Most Talked-About Film for All the Wrong Reasons

A new heated debate has erupted in B-Town following the casting of Pakistani actress Hania Aamir in Diljit Dosanjh’s upcoming film Sardaar Ji 3, with everyone utilizing the opportunity to push their views on the issue of whether Pakistani artists should be allowed to work in Bollywood or not.

The controversy intensified when veteran actor Naseeruddin Shah publicly supported Diljit via a now-deleted Facebook post that stated, “I FIRMLY STAND WITH DILJIT.”

Naseeruddin emphasized that Diljit wasn’t the one responsible for the casting; it was the director’s job. However, people have unnecessarily targeted him because of his global stardom.

In the same post, he also pointed out that Diljit agreed with the casting simply because his mind isn’t poisoned, unlike many who want to end any civilized interaction between Indians and Pakistanis.

In response, filmmaker Ashok Pandit has heavily criticized Naseeruddin, calling his remarks a reflection of “frustration and restlessness.” Ashok argued that Dosanjh, as an actor, could’ve simply refused to work with Hania and also condemned Naseeruddin for allegedly ignoring the strained relations between India and Pakistan.

While it is true that the strained relations between the nations are important to respect, many believe that one cannot condemn artistic choices without understanding the background.

Despite repeated bans and political drawbacks, artists from both countries continue to seek opportunities for collaboration.

Fans in support of Naseeruddin believe the intent behind such collaborations is to use art as a unifying force across cultural and national lines.

Currently, filmmaker Ashok Pandit, representing the Federation of Western India Cine Employees (FWICE), has reaffirmed the industry’s stand by issuing a non-cooperation notice against Diljit Dosanjh.

Despite domestic backlash, the film opened with full houses overseas, especially in Pakistan, where the film earned over 11 crores in just 2 days.

Although Diljit has remained silent over the call for his boycott in Bollywood, he has defended the film, emphasizing that it was completed before the tensions escalated, and still continues to support its international rollout.