Diljit Dosanjh puts Punjabi culture on the global stage at the Jimmy Fallon show

In a delightful collaboration between Indian music sensation Diljit Dosanjh and American talk show host Jimmy Fallon, backstage fun clips from 'The Tonight Show' have been making waves on social media, creating a buzz of excitement among fans. The duo's chemistry and infectious humor have left fans eagerly anticipating Dosanjh's debut on the show.

Diljit Dosanjh charted history as he attended The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon as a musical guest. On the late-night US TV show, the singer performed his hit songs "G.O.A.T." and "Born To Shine." Diljit set the stage on fire with his Bhangra moves, captivating the audience with his energetic performance. Pictures from the singer-actor's dance performance were shared by the official Instagram handle of The Tonight Show, with the caption, "Tonight: Diljit Dosanjh is in the building to perform Born To Shine into G.O.A.T! #DiljitOnFallon #FallonTonight." For the occasion, Diljit was dressed in his festive best, embodying his cultural roots.

Making history as the first Punjabi artist to perform on the Jimmy Fallon show, Diljit signed off with a heartfelt "Main hu Punjab." Introduced by Fallon as ‘the biggest Punjabi artist on the planet,’ Diljit performed to a thrilled audience and introduced Fallon to the Punjabi greeting “Sat Sri Akal,” which Fallon managed to say gracefully.

Diljit's appearance on Jimmy Fallon's show is nothing short of monumental for the South Asian community and, in particular, for Punjabi culture. His authenticity is what connects most with his fans. He remains true to the identity that made him famous—speaking in Punjabi, wearing traditional Punjabi clothes on international platforms, and consistently talking about the values of his faith and culture. As a visibly Sikh man with a turban, Diljit has turned what was once considered a setback in the entertainment industry into a symbol of pride. He became the first turban-wearing man to headline a Bollywood film as a leading man and sell out venues globally.

At the core of it all, Diljit is an exceptionally talented artist with a brilliant voice and a varied range of music. His persona on social media, his fashion game, and the warmth with which he interacts with his fans make him a beloved figure. Millions of people are celebrating his latest chat-show appearance with pride. The caption accompanying one of the videos read, “Sat Sri Akal! @diljitdosanjh,” further adding to the excitement surrounding the show.

Fans from around the world have gone wild for Diljit Dosanjh's debut on The Tonight Show. Comments have poured in, praising him for taking Punjabi music “to new heights” and marking this appearance as a “historic moment.” This latest feat follows his history-making performance at the Coachella festival in 2023, where he became the first Punjabi language singer to perform at the prestigious event. Diljit has also collaborated with international artists like Sia on the song "Hass Hass" and joined Ed Sheeran in Mumbai on his Asia tour, singing together in Punjabi.

Diljit appeared on stage dressed in traditional Punjabi attire, complete with a matching turban, pleated fan, and a shiny watch. After delivering his energetic performances, Diljit paused the music for a moment and sang the line “Mein hu Punjab” from his film Amar Singh Chamkila with Imtiaz Ali. An impressed Jimmy Fallon joined him on stage and exclaimed, “That is how you do it!” Diljit responded by playfully rolling his mustache in true Punjabi style and made a slight change to the 'GOAT' lyrics, pointing at Fallon while singing, “Hollywood vich jine stars hai unade vich baitha sardar goriye.”

Before his grand debut, Dosanjh and Fallon enjoyed their time together, evident from the funny backstage videos shared on Jimmy Fallon's official Instagram page. Fallon tried his best to say the singer's "Punjabi Aa Gaye Oye" catchphrase, though his attempt caused laughter, with actress Priyanka Chopra commenting, "It’s the Oye for me." Fallon fared better when he delivered the Punjabi greeting "Sat Sri Akal" smoothly.

In one of the backstage videos, Fallon surprised Diljit with white gloves customized with the show’s logo. Diljit, known for his fashion and typically wearing black gloves during performances, was delighted by the gesture, leading to an exchange of gloves. The caption of the video read, “Backstage glove swap with @diljitdosanjh! #DiljitOnFallon #FallonTonight.”

Meanwhile, Dosanjh also offered fans a glimpse into the studio of 'The Tonight Show' by sharing a series of photos with the caption, “The Tonight Show @fallontonight @jimmyfallon @nbc Sound Check Done.” The excitement surrounding his appearance on the show is palpable among his fans. Dosanjh's global recognition continues to soar as he recently made history as the first Punjabi singer to perform at the prestigious Coachella music festival. He was recently seen playing the lead role in Imtiaz Ali's 'Amar Singh Chamkila,' alongside Parineeti Chopra, and in 'Crew' starring Tabu, Kareena Kapoor Khan, and Kriti Sanon.

In his interview with an Indian YouTuber Raj Shamani, Diljit shared his feelings about this new achievement. “I don’t know how I feel; I will maybe feel it when I am there. Let’s go see first what happens there. I have watched the Jimmy Fallon show before. I am going there for a musical act; we will perform a song. I haven’t yet thought about what song to perform. I will decide that onboard a plane to the USA. I have a long list of shows I want to appear on. I have planned a lot of things; let’s see if I can achieve all that in this life. I just had one dream that I want to become extremely famous and become a singer. This kept growing, and it happened. I was quite young when I had this in mind. I had a strong feeling about it and always prayed, ‘God, I don’t want to know anybody, but let the entire world know me.’”

Diljit Dosanjh continues to break barriers and elevate Punjabi culture on the global stage, inspiring millions of fans and paving the way for future generations.