Indian actor-singer Diljit Dosanjh has responded to intense criticism from Indian film unions following the release of the trailer for his upcoming Punjabi film Sardaar Ji 3. The backlash erupted due to the inclusion of Pakistani actress Hania Aamir in the project.
Two major industry bodies—the All India Cine Workers Association (AICWA) and the Federation of Western India Cine Employees (FWICE)—have threatened to boycott the film. They also announced plans to block its release across India, accusing Diljit of prioritizing Pakistani artists over Indian talent and questioning his loyalties.
In an interview with BBC Asia, Diljit explained that when he signed the film, relations between India and Pakistan were relatively stable. He noted that filming was completed in February, but recent developments, which were beyond his control, changed the political climate.
He added that due to heavy investment in the project, the producers decided to release the film internationally instead. While he supports this decision, he admitted that not releasing the movie in India would result in significant losses, as they would miss out on a large audience.
Speaking about Hania Aamir, Diljit praised her as a talented and highly professional actress. He emphasized that working with her was a smooth experience and highlighted her dedication to the role.
Sardaar Ji 3 is set to release overseas on June 27. The film is a comedy where Diljit and Hania play ghost hunters. While some fans admired Hania’s Punjabi dialogue delivery in the trailer, others speculated that her voice might have been dubbed. For now, there’s no official release schedule for India.