Punjabi heartthrob Diljit Dosanjh has been in the firing line on social media after the trailer of his next release Sardaar Ji 3, with Pakistani actress Hania Aamir playing a central role, was released. While the movie is being talked about around the world, the casting has unleashed a wave of criticism, particularly from Indian audiences.
“Kaise Kaam Karega Pakistani Artist Ki Saath Abhi?”The row began shortly after the trailer was released on June 22, 2025. The inclusion of Hania Aamir, who is very popular in Pakistan, has failed to get much goodwill among a section of Indian netizens. The majority have called it “insensitive” in light of the strained Indo-Pak relations following the April Pahalgam terror attack in which a few Indian lives were lost.
On X (previously Twitter) and Instagram, the targeted user was the actor, with some of the tweets including:> He needs to be removed from Border 2. How can he co-operate with someone from Pakistan after what has happened in Kashmir?””This is not a casting choice, it’s a statement. Shame on you, Diljit.”
Others even ran trends such as #BoycottDiljit and #BanSardaarJi3, calling for the boycott of the film and compelling production houses to refrain from collaborating with Dosanjh in the future.
FWICE Calls for BanThe Federation of Western India Cine Employees (FWICE) has also joined the fray, seeking that the film not be released in India. They are reportedly written to the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) requesting that Sardaar Ji 3 be refused certification on the grounds of “hurting national sentiment.” “In a time when emotions are fresh and national unity is needed, having a Pakistani actress in an Indian production made by Indians is unacceptable,” a FWICE spokesperson said.Polarized Public OpinionWhile Dosanjh has infuriated many, some of his supporters have come to his aid, stating that politics should never get in the way of art, and that he should be praised for encouraging cross-border cooperation. These supporters have, however, been submerged by a sea of rage that’s on social media. Not Coming to IndiaBecause of growing controversy, the crew of the film has now come forward and announced that Sardaar Ji 3 will not be hitting the Indian screens, but will release in the international markets like Canada, the US, UK, and UAE, where Diljit has a gigantic fan base.With nationalist fervor high, Sardaar Ji 3 now finds itself at the center of a tempest. What was intended to be a festive big-screen return of Diljit’s cult ghostbuster character now becomes a powder keg in the present India-Pakistan cultural divide. Whether the backlash affects the film’s global popularity remains to be seen.
