BOMBAY TIMES (June 24, 2025)
Diljit Dosanjh’s Punjabi film Sardaar Ji 3, featuring Pakistani actress Hania Aamir, is going for an overseas-only release. Post the Pahalgam attack and India’s Operation Sindoor, this is the first Indian film with a Pakistani actor which is set to be released, because of which it has faced a lot of backlash online. While some fans felt “betrayed”, others were disappointed by the decision to release the film.
Amid the ongoing hostilities between India and Pakistan, Abir Guaal starring Pakistani actor Fawad Khan and Vani Kapoor was not released keeping the national sentiment in mind. Post Operation Sindoor, the social media handles of many Pakistani artistes, including Hania’s, were also blocked in India.
Won’t let them release any films or songs if they don’t apologise: FWICE
Reacting to the news of an overseas release, Federation of Western India Cine Employees (FWICE) President Birendra Nath Tiwari says, “They have time till June 27 to apologize to the film industry and the country and say that they will not release the film. If they don’t, we will not let them release their other films too, be it Diljit or the producers. We will not let them have a concert here. The entire film industry and federation will take the strictest action against them. We will give the producers of Border 2 a letter that there’s a risk if they continue to work with Diljit.”
Countries are at war, and we don’t have control over these things: Diljit
While Diljit has not directly commented on the issue, he shared a link to his interview with Panos Panay, President of the Recording Academy (which presents the Grammys), in which he says, “Countries are at war, and we don’t have control over these things. But I believe music is something that unites nations. I feel blessed to be part of something that spreads love across nations… I think we need to look beyond nations and focus on Mother Earth.”
Trailer blocked?
Diljit posted about the film’s overseas release, along with a link to the trailer. However, the YouTube trailer link leads to a message that says, “The uploader has not made this video available in your country.”
‘Stop trolling artistes, he’s not the producer’
Reacting to the trolling that Diljit is facing after he posted about the film’s release, director Onir wrote, “Fools just need a reason to troll artists especially if they are not from the majority community. They don’t know anything about film making to realise that @diljitdosanjh film was not shot, edited and ready for release in two months. Was shot much before the horrific attack and an artist once the film is shot has no right to when and where its released. The film is NOT getting released in India and he is NOT the producer to be able to stop it. So stop the ignorant narrative (sic).”
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Federations are voicing strong disapproval after the release of his film’s trailer featuring Pak actor Hania Amir
Rishabh Suri (HINDUSTAN TIMES; June 24, 2025)
After weeks of speculation, Pakistani actor Hania Amir’s involvement in Diljit Dosanjh’s Sardaarji 3 has officially been confirmed.
On Monday, the actor-singer dropped the film’s trailer on social media, and it seems Hania has a meaty role in the film. The move has prompted strong reactions from film bodies in particular following the terror attack in Pahalgam.
After Operation Sindoor, there has been a ban on Pakistani artistes and a crackdown on their social media profiles in India. The trailer is currently unavailable in India and the film will not release in the country, but the move to cast Hania is being seen by many as “anti-national”.
Anger is mounting among major film federations. Ashoke Pandit, president of the Indian Film and Television Directors’ Association (IFTDA), tells us, “We had written a letter to the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) earlier, and they refused to give it a certificate.”
He adds, “I had seen Hania’s tweets as well during Operation Sindoor. We are going to take action and tell the producers to not work with [Diljit]. He should be boycotted by music labels and Punjabi film industry. Diljit is a compulsive Pakistani lover.”
Birendra Nath Tiwari, president of the Federation of Western India Cine Employees (FWICE) echoes a similar sentiment: “Federation ne soch liya hai 100%. Jo nation ke saath nahin, woh humare saath nahin. Hum deshdrohiyon ke saath kaam nahin kar sakte. It doesn’t matter if the film is not releasing in India — they (actors) shouldn’t come to India only.”
When we reached out to the film’s director Amar Hundal, he said, “Main ispe kuchh nahin bolna chahta hoon.”
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Diljit se lekar film ke producers ko, sab ko ban kar denge India mein, dobara film nahin bana payenge. Jo nation ke saath nahin, woh humare saath nahin.
– B N Tiwari, President, FWICE
We are going to take action and tell producers to not work with Diljit. He should be fully boycotted in the country by music labels and Punjabi film industry.
– Ashoke Pandit, President, IFTDA