Punjabi superstar Diljit Dosanjh has landed in controversy ahead of the release of his upcoming film Sardaar Ji 3. The reason? The casting of Pakistani actress Hania Aamir in a lead role. While the film was completed before the tragic Pahalgam terror attack on April 22, its promotion in the current climate has sparked widespread outrage.
Diljit Facing Backlash
Despite the film being shot in February, many netizens have criticized Diljit for continuing to promote it. They argue that featuring a Pakistani artist, especially during a time of heightened national sensitivity, is inappropriate. The trailer’s release and related content have only intensified the backlash.
Amid the growing tension, singer Guru Randhawa added fuel to the fire with a series of cryptic tweets. Although he didn’t name anyone directly, the timing and tone of his posts led many to believe they were aimed at Diljit.
Guru Randhawa’s Cryptic Tweets Add Fuel to the Fire
On June 25, Guru tweeted, “When the PR team is more talented than the talent itself, controversies become part of the daily routine. The day is near when our people will open their eyes and know the truth. LOL. 1st of every month, dropping bombs. God bless the fake PR and the artists.” The following day, he posted in Punjabi, “Lakh pardesi hoyieee. Apna desh nhi bhandi daa. Jehre mulk da khayie, us da bura nhi mangi da.”
He then added in English, Even if now your citizenship is not Indian but you were born here, please remember this. This country made great artists, and we all are proud of it. Please be proud of where you were born. Just an advice. Now don’t start controversy again and manipulate Indians LOL. PR is bigger than the artist.”
Production Team Issues Clarification on Film Timeline
In response to the uproar, the film’s production team issued a formal statement on June 24. They clarified that the movie was shot well before the Pahalgam attack and that no Pakistani artist was hired after the incident.
Their statement read, “This is to bring to everyone’s kind notice that the film named, Sardaar Ji 3, was shot well before the prevailing situation that our country is facing now and it was never ever the case that any Pakistani artist was signed or was engaged after the terrorist attack in Pahalgam.”
Diljit Responds: ‘It’s Out of Our Control’
Diljit Dosanjh also addressed the issue in an interview with BBC Asian Network. He explained that the film was completed in February, during a time when relations were stable. He said: “Jab yeh film bani thi tab situation theek tha. We shot this in February. Then a lot of things happened which were beyond our control. The producers knew that the film would not release in India, and so they decided to release it overseas. Producers ka bahot paisa laga hai.”
As a result of the controversy, Sardaar Ji 3 will not be released in India. Instead, it is scheduled for an overseas-only release on June 27, 2025. While the film’s fate in international markets remains to be seen, the debate surrounding its casting and timing continues to dominate headlines. Whether this storm will pass or escalate further depends on how audiences—both in India and abroad—choose to respond.
