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Naseeruddin Shah Backs Diljit Dosanjh Over Sardaar Ji 3 Row, Slams Politically Driven Attacks
Babushahi Bureau
Mumbai, June 30, 2025 – Veteran actor Naseeruddin Shah has strongly defended Punjabi superstar Diljit Dosanjh amid the growing controversy over the casting of Pakistani actress Hania Aamir in Dosanjh’s upcoming film Sardaar Ji 3. The film’s trailer, released overseas on June 27, 2025, sparked backlash in India, where it remains unreleased due to rising India-Pakistan tensions following the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack.
Taking to Facebook, Shah wrote, “I STAND FIRMLY WITH DILJIT. The dirty tricks department of the Jumla Party has long awaited a chance to target him. They think they’ve found one now.” He clarified that Dosanjh was not responsible for the casting, which was the director's decision, but that the singer-actor is being unfairly targeted because of his global popularity.
Shah also denounced attempts to control people-to-people ties between India and Pakistan, stating, “I have close relatives and dear friends there, and no one can stop me from meeting them or sending them love. And to those who say ‘Go to Pakistan,’ my response is: ‘Go to Kailasa.’”
The actor’s remarks come in the wake of calls by industry bodies like the Federation of Western India Cine Employees (FWICE) and All Indian Cine Workers Association (AICWA) to boycott Dosanjh and remove him from the upcoming film Border 2, citing “national sentiment.”
Filmmaker Imtiaz Ali and lyricist Javed Akhtar have also spoken in support of Dosanjh. Ali stated, “Casting is not the actor’s decision… and Diljit loves his country immensely.”
In a recent interview with BBC Asian Network, Dosanjh clarified that Sardaar Ji 3 was filmed before the current diplomatic strain and that the decision to release it overseas was made to protect the producers’ financial investment. Despite the controversy, the film has reportedly broken records in Pakistan, earning ₹3 crore on its opening day — the highest for an Indian film there.
The controversy continues to spark debate over artistic freedom, nationalism, and cross-border cultural exchange.