Sardaar Ji 3
Punjabi singer and actor Diljit Dosanjh has addressed the mounting controversy surrounding his upcoming film Sardaar Ji 3, which has been barred from release in India due to political backlash over the casting of Pakistani actress Hania Aamir. Despite the controversy, the film is scheduled to premiere overseas this Friday.
Two prominent Indian film industry associations — the Federation of Western Indian Cine Employees (FWICE) and the All Indian Cine Workers Association (AICWA) — have strongly opposed the inclusion of a Pakistani actress in the film.
They have condemned the casting of Hania Aamir, citing national sentiment and the ongoing diplomatic strain between India and Pakistan. These objections ultimately led the film’s producers to withdraw plans for its Indian release.
In an interview with the BBC Asian Network, Diljit Dosanjh clarified that the situation between India and Pakistan was stable earlier this year, when the film was being shot. “When the film was being made, the situation was OK… a lot has happened since then, but those things are beyond our control,” he said. He explained that the producers decided against an Indian release due to the backlash, despite having invested significant resources into the film’s production. “They’ve already put a lot of money into the film, and when it was made, none of this had happened. Now they’re looking at a loss,” he added.
Diljit also spoke about working with Hania Aamir, who was first linked to the project after appearing on stage during his London concert last year. Their public camaraderie sparked speculation about a collaboration, which was confirmed when news of Sardaar Ji 3 surfaced. Although they do not share much screen time in the film, Diljit described her as “very professional” and praised her work ethic.
The backlash against Sardaar Ji 3 is part of a broader pattern of strained cross-border artistic relations. Since 2016, collaborations between Pakistani and Indian artists have frequently drawn political criticism.
Most recently, Pakistani actor Fawad Khan’s Bollywood project Abir Gulaal, also starring Vaani Kapoor, has been stalled indefinitely due to renewed tensions.
Similarly, images of Pakistani stars like Mahira Khan and Mawra Hocane have been removed from promotional material of their respective Bollywood films after relations between the two countries deteriorated.
Despite the obstacles, Sardaar Ji 3 will reach international audiences, though the controversy underscores the enduring challenges faced by cross-border cultural productions in South Asia.
