Punjabi Biopic ‘Chardikala’ Shifts From Cannes Spotlight to New CBFC Review

Amarjit Singh Saron’s 2026 Punjabi biographical drama Chardikala – also released under the title Zakhma Ton Chardikala Tak – is making a second wave of attention. After its recent appearance at the Cannes Film Festival, the film is now under a fresh review by India’s Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC).

Starring Ammy Virk alongside Roopi Gill and Himmat Sandhu, Chardikala dramatizes the life of Bibi Bimal Kaur Khalsa, the widow of Beant Singh, one of the men who assassinated Prime Minister Indira Gandhi in 1984. The narrative follows her personal and political struggles in the years that followed the tragic event, offering a perspective that has seldom been explored on screen.

The Cannes screening has raised the profile of the project among international audiences, while the pending CBFC clearance will determine its distribution across India. For the South‑Asian diaspora, the film’s subject matter touches on a painful chapter of modern history, and its approval could open up broader conversations about that era within and beyond the community.

Stakeholders are watching closely to see how the board’s feedback may shape the film’s release strategy, both in theatres and on streaming platforms.