‘Naseeruddin Shah is frustrated and restless': Ashoke Pandit slams actor for supporting Diljit Dosanjh in Sardaar Ji 3 controversy, actor deletes post
In a now-deleted post on Facebook, Shah had noted, 'I STAND FIRMLY WITH DILJIT. The dirty tricks deptt of Jumla Party has been awaiting a chance to attack him. They think they've got it at last. He was not responsible for the casting of the film, the director was. But no one knows who he is whereas Diljit is known the world over, and he agreed to the cast because his mind is not poisoned.'
Hitting back at the actor, Pandit told news agency ANI, 'We are not surprised, not shocked by Naseeruddin Shah's response to Diljit Dosanjh's entire episode. He calls us Jumla party, he calls us goons. The educated, versatile actor, senior person in the industry, calling us goons proves the frustration and kind of restlessness of Naseeruddin Shah.' Ashoke Pandit also serves as the president of the Indian Film & Television Director's Association (IFTDA), one of the several associations affiliated with FWICE.
'Naseeruddin Shah says that he (Diljit) was not responsible for casting. Well, I would like to tell Naseeruddin Shah that he was an actor. He could have refused to work with Pakistani actors,' he added. Ashoke Pandit is known for bankrolling propagandistic films such as The Accidental Prime Minister (2019) and 72 Hoorain (2023). He also directed the movie Sheen (2004) and television shows like Tere Mere Sapne, Hanste Khelte and Muqammal.
Also Read | Sardaar Ji 3: Diljit Dosanjh shares film's overwhelming response in Pakistan as it's a no-show in India
He continued: 'It's very sad that I have to, on behalf of the Federation of Western India's senior employees, explain to him the real situation between Pakistan and India. Naseeruddin Shah, from the last 40 years, Pakistan has been abusing and attacking India. They have killed people, they have raped people, they have massacred people in this country of ours. It's not only Pahalgam. It is the latest attack. Before that, Pulwama, Uri, Mumbai Blast, 26/11, there are so many attacks Pakistan is responsible. And Pakistan is a terror nation.'
'For us, our country comes first. So, our response to the entire episode, our response to the entire film Sardaar Ji 3, according to us is right. Let me tell you Naseer sahab, we have taken a call to issue a non-cooperation against Diljit and we have already issued,' Pandit added.
Following the Pahalgam terror attack earlier this year, FWICE had imposed a blanket ban on artistes from Pakistan. Amid this, the Punjabi horror comedy Sardaar Ji 3 arrived, featuring actor Hania Aamir, which irked the federation. It then demanded an unconditional apology from Diljit, accusing him of hurting 'national sentiments' and disregarding the 'sacrifices' of Indian soldiers. A formal 'Non-Cooperation Directive' was also issued against him.
Commenting on the controversy, Diljit told BBC Asian Network, 'When the film was made, the situation was fine. This film was shot in February. A lot of things happened after that which are not in our control. When it (Pahalgam attack) happened, the producers knew that they can't release this film in India anymore. But, they decided to release it overseas as they have invested a lot of money in the film. They will 100% suffer losses because they are removing an entire territory. The truth is when I signed the film, the situation was just fine. Now, when the producers want to release it overseas, I will have to stand with them and support their decision.'
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Indian Express
15 minutes ago
- Indian Express
Sohail Khan vacations with ex-wife Seema Sajdeh, sons Nirvan and Yohaan in London years after divorce, attracts response from Varun Dhawan. See pics
Actor Sohail Khan is currently vacationing with his ex-wife and designer Seema Sajdeh and their sons Yohaan and Nirvan. The actor shared a series of photos from their family holiday in London. In the pictures, the former couple can be seen posing with their sons with a huge smile on their faces. On Tuesday, Sohail took to his Instagram handle to share pictures with his family. He captioned the post, 'London Diaries, Familia', all with a hashtag. In the pictures, Sohail could be seen clicking a selfie with both his sons and Seema in the frame. In other pictures, he could be seen spending some quality father-son time with both his sons. He was seen posing with softies with his younger son Yohaan, while he posed with beers with his first born Nirvan. In other pictures, they could be seen posing for several selfies at different spots in London. A post shared by Sohail Khan (@sohailkhanofficial) ALSO READ | Instagram accounts of Pakistani artists Mawra Hocane, Saba Qamar visible in India amid Diljit Dosanjh-Hania Aamir controversy; YouTube channels accessible again Sohail's post caught the attention of many of his industry friends. Actor Varun Dhawan dropped hearts in the comment section. Meanwhile, actress Rakhi Sawant dropped several fire emojis. A post shared by Sohail Khan (@sohailkhanofficial) A post shared by Sohail Khan (@sohailkhanofficial) Before the family pictures, Sohail Khan had shared a video of both his sons walking hand-in-hand on the streets of London. Sharing the video, the actor wrote, 'Love them.' In another video, the actor shared a glimpse of their trip to London, where the family was wandering for food. Seema Sajdeh and Sohail Khan tied the knot in 1998 after she eloped with him just 10 days after her engagement to Vikram Ahuja. The couple then welcomed two sons, Nirvan and Yohaan. In 2022, they ended their marriage after 24 years of togetherness. However, they continue to co-parent their kids. Speaking to India Today, Seema had said that her bond with Sohail and his family survives. 'I may have moved on, Sohail may have moved on, but we have two children, and at the end of the day, if it's their family, it's also mine. We are a family. I am attached and connected to them for life. I have spent so many years in that house. To a large extent, being in that marriage for so many years has shaped me into the woman I am today. I can only be grateful for it,' she said. Seema is currently dating her former fiancé Vikram Ahuja. She confirmed the same in the third season of Bollywood Wives vs Fabulous Lives on Netflix.
News18
21 minutes ago
- News18
Hania Aamir, Fawad Khan And Mahira Khan's Instagram Still Banned After Mawra Hocane's Unblocked
Last Updated: After the Pahalgam terror attack, Instagram accounts of Pakistani celebrities like Mawra Hocane, Yumna Zaidi, and Ahad Raza Mir were blocked in India. In the aftermath of the Pahalgam terror attack, several Pakistani celebrities found their Instagram accounts temporarily inaccessible to users in India. The blocks appeared to coincide with posts or discussions related to the attack and Operation Sindoor, India's response to the incident. Among those whose accounts were blocked were prominent Pakistani actors and influencers whose profiles suddenly became unavailable to Indian audiences. However, it now appears that some of these accounts have been quietly restored and are once again viewable from India. Accounts such as Mawra Hocane (best known to Indian audiences for Sanam Teri Kasam alongside Harshvardhan Rane), Yumna Zaidi, Ahad Raza Mir, and Danish Taimoor are now accessible again. All of these profiles had earlier become invisible to Indian users following the tensions triggered by the Pahalgam attack. Hania Aamir, Fawad Khan And Mahira Khan Accounts Still Blocked What remains to be seen is whether other Pakistani celebrities—including Fawad Khan, Mahira Khan, and Hania Aamir—will also have their accounts restored in India. As of now, their profiles still remain inaccessible to Indian users. Indian users trying to access the accounts are met with a message saying: 'Account not available in India. This is because we complied with a legal request to restrict this content." Other celebrities affected by the action include Ali Zafar, Ayeza Khan, Sanam Saeed, Maya Ali, and Iqra Aziz Hussain. These actors, widely popular among Indian audiences for their performances and social media presence, are no longer visible to millions of followers in the country. The Government of India had issued an advisory to OTT platforms, media streaming services, and intermediaries regarding content originating from Pakistan in the wake of the Pahalgam attck. All streaming platforms were advised to discontinue Pakistan-origin content, including films, web series, songs, and podcasts, with immediate effect. The advisory references the Information Technology (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code) Rules, 2021, highlighting that publishers must avoid content that affects India's sovereignty and integrity. First Published:
India.com
an hour ago
- India.com
Sardaar Ji 3 Box Office Collection Day 3: Diljit Dosanjh, Hania Aamir's film breaks records overseas, earns Rs...
While Sardaar Ji 3 couldn't see the light of day in Indian cinemas, the Diljit Dosanjh-led horror-comedy has defied all odds. Released overseas amid controversy, the film has pulled off a Rs 18.1 crore (USD 2.2 million) global weekend, without a single rupee from domestic box office receipts. As per The Indian Express, the film opened with a 'record-breaking' Rs 4.32 crore (INR) overseas on Friday, climbed to Rs 6.71 crore on Saturday, and closed Sunday at an impressive Rs 7.07 crore, rounding out an unstoppable debut. Pakistan's love for Diljit breaks a Salman record The most surprising twist? The film's Pakistan collections broke a long-standing record held by Salman Khan's 'Sultan'. On Day 1, Sardaar Ji 3 earned PKR 3.5 crore (approx. INR 1 crore)—surpassing Sultan's 2016 opening of PKR 3.4 crore. This not only underlines Diljit Dosanjh's regional and cross-border appeal but also suggests that cinematic popularity often ignores political lines. Hania Aamir's controversy At the heart of the storm lies the casting of Pakistani actor Hania Aamir, which triggered backlash and led to FWICE enforcing their ban on Pakistani talent post the Pahalgam terror attack. While critics slammed the film for ignoring this directive, others, including Naseeruddin Shah, rallied behind Diljit. In a now-deleted Facebook post, Shah stated, 'I stand firmly with Diljit. He was not responsible for the casting… but no one knows who the director is, whereas Diljit is known the world over.' He added, 'He agreed to the cast because his mind is not poisoned.' The statement stirred emotions but also reminded audiences of the blurry lines between art, commerce, and politics. Success beyond borders Directed by an unnamed filmmaker and backed by a popular franchise, Sardaar Ji 3 has managed to become an international success story without its largest potential market. As the film continues to run abroad, all eyes are now on whether it can outperform its previous instalments, even without a single screen in India.
