‘Shot Before Pahalgam...': Punjab CM Mann Backs Diljit Dosanjh Amid Row Over Sardaar Ji 3

News18

10-07-2025

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CM says film was shot before Pahalgam attack, questions why Pakistani teams can visit India while artists face bans.
Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann earlier this week appeared to dismiss the criticism levelled at singer-actor Diljit Dosanjh over casting Pakistani female actor Hania Aamir in his latest film 'Sardaar Ji 3'.
The Punjab Chief Minister, according to a report by news agency PTI, a 'gaddar' (traitor) pointed out that critics of Diljit Dosanjh labelled his as a 'traitor" over his casting choice. Many were enraged by the singer-actor's choice because the national sentiment was not to give space to artists of the neighbouring country until their government abandons its pro-terrorism state policy.
The Aam Aadmi Party's top leader also highlighted that the film was made before the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack that claimed the lives of 26 people.
'A Pakistani actor acted in Diljit Dosanjh's film. It was shot before the Pahalgam terror attack. The Pakistani actor worked in it as our culture is the same. They speak Punjabi and we speak as well," said Mann was quoted as saying by the news agency. He made the statement during his address at an event here.
The Punjab CM appeared to question the decision of Pakistan playing the Asia Cup. 'Diljit was called a 'gaddar'. And now a Pakistani team will come to play here, and then everything will be fine?" asked Mann.
The government last week gave its approval for Pakistani participation in hockey's Asia Cup, scheduled to be held in Rajgir, Bihar from August 27 to September 7.
Envious Of Punjabis
Mann also said that Punjabis are unncessarily being targeted by the 'self-proclaimed nationalists" who are envious of Punjab and Punjabis. He said the movie has been unnecessarily banned in the country. He said that the community played a key role in making the country self-reliant in food production and safeguarding the borders of the nation.
A row had erupted over the casting of the Pakistani actress in Dosanjh's movie. Trade unions like the All Indian Cine Workers Association (AICWA) and the Federation of Western India Cine Employees (FWICE) have criticised Dosanjh for collaborating with Aamir in the wake of the Pahalgam attack, with FWICE demanding that his citizenship be cancelled. Many social media users have also called for a ban on the Punjabi actor-musician.
Several Sikh leaders from across parties have come out in Dosanjh's support terming the calls to revoke his citizenship as unfair. Dosanjh had recently defended his decision to release 'Sardaar Ji 3' in overseas territories amid the controversy.
The film's producers are already facing losses as the film won't come out in India due to a ban on Pakistani artists, and in such a scenario, it is justified to release it overseas, he had added.
'When this film was made, the situation was fine. We shot it in February and everything was going well at that time. Look, there are a lot of things, big things, that are not in our control. So the producers decided that obviously, now this film won't release in India, so let's release it overseas," Dosanjh had said.
Relations between India and Pakistan hit an all-time low after the Pahalgam attack. In retaliation, the Indian armed forces carried out strikes on nine terror camps across Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) on May 7, in an operation codenamed Operation Sindoor.
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