Why was the ban on Diljit Dosanjh for ‘Border 2’ lifted?

The Federation of Western India Cine Employees (FWICE) has lifted its ban on Diljit Dosanjh for Border 2 following a plea from producer Bhushan Kumar. According to India Today, Kumar informed the union that the majority of the film had been shot and replacing the actor at this stage of filming was not viable.

Diljit Dosanjh has been under the close watch of the Federation of Western India Cine Employees (FWICE) ever since his involvement with Pakistani actress Hania Aamir in his film Sardaar Ji 3. FWICE and the All India Cine Workers Association (AICWA) issued an industry-wide ban on the Punjabi singer-actor, and his upcoming film, Border 2, also received strict notice. FWICE sent a letter to the producers of Border 2—J.P. Films and T Series—calling their action a “blatant violation” of their directive to ban Dosanjh due to his “unpatriotic act of working with a Pakistani actress”.

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The union also sent a strongly worded letter to Home Minister Amit Shah and Defence Minister Rajnath Singh urging that the film’s shoot at the National Defence Academy (NDA) be withdrawn.

Producer Kumar explained that only a minor part of a song needed to be filmed at the Academy. B. N. Tiwari, president of FWICE, told the publication, “He requested that it would cause a lot of difficulties for the production if they had to replace Diljit now. This is why we decided to revoke the ban on Border 2.”

Producer Ashoke Pandit, who acts as the chief advisor to FWICE, added that Kumar swore not to collaborate with Dosanjh again for any future project. “He requested the federation to allow him to complete this film, and in the future, he will never cast him (Dosanjh). That was the request he made, and he will be issuing a letter to us on the same."

 

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