Veteran Bollywood actor Naseeruddin Shah has strongly defended singer-actor Diljit Dosanjh, who is under fire from right-wing extremist groups in India over his film Sardaar Ji 3, which features Pakistani actress Hania Aamir.
Despite growing calls from film bodies and public figures to ban Diljit’s future projects, Shah has openly backed him, condemning what he called politically motivated attacks. Shah clarified that Diljit had no say in the casting of the film and accused political actors of using the situation as a tool to target him.
Posting on social media, Shah declared, “I STAND FIRMLY WITH DILJIT. The dirty tricks deptt of Jumla Party has been awaiting a chance to attack him. They think they’ve got it at last. He was not responsible for the casting of the film, the director was.”
He praised Diljit’s open-mindedness and refusal to conform to divisive ideologies, adding that “Diljit is known the world over, and he agreed to the cast because his mind is not poisoned.” Shah also criticized the broader political agenda behind the outrage, saying that such attacks aim to disrupt people-to-people connections between India and Pakistan.
“What these goons want is to put an end to personal interaction between the people of India and Pakistan. I have close relatives and dear friends there, and no one can stop me from meeting them or sending them love whenever I feel like it,” he said.
The controversy emerged following the release of Sardaar Ji 3, which premiered in Pakistan on June 27 and features Diljit alongside Hania Aamir. The casting sparked outrage among nationalist circles in India, with demands for bans and boycotts targeting the actor.
Responding to repeated jibes from detractors who tell artists to “Go to Pakistan,” Shah delivered a sharp retort: “My response to those who say that is — Go to Kailasa.”
Shah’s remarks have quickly gone viral, with many lauding his bold stance against hate speech and his call for cultural unity amid rising political and religious polarization.
