Diljit Dosanjh Safe In Border 2 Amid Sardaar Ji 3 Backlash? Here's What We Know

News18

10 hours ago

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Amid the Sardaar Ji 3 backlash, Diljit Dosanjh will not be replaced in Border 2, say sources, despite growing calls for a ban by industry bodies.
Diljit Dosanjh remains at the centre of a heated controversy over the overseas release of Sardaar Ji 3, which features Pakistani actress Hania Aamir. The film's release, just two months after the Pahalgam terror attack, has drawn sharp criticism, with demands intensifying from film bodies to boycott Diljit and remove him from upcoming projects—including the much-anticipated war drama Border 2.
However, according to information obtained by Hindustan Times, there are no current plans to replace Diljit in Border 2. A highly-placed source close to the production confirmed, 'There is no plan to replace or remove Diljit from Border 2. His casting was confirmed nearly nine months ago, long before the recent unfortunate incidents. Nearly half the film has already been shot, and any replacement at this stage would be logistically unfeasible."
The controversy escalated on June 25, when the Federation of Western India Cine Employees (FWICE) formally addressed letters to co-producer Bhushan Kumar and lead actor Sunny Deol, urging them to sever ties with Diljit. While both parties have yet to issue a formal response, the silence from the production team—led by Nidhi Dutta and Bhushan Kumar—has only intensified public curiosity.
In an unexpected twist, FWICE has also written to Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and Home Minister Amit Shah, appealing for the withdrawal of permissions granted to the Border 2 team for filming at the prestigious National Defence Academy (NDA).
As the backlash brews, the film's production team is reportedly preparing an official statement to address the growing controversy.
Adding to the intrigue, Neeru Bajwa, Diljit's co-star in Sardaar Ji 3, quietly deleted all promotional content related to the film from her Instagram profile on Thursday. While she has not publicly commented on the matter, her digital silence has prompted speculation about a possible shift in allegiance.
Meanwhile, singer Mika Singh has vocally opposed the casting of Hania Aamir and the decision to proceed with the film's overseas release. Singer Guru Randhawa also joined the conversation with a cryptic post on X (formerly Twitter) that read, 'Lakh pardesi hoyieee, Apna desh nhi bhandi daa. Jehre mulk da khayie, us da bura nhi mangi da," a statement many interpreted as a veiled jab at Diljit. In a surprising follow-up, Guru deactivated his X account on Friday, adding more layers to an already polarising situation.
While the makers of Sardaar Ji 3 have maintained that the film was shot before recent tensions and chose to release it only overseas out of respect for domestic sentiment, the debate around art, patriotism, and accountability continues to gain momentum.
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