Anusha Rizvi on Sidhu Moosewala documentary: ‘It’s our youth’s history and...’ | EXCLUSIVE

Mumbai: Filmmaker Anusha Rizvi, best known for her sharp satirical debut Peepli Live, has opened up about her long-in-the-works documentary on late Punjabi singer Sidhu Moosewala, revealing why the project remains on hold despite years of research and extensive interviews.

In an exclusive conversation with TV9 English’s Bharti Dubey, Rizvi reflected on the professional resistance and practical challenges she has faced since Peepli Live became India’s official entry to the Oscars in 2010. After a 15-year gap, she returned to feature filmmaking with The Great Shamsuddin Family, released in December 2025, but her documentary ambitions have taken a far more complex route.

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Asked whether she felt disheartened when people were reluctant to produce her projects, Rizvi responded candidly. “Yes, it happens,” she said, adding that she continued writing during this period. She revealed that she worked on a web series centred on the 1971 war, which remains unmade, and another project that was halted due to the Covid-19 pandemic. “It takes at least two years even if you want to make a small film,” she noted.

Rizvi confirmed that she has been developing a documentary series on Sidhu Moosewala but said the project stalled due to funding issues and evolving developments surrounding the case. “There was a funding crunch as well as many developments that happened in that case. So, we will have to wait till things settle down,” she said. However, she stressed that the story’s importance goes beyond any one filmmaker. “It’s an intense story and very good material. It has to be made whether I make it or somebody else does.”

On whether she has set a specific narrative goal for the documentary, Rizvi said she has deliberately avoided framing it narrowly. “It’s a rags-to-riches story, which we’ve seen in films. A boy from a village became an artist of international repute. It’s our youth’s history,” she explained. According to her, Moosewala’s journey opens up deeper conversations about Punjab, ambition, politics and identity, layered with complexity.

Addressing questions about the Moosewala family’s involvement, Rizvi emphasised her commitment to journalistic independence. She revealed that she has conducted hundreds of hours of interviews, including conversations with senior officials and people closely connected to the case. “Because it’s a documentary, not fiction, it won’t have my opinion. I can only present facts,” she said, adding that waiting is necessary to ensure honesty and integrity.

Sidhu Moose Wala was shot dead on May 29, 2022, in Punjab’s Mansa district after gunmen ambushed his Mahindra Thar while he was driving to visit an aunt. Nearly 30 shots were fired. He died within minutes. The killing came a day after his security was reduced. Canada-based gangster Goldy Brar later claimed responsibility, calling it revenge for Vicky Middukhera’s murder.