'Sardaar Ji 3': Diljit Dosanjh faces flak over Pakistani actor Hania Aamir casting; will not release in India

Diljit Dosanjh unveiled the trailer for his upcoming Punjabi film Sardaar Ji 3, and it is safe to say that the response has not been positive. Dosanjh shared the trailer on Instagram, and met with sharp criticism—this time not for the content (like in Punjab 95), but for starring opposite Pakistani actress Hania Aamir. The casting choice has been called insensitive, owing to the heightened geo-political conflict between both countries.

The backlash emerged as India recently faced one of its deadliest terrorist attacks on April 22. Claiming 26 lives and injuring 17, the terrorist attack at Pahalgam’s Baisaran Valley was orchestrated by Lashkar-e-Taiba’s The Resistance Front who sprayed bullets at a close range. In response, the Indian government retaliated with Operation Sindoor. The government also banned the social media accounts of Pakistani personalities in India.

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Netizens on X (formerly Twitter) attacked Hania, who had earlier openly bashed India for Operation Sindoor. “Hania Aamir, a Pakistani actress, was sharing stories on Instagram referring to Operation Sindoor as Hindutva extremism and calling India a coward. Today, she is earning from India. She is starring in the film 'Sardaar Ji 3' with Diljit Dosanjh. Hate India. Make profit. Repeat,” one user wrote.

The controversy had earlier prompted intervention from the Federation of Western India Cine Employees (FWICE), which requested the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) to withhold certification to block the film’s release in India.

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To keep further backlash at bay, the makers have decided that Sardaar Ji 3 will go ahead with its June 27 release, but will not be screened in India. “Sardaar Ji 3 Releasing 27th June OVERSEAS Only,” Dosanjh captioned the post.

 

 

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