Diljit Dosanjh Faces Backlash for Working with Pakistani Actor Hania Aamir in Sardaarji 3
After the heartbreaking Pahalgam terror attack on April 22, which took the lives of 26 innocent civilians, Pakistani artists were banned from working in India. Still, actor and singer Diljit Dosanjh is now facing backlash for teaming up with Pakistani actress Hania Aamir in the film Sardaarji 3. Given the tense situation between India and Pakistan, the filmmakers have decided to release the movie only in international markets, skipping a release in India altogether.
In a recent interview with BBC Asian Network, Diljit addressed the controversy, explaining the situation behind the film’s release plans. He said, “When this film was made, everything was fine. We shot it in February, and at that time, there were no issues. After that, many significant developments occurred which were beyond our control. The producers decided that releasing the film in India was no longer feasible, so they chose to release it overseas. They have invested a lot in the film, and when we signed it, there were no such problems. The situation now is out of our hands. If the producers want to release it abroad, I support that decision.”
Diljit also spoke about working with Hania Aamir, describing her as very professional. “I respect her work and her privacy. I’m a private person too, and I respect everyone’s space, especially women. Our conversations are straightforward and to the point,” he added.
However, the collaboration has not gone down well with everyone. Soon after the Sardaarji 3 trailer was released, Diljit began facing boycott calls. The Federation of Western India Cine Employees (FWICE) demanded a ban on him. FWICE President BN Tiwari expressed his disappointment in an interview with Hindustan Times, stating, “By working with a Pakistani actor, Diljit has hurt Indian sentiments and disrespected the sacrifices of our brave soldiers. His choice to work with Pakistani talent over Indian artists raises questions about his loyalty and priorities.”
He added, “While the film is currently not releasing in India, if there is any change, we will ban it. For now, it’s only releasing overseas. But Diljit working with a Pakistani actor is unacceptable. We have called for a strict ban on all his upcoming projects and will also extend this ban to the producers of the film.”
About Sardaarji 3
The film stars Diljit Dosanjh alongside Hania Aamir and Neeru Bajwa, with Manav Vij, Gulshan Grover, Jasmin Bajwa, and Sapna Pabbi in supporting roles. The story follows Diljit’s character, a ghost hunter tasked with removing a spirit from a mansion in the UK, where he teams up with Hania’s character. The film is set to release overseas on June 27.