Jassi is set to make his Bollywood debut with Happy Phirr Bhag Jayegi and feels people should be glad that Punjabi actors are getting prominence in Hindi films.
"There is no comparison or competition with Diljit. We both are doing our thing. I think people should be proud that both of us from Punjab have made a name here in this industry," Jassi said.
"I thank Diljit for proving that a normal sardar guy can play diverse roles and have a massive reach. Before this, sardars were only shown as comedians. People who played sardars used to wear fake turbans and Punjabis always felt this is not how a Punjabi guy would be. Diljit came and changed the perception," he added.
Jassi says his connection with the Udta Punjab star goes back a long way as he was fascinated the way Diljit would wear his turban and learnt from him.
"I was in school when Diljit had just started out and I used to look at him and other singers and would imitate their turban. I learnt how to make turban by looking at them," he adds.
Asked if he sees a change in their image with films like "Phillauri", "Udta Punjab", "Soormaa" that are set in Punjab, Jassi told IANS: "With more introduction of Punjabi actors, our region gets represented rightly. People like me, Diljit, who are born and brought up in Punjab, coming from a Punjabi household, trying to bring certain nuance in our representation."
Though he admitted the fact that the Punjabi community is quite foodie and fun-loving people who love to live life king size but mostly are stereotyped in Bollywood films.
"Since Bollywood films have a larger reach, we are introduced to the mass as loud people who are saying 'oye' in every sentence. That is a stereotype. We have much more to offer, are a land of music, literature and art," he said.
Jassi says that as a performer they have much more to "offer in films, than just comedy. With the popularity of Diljit (that) perception is changing."
Jassi made his acting debut in Punjabi films 2014 with Mr & Mrs 420 and followed it up with movies like Dil Vil Pyar Vyar and Mundeyan Ton Bachke Rahin. Jassi says he has reached this far not by comparing his work with others but by competing with himself.
"I am aware that people do comparisons. I've never done anything to be better than someone. Wherever I've reached, it's because I've only tried to better my work. Competition isn't my nature when it comes to work," he says.
For his debut Bollywood film, the 29-year-old actor will be seen working alongside Sonakshi Sinha, Diana Penty and Jimmy Shergill, among others.
