Diljit Dosanjh faces backlash over Hania Aamir casting in ‘Sardaar Ji 3’, film body demands blacklist-OxBig News Network

Amid mounting backlash over Pakistani actor Hania Aamir’s presence in Sardaar Ji 3, singer-actor Diljit Dosanjh has posted a cryptic message on Instagram. The post, titled “Censored before release?”, ostensibly referenced his unreleased film Panjab 95, which has faced prolonged delays due to objections from the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC), but likely also reflected his response to the fresh debacle.

Diljit’s post comes just a day after the trailer for Sardaar Ji 3 was released, revealing Hania Aamir in a prominent role. The timing has added fuel to the ongoing controversy, as tensions between India and Pakistan remain high following the recent Pahalgam terror attack and Operation Sindoor. The trailer announcement also confirmed that the film will release overseas only on June 27.

A screengrab from Diljit’s Instagram’s Stories
| Photo Credit:
Instagram/ @diljitdosanjh

The Federation of Western India Cine Employees (FWICE) issued a sharp condemnation of the film and its makers, including Dosanjh, directors Amar Hundal, and producers Gunbir Singh Sidhu and Manmor Sidhu. Calling the collaboration with Aamir an “anti-national act,” FWICE demanded that the industry blacklist those involved and that the government revoke their Indian passports.

In its official statement, FWICE accused the Sardaar Ji 3 team of defying an industry-wide ban on Pakistani artists and labelled Hania Aamir a “vocal propagandist against India.” The body further urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to take “strict and immediate action” and framed the collaboration as a “shameful betrayal” during a time of national mourning.

Producer Gunbir Singh Sidhu responded to the backlash by clarifying that the film was completed before current hostilities escalated. “We are not releasing the film in India, keeping in mind the present situation and the sentiments of India and the Indian people,” he said, adding that they would await a more appropriate time for a domestic release.

Despite the storm, Diljit Dosanjh continues to promote Sardaar Ji 3 globally. The third installment of the popular Punjabi horror-comedy franchise features Diljit as a ghost hunter, alongside Hania Aamir, Neeru Bajwa, and others.