Diljit Dosanjh cheers ‘Sardaar Ji 3's' global success despite Indian outrage over Pakistani co-star Hania Aamir

Time of India

29-06-2025

Diljit Dosanjh's Instagram stories celebrating Sardar Ji 3's collection overseas. (Screenshots: Instagram)
'Film was shot before tensions escalated': Diljit speaks out
FWICE demands Diljit's removal from Border 2
Singer-actor Diljit Dosanjh , who has dominated headlines this year with his sold-out concerts and debut at the Met Gala , is now in the spotlight for an entirely different reason. His latest Punjabi film Sardaar Ji 3 has run into controversy after Pakistani actress Hania Aamir was revealed as the female lead in the film's trailer. The revelation triggered backlash in India, especially in the aftermath of April's Pahalgam terror attack , prompting the makers to limit the release to overseas markets only.Despite the domestic stir, Dosanjh appears unfazed, actively celebrating the film's international success and audience response. Sharing Instagram stories of packed theatres and box office numbers from Pakistan and other foreign territories, the actor showed clips of elated crowds cheering, especially when Hania appeared onscreen. One video, originally posted by Universal Cinemas, stated, '12 shows on ultra screens, the largest in the country. The overwhelming response from the audience for Sardaar Ji 3.'According to reports from Box Office India , the film managed to rake in ₹11.03 crore globally within just two days. The opening day saw collections of ₹4.32 crore, with day two witnessing a significant jump to ₹6.71 crore. All the revenue, notably, came from outside India.In an interview with BBC Asian Network, Diljit Dosanjh addressed the criticism regarding the timing and casting of the film. He clarified that the film was completed in February 2025, well before the recent Indo-Pak tensions escalated. 'Jab yeh film bani thi tab situation sab theek tha. We shot this in Feb and then everything was fine,' he said, adding that certain developments were beyond their control. The makers, acknowledging public sentiment in India, chose to release the film internationally in an attempt to recover their investments. 'Even when I signed the film, everything was fine. Now, the situation is not in our hands,' he said, supporting the decision to avoid an Indian release.The backlash has not stopped at Sardaar Ji 3. The Federation of Western India Cine Employees (FWICE) has taken a firm stance, urging the producers of the upcoming patriotic film Border 2 to remove Diljit from the project. According to the federation, it is 'unacceptable' to have Dosanjh star in a film that portrays national pride after his association with a film featuring a Pakistani actor. While no response has been received from the film's producers Bhushan Kumar and Nidhi Dutta, FWICE has escalated the matter by appealing to Defence Minister Rajnath Singh to revoke permission for the film's scheduled shoot at the National Defence Academy.As the debate continues, Diljit Dosanjh remains focused on the film's global reception, seemingly unaffected by the calls for boycott or criticism at home. Whether this controversy will impact his future projects, especially one as high-profile as Border 2, remains to be seen.