Punjabi superstar Diljit Dosanjh’s upcoming film Sardaar Ji 3 has landed in controversy just days before its scheduled overseas release on June 27. The film, which stars Pakistani actress Hania Aamir alongside Diljit and Neeru Bajwa, is facing mounting backlash from fans and cinema industry bodies in India.
Amid rising India-Pakistan tensions following the deadly April attack in India-held Kashmir's Pahalgam area that killed 26 tourists—and India’s military response through Operation Sindoor -- the Federation of Western India Cine Employees (FWICE) has stepped forward to take action.
BN Tiwari, the president of FWICE, told India Today in an exclusive statement that the body plans to issue an official directive banning Diljit Dosanjh and the producers of Sardaar Ji 3 from releasing any films in India.
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“None of their films and projects would be allowed to be released in India. There would be complete cooperation from the Indian film industry," said Tiwari, adding that a formal statement would be issued later in the day. The film will not be released in the country due to the film industry's ban on Pakistani artists following the Pahalgam attack.
Also Read: Diljit releases trailer for 'Sardaar Ji 3', featuring Hania Aamir
The move comes after Diljit shared the trailer of Sardaar Ji 3 on June 22 on his official Instagram page, announcing that the film will not release in India, but “OVERSEAS Only”.
"Sardaar Ji 3 Releasing 27th June OVERSEAS Only/ FADH LAO BHOOND DIAN LATTAN (sic)," he wrote in the caption. The trailer, which features Hania Aamir as a ghost hunter in a horror-comedy setting, has already been geo-blocked on YouTube for Indian viewers.
The backlash intensified as it became known that several other Pakistani artists, including Nasir Chinyoti, Daniel Khawar, and Saleem Albela, are part of the film’s ensemble cast. FWICE has been firm in its stance that no collaboration with Pakistani talent will be tolerated, particularly in the wake of recent hostilities.
Tiwari had earlier issued a direct warning to Diljit Dosanjh: “If Diljit Dosanjh or any other artist continues to act like this, an action will not just be taken against their film but against them as well. They will be accused of non-cooperation. We have no place for traitors. The film industry cannot support people who are against this country. We need to stop people who are sitting in India but are helping others. We are getting multiple names. They will be ousted from the industry if they do not work for the betterment of the country.”
This development could spell trouble for Dosanjh’s upcoming Bollywood project Border 2, which now hangs in uncertainty.
In defense of the casting, Sardaar Ji 3 producer Gunbir Singh Sindhu clarified that the film was shot well before the recent India-Pakistan conflict. "The film was shot before the conflict with Pakistan. Keeping sentiments on India in mind, no India release for the movie," he stated.
The controversy follows FWICE’s earlier ban on Abir Gulaal, another film that featured Pakistani actor Fawad Khan, marking his intended comeback to Indian cinema after nine years.
Despite the backlash, Sardaar Ji 3 is set to release in international markets on June 27, with no plans for an Indian release.
