Diljit Dosanjh's Sardaar Ji 3 goes houseful in Pakistan, gets third-best global opening for a Punjabi film

Economic Times

7 hours ago

Diljit Dosanjh's Punjabi film 'Sardaar Ji 3,' despite its ban in India due to political tensions and casting of Pakistani actor Hania Aamir, has premiered internationally on June 27, 2025, with a record-breaking opening in Pakistan, surpassing previous Bollywood hits. Globally, it ranks third among Punjabi films for opening day earnings.
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Full theatres and record response in Pakistan
Third-best global opening for a Punjabi film
Ban in India amid India-Pakistan tensions
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Diljit speaks
Fallout for Diljit in Bollywood projects
Despite not releasing in Indian theatres, Punjabi film Sardaar Ji 3 , starring Diljit Dosanjh , has seen a strong opening overseas. The film released internationally on June 27, 2025, and has recorded packed shows across cinemas in Pakistan, becoming the highest opener for any Indian film in the country.Pakistan-based Cinegold Plex shared a video showing crowded halls, while Universal Cinemas highlighted the audience's positive reactions. Diljit Dosanjh reshared the clip on Instagram with the message: "12 shows on ultra screens. The largest in the country. The overwhelming response from the audience for 'Sardaar Ji 3'. Come and watch!"Despite political tensions, the horror-comedy earned approximately $500,000 on its first day in Pakistan, setting a new record. It surpassed previous Bollywood hits like Sultan to claim the biggest opening for an Indian film in the country.Globally, Sardaar Ji 3 ranks third in terms of opening day earnings among Punjabi films. Only Jatt & Juliet 3 and Carry On Jatta performed better on debut. In two days, the film has earned ₹11.03 crore worldwide, including ₹4.32 crore on Day 1 and ₹6.71 crore on Day 2. The weekend numbers are expected to be even higher.The film's India release was blocked after the Federation of Western India Cine Employees (FWICE) urged the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) to withhold clearance. This came after the Pahalgam terror attack on April 22. The casting of Pakistani actor Hania Aamir in the film triggered strong opposition, as several Indian film bodies called for a boycott of cross-border collaborations.Speaking to BBC Asian Network, Diljit said: 'When this film was made, everything was fine. We shot it in February and things were okay back then. After that, a lot of big things happened that were beyond our control. So the producers decided that the film obviously won't be released in India now, so they'll release it overseas. The producers have invested a lot of money, and when the film was being made, nothing like this was happening.'He further added that producers were aware of the losses they might face by skipping the Indian market, but he supports their decision under the changed circumstances.Following the controversy, several industry groups have written to the makers of Border 2, asking them to drop Diljit from the cast. Director Imtiaz Ali has also reportedly been urged to reconsider his collaboration with the actor.Despite the pushback, Sardaar Ji 3 continues to draw large crowds abroad, with many of its shows running houseful in international markets.