By Resham Sahani
In an industry obsessed with last names, shortcuts, and launch pads, Sukhan Waraich is quietly doing something radical.. starting from zero and staying there until his work speaks louder than his surname.
Many may not know that Sukhan is the son of celebrated Punjabi actor and comedian Gurpreet Ghuggi. And that’s exactly how he wants it. No announcements. No orchestrated launches. No riding on familiarity. Just instinct, patience, and the stubborn courage to follow his heart, even when it meant being thrown off the path he had carefully planned.
Born into a family already respected in cinema, Sukhan still chose a life far removed from film sets in his formative years. He completed his Bachelor’s degree in Commerce from Panjab University, Chandigarh.. hardly the conventional route for someone destined for the movies. Alongside academics, Sukhan was deeply immersed in sports and went on to play cricket at a competitive level for Team Punjab, proving early on that discipline and endurance were second nature to him.
However, life has a way of redirecting even the most carefully charted journeys. During college, Sukhan suffered an injury that forced him to step away from cricket. What initially felt like a setback slowly became a turning point. Recuperation brought long hours and quiet days and with them, films. Watching cinema intensely, almost obsessively, he began developing a deeper curiosity about storytelling, framing, and narrative rhythm. Direction, more than acting, caught his attention.
Following graduation, Sukhan made a decisive move that would define his next chapter. He came straight to Mumbai and enrolled in Whistling Woods International for a two-year Master’s course, hoping to formally train as a filmmaker. But reality, once again, intervened. During the course, Sukhan scored lower marks in subjects related to music and French cinema. What followed was not a second chance or leniency but an expulsion after one year.
For many, that moment could have ended the dream altogether. For Sukhan, it stripped away the illusion and left him face-to-face with uncertainty. No film school. No safety net. No structured roadmap.
And yet, it was from this place of rejection that his real education began.
From mid-2024, Sukhan started doing what thousands of hopefuls in Mumbai do every day. He started sending applications, knocking on doors, meeting people, and accepting the grind. He reached out to every production house possible, not as someone expecting privilege, but as someone ready to learn.
That persistence paid off when he landed a role as an Assistant Director at T-Series on one of the most anticipated projects in recent times – Border 2. The film marks a significant milestone for Sukhan, not only because of its scale, but because it also features his very first on-screen appearance as an actor. A quiet debut, not packaged as a “launch,” releasing on 23rd January, symbolizing how his journey has unfolded.. organically and without noise.
Sukhan is no stranger to behind-the-scenes work. In the Punjabi film industry, he has already assisted as an Assistant Director on the entire Carry On Jatta franchise, gaining hands-on experience on successful commercial sets while learning the rhythm of popular cinema from the ground up.
The next big step arrives this April, when Sukhan makes his Punjabi film debut as a leading man in Chaali Din. The film is based on a best-selling Punjabi novel by Dr. Gurpreet Dhugga, and marks his first full-fledged performance as a protagonist. Unlike many debut roles designed to introduce a star, Chaali Din is rooted in literature and character.. aligning perfectly with Sukhan’s instinct-driven choices.
What stands out about Sukhan Waraich is not the lineage he comes from, but the decisions he has made despite it. He has been injured, expelled, rejected, and overlooked and yet never insulated from struggle. His journey reflects an all-rounder’s mindset: adapting when the pitch changes, learning when the plan collapses, and staying in the game even when applause is absent.
In a time when the word “nepotism” dominates conversations around cinema, Sukhan’s story offers a quieter counterpoint. Not denial, not rebellion..just work. And perhaps that is the most honest way forward.
For now, Sukhan Waraich remains a name many are just beginning to hear. But if instinct, resilience, and earned experience count for anything, it won’t stay that way for long.
