Known for her powerful screen presence on television, Twinkle Arora is now ready to take the big leap with her debut in Punjabi cinema, starring in the much-awaited film Punjabi Aa Gaye Oye. In an exclusive conversation, she opened up about her roller-coaster journey, the challenges she’s faced, and her dreams for the future.
Twinkle describes her transition from television to film as an unpredictable yet fulfilling ride.“The journey from TV to the big screen has been beautiful—with lots of twists and turns. But I truly believe in divine timing. I’ve lived through it all, and this debut too, feels like it came at the right time,” she shared.
Having roots in Punjab, she always envisioned beginning her film career where her heart belongs. “I come from Punjab. I always felt my path had to begin here, and then take me to Bollywood. Bollywood is a big game—and I wanted to step into it prepared. I’ve been working in Punjab for five years now. This is my home ground.”
But things weren’t always smooth. After her much-talked-about project Khoobsurat was shelved last year, Twinkle found herself emotionally shaken. “I was heartbroken when Khoobsurat got scrapped. After that, I got an offer for another film and started prepping in Shimla. I was attending workshops there when I got the call for Punjabi Aa Gaye Oye. Both films were supposed to go on floors around the same time. But somehow, it felt like the other film wouldn’t start immediately, so I went ahead and auditioned for this one.”
The filming process itself was no less than a test of resilience. “It was a roller coaster ride. I was nervous—my first film hadn’t gone on floor, and I could feel the pressure on social media... questions like ‘What are you doing?’ kept piling up. This film progressed slowly and steadily. I worked alongside Prince Kanwaljit and Singga—both are huge names in Punjab. Sharing the screen with them was intimidating but also a great learning experience.”
Twinkle admits the shoot came with challenges—delays, emotional highs and lows, and moments of doubt—but her commitment never wavered.
“This experience really tested my patience. There were a lot of breaks in the shooting schedule. But finally, the day is here. We’ve all put in so much effort. I hope people love it. It’s a power-packed film, made for everyone—kids, adults, and elders.”
Speaking about her character in the film, she reveals how the role evolved over time. “Initially, my character was very loud. But in the second schedule, there were changes that brought depth to her graph. You’ll see the Punjabi flavour in her—the enthusiasm, the energy—it’s all there.”
Twinkle is also manifesting a bigger dream: making her mark in female-led, transformative cinema. “I approach my work with honesty. All I want is for the audience to see that, and for my work to reach good directors and production houses. I want to do strong female-led films—like Gangubai, Mary Kom. I want roles that require me to fully transform, to become someone else. That’s the kind of cinema I’m manifesting now—big banner films with powerful roles.”
As she steps into a new chapter, Twinkle Arora remains grounded yet ambitious—holding on to her roots while reaching for the stars.