‘Sardaar Ji 3’ row: Makers issue statement over Hania Aamir casting choice

Sardaar Ji 3 has been facing immense backlash recently for casting Pakistani actress Hania Aamir in the upcoming comedy film. The situation escalated when lead actor and producer Diljit Dosanjh uploaded the film's trailer earlier this week, triggering a heated response from the Indian audience as well as the Federation of Western India Cine Employees (FWICE).

Now, the makers of the film have issued a statement amid the uproar. On their social media platforms, White Hill Studios—who bankrolls the project—wrote, “This is to bring to everyone’s kind notice that the film named, Sardaarji 3, was shot well before the prevailing situation that our country is facing now and it was never ever the case that any Pakistani artist was signed or was engaged after the terrorist attack in Pahalgam."

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“We stand united with our country and our fellow countrymen during this sensitive time. Considering the same, we had decided not to release the film or any of its promotional content in India until the situation becomes opportune," they concluded.

The comment section was flooded with mixed responses, with many lauding the decision, while others questioned why Hania could not be removed from the film and her scenes reshot.

After the release of the trailer, B.N. Tiwari, President of FWICE, accused Dosanjh of hurting Indian sentiments and called for a ban on all his future projects in the country, be it his music, films, or television shows. The union later wrote to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, urging that the passports of Dosanjh, and the producers of the show, be revoked, as well as be stripped away of any rights that come with the Indian citizenship.

 

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