Actor-singer Diljit Dosanjh has finally spoken out about the controversy surrounding his upcoming film ‘Sardaar Ji 3’, which has drawn sharp criticism over the casting of Pakistani actor Hania Aamir. In a recent interview with BBC Asian Network, Diljit clarified that the film was shot in February 2025, well before the Pahalgam terror attack and the escalation in India-Pakistan tensions.
“Jab yeh film bani thi tab situation sab theek tha. We shot this in February and then everything was fine,” Diljit said, explaining that the situation drastically changed after the shoot was completed.
Following the April 22 Pahalgam attack, in which 26 people lost their lives, Indian film associations announced a blanket ban on collaboration with Pakistani artists. Despite this, the trailer of Sardaar Ji 3, featuring Hania Aamir, was released on June 23, triggering a massive backlash from several industry bodies.
In response to the criticism, Diljit emphasized that many things were beyond the team’s control. “Uske baad, bahut saari badi cheezen humare haath mein nahi hai. Toh producers ne decide kiya ki film obviously ab India toh nahi lagegi, toh overseas release karte hain,” he said. “The producers have invested a lot of money, and when this film was being made, none of this was happening.”
Diljit also extended full support to the producers’ decision to release the film overseas, saying, “They know there will be a loss because you’re removing an entire territory… Now, the situation is not in our hands. So, if the producers want to release it abroad, I support them.”
The controversy has snowballed, with the Federation of Western India Cine Employees (FWICE) demanding a ban on Diljit Dosanjh, along with the film’s producers and director. The association has gone a step further, appealing to Prime Minister Narendra Modi to revoke their passports and cancel their citizenship, calling their actions “anti-national.”
Despite the furore, the Sardaar Ji 3 team maintains that the project was completed in good faith before political tensions escalated. The film’s future in Indian cinemas remains uncertain.
