Singer Adnan Sami has weighed in on the ongoing Sardaar Ji 3 debate, saying that while art crosses borders, an artist’s identity is inseparable from their country. ?His remarks follow Diljit Dosanjh’s defense after being labeled “anti-national” over his film’s ban in India.
Speaking in a recent interview, Sami – who became an Indian citizen in 2016 – said:?”Politics is something else and nationality is something else. An artist always belongs to his country, he cannot be political.”
He emphasized that art should not be forced into a political mold and that artists do not adhere to rigid political ideologies.
The debate arose after Dosanjh’s film Sardaar Ji 3, which stars Pakistani actress Hania Aamir, was barred from release in India following the Pahalgam terrorist attack. Addressing fans at a concert in Malaysia, Dosanjh defended himself, saying the film had been shot before the attack and questioning why cricket matches between India and Pakistan continued despite the tensions.
“The film was shot before the attack and now the match was played after the attack. We are with our country and against terrorism,” he said.
Dosanjh also rejected accusations of being “anti-national,” stressing the patriotism of the Punjabi and Sikh community. “Every effort was made to portray me as an anti-national, but this is not the truth. Our community has always been loyal and patriotic,” he said. Despite the ban in India, Sardaar Ji 3 has performed well internationally, with strong support from the Punjabi diaspora. The casting of Pakistani actress Hania Aamir, however, sparked criticism amid heightened political sensitivities.