Indian singer and actor Diljit Dosanjh has finally broken his silence over the controversy surrounding his film Sardaar Ji 3, which faced backlash for featuring Pakistani actress Hania Aamir. Speaking at a live concert on Wednesday, Diljit compared the criticism he received to the continued India-Pakistan cricket matches, questioning the double standards in public response.
In a now-viral video from the event, Diljit told fans that the film was shot in February, well before the April 22 Pahalgam attack. Despite this timeline, he was painted as “anti-national” by certain Indian media outlets. “At the time, the matches were being played,” he said, adding that cricket between India and Pakistan continues even now, while his film drew sharp criticism.
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Diljit expressed sympathy for the Pahalgam tragedy, for which India blamed Pakistan — a claim Pakistan has denied. He stressed that he condemns terrorism and supports justice for the victims. “Whoever was responsible should face strict punishment,” he said. But he emphasized that his film had nothing to do with the attack, while India-Pakistan sports ties were maintained even after.
He also opened up about choosing to remain silent during the height of the controversy. “I kept everything inside,” he said. “The media kept painting me as anti-national, but everyone knows — a Punjabi Sardar can never be a traitor.” His emotional remarks drew applause from the Kuala Lumpur crowd.
Read more: Diljit Dosanjh breaks silence amid backlash over ‘Sardaar Ji 3’ and Hania Aamir collaboration
Earlier this year, the Federation of Western India Cine Employees had demanded Dosanjh be blacklisted and even called for his Indian citizenship to be revoked. The film’s international release, unchanged from its original version, also sparked criticism, especially in India where edits were demanded due to Hania Aamir’s role.