Entertainment

IIE DIGITAL DESK :  June 23, 2025 — Diljit Dosanjh’s upcoming Punjabi film Sardaar Ji 3, co-starring Neeru Bajwa and reportedly Pakistani actress Hania Aamir, has stirred political controversy that has disrupted its planned Indian release. The film, set to premiere on June 27 overseas, has been withheld from Indian theatres amid heightened backlash following the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack and growing anti-Pakistan sentiment.

The chain of events began after the tragic Pahalgam attack, which claimed 26 Indian lives and intensified tensions between India and Pakistan. In response, the Federation of Western India Cine Employees (FWICE) reinstated its ban on Pakistani artists working in Indian films and urged the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) to deny certification to Sardaar Ji 3.

FWICE emphasized that collaborating with Pakistani talent would contradict national sentiment during the crisis, warning that members working with such artists could face disciplinary action.

As soon as the trailer dropped, featuring Hania Aamir alongside Diljit and Neeru, Indian netizens erupted in anger. Hashtags like #BoycottSardaarJi3 trended, and some called Diljit an "opportunist" placing ambition over national sentiment .

Reports from the UK indicate that Hania had completed shooting her parts by March. However, mounting pressure has led producers to reportedly consider recasting her with a non-Pakistani actress. As of June, there is still no official confirmation, though multiple outlets suggest scenes may be re-shot .

Due to certification refusal and boycott campaigns, the makers have opted for an overseas-only release on June 27. The trailer’s YouTube distribution confirms this—Indian viewers are blocked from accessing it .

This development follows the shelving of Abir Gulaal, starring Pakistani actor Fawad Khan, marking a pattern of halted Indo-Pak collaborations in Indian cinema (republicworld.com).

Experts say these cases reflect a fragile space where art and politics collide. Pakistani artists once enjoyed popularity in India, but recurrent terrorist incidents have frequently triggered renewed bans and public outcry .

The producers face a dilemma: either re-shoot Hania’s scenes—potentially delaying the release—or cancel the India release entirely. No official updates have been issued. While Sardaar Ji 3 moves forward abroad, its fate in India remains uncertain.

Diljit Dosanjh’s Sardaar Ji 3 has been blocked from releasing in India amid national outrage over casting Pakistani actor Hania Aamir. FWICE’s intervention and social media backlash reflect heightened political sensitivities. Although the film proceeds overseas, its Indian future depends on potential re-shoots or decisive action by the CBFC—a test case for the fraught balance between creative freedom and patriotic expectation.