Hania Aamir starring in Sardaar Ji 3 as India release blocked
Pakistani actor Hania Aamir's Indian film debut, Sardaar Ji 3, will not see a theatrical release in India following renewed tensions between Islamabad and New Delhi.
The film, co-starring Indian singer-actor Diljit Dosanjh and Neeru Bajwa, is scheduled to release overseas on June 27, but will not hit cinemas in India.
Hania Aamir's casting was confirmed following speculation that she had been dropped amid backlash from Indian film bodies and right-wing groups.
Read: Hania Aamir may be replaced in Sardaar Ji 3: reports
The Federation of Western India Cine Employees (FWICE) and the Film Federation of India had reportedly urged the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) to block the film's release due to her involvement.
The pressure followed the April 22 Pahalgam attack in Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK), which left 26 people dead and reignited bans on Pakistani celebrities in Indian media.
While neither Hania nor Diljit publicly addressed the rumours at that time, fans speculated about her continued involvement after she was missing from early posters and teasers.
A behind-the-scenes photo shared by Dosanjh sparked renewed curiosity, and the official trailer released this weekend confirmed her leading role as a ghostbuster.
Tensions between India and Pakistan escalated sharply in May, Pakistan Air Force shot down six Indian jets in retaliation for missile strikes on its territory.
The conflict also disrupted several Indo-Pakistani film projects. Pakistani actor Fawad Khan's film Abir Gulaal, co-starring Vaani Kapoor, faced a ban.
Posters featuring Pakistani stars Mahira Khan and Mawra Hocane were also removed from Bollywood movie posters on streaming platforms.
Read more: Spotify India, OTT platforms pull Pakistani music after govt ban
Instagram restricted access in India to the accounts of several Pakistani celebrities including Mahira Khan, Hania Aamir, and Ali Zafar following a legal request citing content regulation.
Read more: 'Ro Doongi': Hania Aamir reacts to Indian fans dodging ban
Indian users attempting to view their profiles received a message stating: 'Account not available in India. This is because we complied with a legal request to restrict this content.'
Photo: ScreenGrab
Hania received strong support from peers and fans. Celebrities including Mahira Khan, Mehwish Hayat, Zara Noor Abbas and Yasir Hussain praised her perseverance.
Photo: ScreenGrab
Yasir Hussain noted the film holds 'historic value' due to Aamir's presence despite diplomatic tensions.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Express Tribune
2 days ago
- Express Tribune
India blocks celebrity accounts and YouTube channels after brief access
Listen to article India has once again blocked the social media accounts of several prominent Pakistani celebrities and Youtube channels, just a day after some accounts were briefly accessible due to what Indian officials called a 'technical glitch'. Accounts belonging to Fawad Khan, Mahira Khan and Hania Aamir remained restricted on Thursday, while those of Mawra Hocane, Saba Qamar, Ahad Raza Mir, Yumna Zaidi, and Danish Taimoor were briefly visible to users in India on Wednesday before being restricted again. The YouTube channels of former cricketers Shahid Afridi and Shoaib Akhtar along with many tv channels were also temporarily restored. Many users in India reported on social media that they were unable to access the accounts once again. According to Indian media, users once again receive a message stating, 'Account not available in India. This is because we complied with a legal request to restrict this content' when accessing Pakistani accounts. The bans come in the aftermath of the April 22 terror attack in Pahalgam, Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK), in which 26 people, mostly tourists, were killed. India has accused Pakistan of backing the attackers. Pakistan has vehemently denied Indian accusations. Read: Pakistani celebrities use satire to mock India's social media ban The initial wave of account bans coincided with this conflict as several Pakistani celebrities including Fahad Mustafa, Hina Altaf and Ushna Shah criticised Indian attack that hit mosques and civilian homes. India's Ministry of Information and Broadcasting has not issued a formal explanation, but sources told India Today the temporary access was due to a technical error and has now been corrected. Officials added that roughly 14,000 accounts remain banned and will be reviewed periodically based on compliance with India's digital regulations and national security laws. Read more: Hania Aamir refutes falsely-attributed statement on Pahalgam attack Separately, actor Hania Aamir, featured in Sardaar Ji 3 opposite Diljit Dosanjh, recently became the focus of renewed backlash after Indian media questioned her casting amid heightened cross-border tensions. Producers later clarified she was signed before the hostilities began. In a interview with Haroon Rashid of the BBC Asian Network, Diljit Dosanjh addressed the backlash surrounding the casting of Hania Aamir in Sardaar Ji 3, saying, "When this film was being made, the [political] situation was fine. When we shot this film in February, everything was fine. But a lot of big things are not in our hands".
Business Recorder
2 days ago
- Business Recorder
Deepika Padukone becomes first Indian to receive Hollywood Walk of Fame star
Bollywood actor Deepika Padukone is set to be the very first Indian national slated to receive Hollywood Walk of Fame star in 2026, announced the The Hollywood Chamber of Commerce on Wednesday. Padukone responded to the single honour with a single word, 'Gratitude', as posted on Instagram stories on Thursday. The Los Angeles landmark consists of 2,813 terrazzo-and-brass stars embedded in the sidewalks along 15 blocks of Hollywood streets. Final choices are made based on an individual's lasting impact in one or more of five fields: motion pictures, television, live performance, music and sports entertainment. The 2026 class was revealed during a live event hosted by Walk of Fame. Alongside Padukone, the upcoming group of honourees includes Demi Moore, Emily Blunt, Sarah Michelle Gellar, Molly Ringwald and Noah Wyle. Shaquille O'Neal will be recognised for his achievements in sports and broadcasting. Beyond the realm of acting, Padukone is well known on the luxury brand circuit. In 2022, she became the very first Indian House Ambassador for French luxury house Louis Vuitton. She also represents luxury jeweler Cartier and has been featured twice on the cover of Time magazine and named among Time's 100 Most Influential People. 'India's moment': Bollywood's Deepika Padukone is TIME magazine's latest cover star She catapulted to fame with the film, 'Om Shanti Om' across Shah Rukh Khan in 2007 and is married to fellow actor Ranvir Singh.
Express Tribune
3 days ago
- Express Tribune
India reverses ban on Pakistani channels and celebrities' accounts
Listen to article India has lifted the ban on Pakistani YouTube channels and artists' social media accounts, allowing Indian viewers to once again access to Pakistani content. Ahad Raza Mir, Mawra Hocane, Yumna Zaidi and Danish Taimoor are among the celebrities whose accounts have been reinstated. However, several accounts are still inaccessible to Indian users, including those of Mahira Khan, Fawad Khan, Wahaj Ali, Iqra Aziz, Farhan Saeed and Hania Aamir. After the April 22 shooting, which targeted tourists in Pahalgam, located in Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK) and left 26 civilians dead, India had imposed restrictions on Pakistani YouTube channels and the social media profiles of several Pakistani actors and celebrities. Tensions between India and Pakistan further escalated in May when the Pakistan Air Force shot down six Indian jets in retaliation for missile strikes on its territory. The conflict also disrupted the release of Fawad Khan's film Abir Gulaal, starring Vaani Kapoor, with a ban. Posters featuring Pakistani stars Mahira Khan and Mawra Hocane were also removed from Bollywood movie posters on streaming platforms. Read: Instagram accounts of Mahira Khan, Hania Aamir, Ali Zafar blocked in India Indian social media users confirmed that the ban has been lifted by sharing screenshots of previously blocked Pakistani channels and accounts. Not even 3 months into the ban and Pakistani channels are back, many Pakistani actresses' Insta accounts unbanned in India, reports say India vs Pakistan Asia Cup match in September 🙏🙏 — Prayag (@theprayagtiwari) July 2, 2025 Before that, Indian users attempting to view the profiles of Pakistani actors were met with a message stating: 'Account not available in India. This is because we complied with a legal request to restrict this content'. Several Indian media outlets, including India Today and Hindustan Times, also reported the lifting of the ban, confirming that access to Pakistani YouTube channels and some celebrity Instagram accounts has been restored. Earlier, Sardaar Ji 3, a Punjabi horror-comedy starring Diljit Dosanjh, became the center of controversy due to Hania Aamir's involvement. The Federation of Western India Cine Employees (FWICE) and the Film Federation of India had reportedly urged the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) to block the film's release due to her involvement. Ahead of the film's international release, actress Neeru Bajwa reportedly unfollowed Hania on Instagram and removed all promotional content related to the movie from her profile. Many interpreted it as a response to growing criticism in India over the inclusion of a Pakistani actor, especially amid renewed nationalist sentiment following the Pahalgam attack in IIOJK.
