Naseeruddin Shah says he hasn't deleted his post backing Diljit Dosanjh, says he doesn't care about backlash

Veteran actor Naseeruddin Shah has responded firmly after facing backlash for supporting Diljit Dosanjh, who has been under fire for working with Pakistani actor Hania Aamir in the upcoming film "Sardaar Ji 3". A post he had made on Facebook in support of Diljit was no longer visible, prompting speculation. Clarifying the situation, Shah stated bluntly that he did not delete the post and has no concern for any criticism coming his way.

"I have NOT deleted my post about Diljit Dosanjh. I don’t care a fiddler’s fart for backlash," Shah wrote in a fresh update.

Earlier, Shah had expressed strong support for Diljit, writing:

"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 further explained that Diljit agreed to work with Hania Aamir because his mind is not "poisoned," unlike those who seek to create division.

"What these goons want is to put an end to personal interaction between the people of India and Pakistan. I have close relatives and some dear friends there, and no one can stop me from meeting them or sending them love whenever I feel like it. And my response to those who will say ‘Go to Pakistan’ is: ‘GO TO KAILASA’."

Although this original post is no longer visible on his Facebook page, Shah followed up with a thought-provoking quote by German scientist and philosopher Georg Christoph Lichtenberg:

"It is almost impossible to carry the torch of truth through a crowd without singeing somebody’s beard."

Meanwhile, filmmaker Ashoke Pandit criticized Shah’s remarks, telling news agency ANI:

"We are not surprised, not shocked, by Naseeruddin Shah’s response to the Diljit Dosanjh episode. He calls us the ‘Jumla party,’ he calls us goons. A senior and educated actor using such language only shows his frustration and restlessness."

Diljit Dosanjh has been receiving backlash in recent days over "Sardaar Ji 3", which features Pakistani actress Hania Aamir. The film released overseas on June 27 but did not open in Indian theatres.

The controversy comes at a sensitive time, following the Pahalgam terror attack on April 22 and India’s Operation Sindoor on May 7, which involved air strikes on terror bases in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir.