Punjabi singer and actor Diljit Dosanjh has addressed the growing controversy over his upcoming film Sardaar Ji 3, which will not be released in India following backlash against the casting of Pakistani actress Hania Aamir.
Two prominent Indian film industry bodies — the Federation of Western Indian Cine Employees (FWICE) and the All Indian Cine Workers Association (AICWA) — have publicly condemned the inclusion of Hania Aamir in the film, which is co-produced and headlined by Dosanjh.
Set to release internationally this Friday, Sardaar Ji 3 has faced mounting criticism amid heightened tensions between India and Pakistan. Relations soured significantly after an 87-hour military standoff in May, triggered by reported Indian missile strikes within Pakistani territory. Pakistan’s military responded with a retaliatory operation, codenamed Bunyan-um-Marsoos (Iron Wall), during which the Pakistan Air Force claimed to have shot down six Indian fighter jets, including three Rafales.
The collaboration between Diljit and Hania initially drew public attention when the Pakistani actress was spotted at his concert in London last year. On stage, Dosanjh praised her, and shortly afterward, reports emerged that she would co-star with him in the third installment of the Sardaar Ji franchise.
Behind-the-scenes photos shared by Dosanjh on Instagram further fueled interest in the project. However, in a recent interview with the BBC Asian Network, the singer-actor explained that the political landscape was different at the time of filming.
“When the film was being made, the situation was OK. A lot has changed since February, but these matters are out of our hands,” he said.
He confirmed that the decision to cancel the film’s release in India was made by the producers in response to the backlash. “The producers decided not to release the film in India, but it will release overseas,” Dosanjh said. “They’ve invested heavily, and none of this controversy existed when the film was shot. Now they’re facing financial loss.”
Regarding his experience working with Hania Aamir, Dosanjh described her as “very professional,” although he noted that they did not share much screen time.
This incident is the latest in a series of controversies surrounding cross-border artistic collaborations. Since 2016, India has periodically enforced bans on Pakistani artists amid strained diplomatic ties.
