever I thought of leaving a project, I would discuss it with my manager. I remember telling him that I shouldn't let this one go and that we should do it. But he insisted I shouldn't. I didn't even have money back then. After one-and-a-half to two years, I thanked him for not letting me do it. Recently, there was another project everyone was talking about. It came to me, and I said no, not because I didn't want to work with the director, but because it didn't feel right for me at this stage. If this offer had come to me two years ago, I would have done it."
