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Hindustan Times
an hour ago
- Entertainment
- Hindustan Times
Imtiaz Ali defends Diljit Dosanjh amid row over casting Hania Aamir in Sardaar Ji 3; calls him ‘son of the soil'
There has been much chatter about Diljit Dosanjh since his Punjabi film Sardaar Ji 3 featured Pakistani actor Hania Aamir. Imtiaz Ali, who had previously worked with Diljit in the Netflix film Amar Singh Chamkila, backed the singer-actor in an interview with NDTV amid the controversy. (Also Read: Javed Akhtar slams de facto ban on 'bechara' Diljit Dosanjh's Sardaar Ji 3: 'Paisa Indian ka doobega, Pakistani ka nahi') Imtiaz Ali defended Diljit Dosanjh against recent criticism of him surrounding Sardaar Ji 3. When asked about how Sardaar Ji 3 was released only abroad in the aftermath of the Pahalgam attack and how Diljit's love for the country was called into question, Imtiaz said, 'I can't say much on the row, but since I know Diljit, I can say that uss mein deshbhakti ka jazbaa poora bhara hua hai (He is a patriot at heart). He is a son of the soil. You can see at all his concerts, he shows up with the Indian flag. He is not a guy who fakes things. Fakeness ke saath woh kuch nahi karta hai (He doesn't fake things). No one asked him to do it. At the end of all his concerts, he says, Main hoon Punjab, with the Indian flag.' Imtiaz also defended Diljit, stating that casting someone isn't the actor's decision. 'I don't know how it went, but I know that uske andar desh prem bahut zyada hai (He loves his country too much). Jo log dekh paayenge unke andar ke sach ko, unko ye samajh mein aa jaayega (People who can see the truth, will understand him),' he added. The Sardaar Ji 3 casting row Sardaar Ji 3 was released in theatres on 27 June but was not released in India. On 22 June, when the trailer for the film was dropped and it featured Hania, Diljit received flak, given the government's diktat to ban Pakistani artists and creators in India after the Pahalgam attack. The Federation of Western India Cine Employees even sent a letter to Imtiaz, 'strongly appealing' to him to reconsider casting Diljit in his upcoming film. They also appealed to the government of India and Prime Minister Narendra Modi to blacklist the makers of Sardaar Ji 3 and Diljit from the film industry, asking for their passports and Indian citizenship to be revoked.
Indian Express
5 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Indian Express
Javed Akhtar supports Sardaar Ji 3's release amid controversy, Imtiaz Ali defends Diljit Dosanjh's patriotism: ‘Indian producer would lose money, not Pakistani'
As calls grow louder to halt the release of Sardaar Ji 3, Diljit Dosanjh's upcoming Punjabi film featuring Pakistani actor Hania Aamir, several voices from Bollywood have spoken in defence of the actor and the project. Director Imtiaz Ali and celebrated lyricist-screenwriter Javed Akhtar have both addressed the controversy and shared their perspectives. In an interview with NDTV, Imtiaz Ali, who previously collaborated with Diljit on the film Amar Singh Chamkila, responded to the backlash regarding the actor's association with a Pakistani artiste. 'Look, I can't say much on the matter, but I do know Diljit personally, and I know he has a deep sense of patriotism. He's truly a son of the soil. If you look at his major concerts, he always ends them by waving the Indian flag. And I know for a fact that he's not someone who does anything fake, he's genuine. No one asked him to do all this, but at every concert, he declares 'I am Punjab' and proudly takes India's name. Now, I don't know the full details of the casting process, since actors usually don't make those decisions. But I do know that he has immense love for the country, and those who can see the truth will understand it in a few days.' Also Read | Mika Singh slams 'fake singer' Diljit Dosanjh for working with Pakistani actor Hania Aamir: 'Left fans betrayed and helpless' Veteran writer Javed Akhtar also supported the film's release, calling for a practical and sympathetic view of the situation. 'I don't know when exactly the film was made, but if it was completed before all this happened, what can the poor producer do? How could he have known what was going to happen later? It's his money on the line, Pakistan's money isn't at stake here, it's the Indian producer who will lose out. Laws don't work retrospectively. You can't create a law today and apply it to a situation from ten years ago, that's not practical. Had that poor guy known something like this was going to happen, he wouldn't have cast the actress. I believe the government and censor board should view this matter with sympathy and simply say: 'Please don't repeat this going forward.' It shouldn't happen again.' Sardaar Ji 3 has been at the center of a growing controversy ever since the Pahalgam terror attack in April, after which Indian film associations imposed a blanket ban on Pakistani artists. 'In a previous interview with BBC Asian Network, Diljit Dosanjh addressed the backlash and explained the timeline of the film's production: '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.' Producer of Sardaar Ji 3, Gunbir Singh Sidhu, earlier told NDTV that the film was shot before the Pahalgam attack and that, at the time, there was no such ban in place. He also spoke about the financial ramifications of Sardaar Ji 3 not getting a release in India, stating that '40 percent of our revenue loss has happened.' In a recent development, the Federation of Western India Cine Employees (FWICE) officially appealed to actor Sunny Deol and filmmaker Imtiaz Ali to sever all professional ties with Diljit Dosanjh over the issue. The organization has taken a firm stance, urging Indian artists and producers to abide by the industry-wide directive against Pakistani collaborations
India.com
8 hours ago
- Entertainment
- India.com
Imtiaz Ali Backs Diljit Dosanjh Amid Sardaar Ji 3 Row, Calls Him ‘Son Of The Soil'
Mumbai: Renowned filmmaker Imtiaz Ali showed support for his 'Amar Singh Chamkila' actor Diljit Dosanjh amidst the ongoing controversy regarding his movie, "Sardaar Ji 3" starring Pakistani actress Hania Aamir. While appearing as a guest on NDTV 's Creators Manch, the 'Tamasha' maker was asked about Diljit's decision to release "Sardaar ji 3" abroad. Reacting to this, Imtiaz shared, "I can't say much on the row, but since I know Diljit, I can say that us mein deshbhakti ka jazbaa poora bhara hua hai (He is a patriot at heart). He is a son of the soil. You can see at all his concerts, he shows up with the Indian flag." He added that Diljit is not someone who fakes things. "Fakeness ke saath woh kuch nahi karta hai (He doesn't fake things). No one asked him to do it. At the end of all his concerts, he says, "Main hoon Punjab", with the Indian flag," he shared. Shedding some more light on the 'Sardaar Ji 3' row, Imtiaz went on to reveal, "I don't know the details, but casting someone isn't the decision of the actor. I don't know how it went, but I know that uske andar desh prem bahut zyada hai (He loves his country too much). Jo log dekh paayenge unke andar ke sach ko, unko ye samajh mein aa jaayega (People who can see the truth, will understand)." Meanwhile, The Federation of Western India Cine Employees had sent a letter to the filmmaker, asking him to cut all ties with Diljit. "Your involvement risks sending a deeply conflicting message, especially given your influence as a director known for socially resonant themes... "We, therefore, strongly appeal to you to reconsider your collaboration with Diljit Dosanjh and withdraw from associating with any artist who has been officially boycotted by FWICE. Upholding the dignity of our industry and the nation must remain paramount over professional or commercial interests," the letter read.
NDTV
a day ago
- Entertainment
- NDTV
Amid Sardaar Ji 3 Row, Imtiaz Ali Calls Diljit Dosanjh "Son Of The Soil": " Us Mein Desh Bhakti Poora Hain"
New Delhi: Imtiaz Ali, who had worked with Diljit Dosanjh in the Netflix original Amar Singh Chamkila, has backed the singer-actor amid the controversy over his Punjaabi film Sardaar Ji 3, featuring Pakistani actor Hania Aamir. Filmmaker Imtiaz Ali appeared as a guest on NDTV Creators Manch and shared his thoughts on the fiasco Diljit has been embroiled in. What's Happening When asked about Diljit's decision to release Sardaar ji 3 abroad in the aftermath of the Pahalgam attack, Imtiaz Ali said, "I can't say much on the row, but since I know Diljit, I can say that us mein deshbhakti ka jazbaa poora bhara hua hai (He is a patriot at heart). He is a son of the soil. You can see at all his concerts, he shows up with the Indian flag. "He is not a guy who fakes things. Fakeness ke saath woh kuch nahi karta hai (He doesn't fake things). No one asked him to do it. At the end of all his concerts, he says, "Main hoon Punjab", with the Indian flag. I don't know the details, but casting someone isn't the decision of the actor. I don't know how it went, but I know that uske andar desh prem bahut zyada hai (He loves his country too much. Jo log dekh paayenge unke andar ke sach ko, unko ye samajh mein aa jaayega (People who can see the truth, will understand him)." The Sardaar Ji 3 Fiasco Diljit Dosanjh's Punjabi film Sardaar Ji 3 has released in theatres today. On Sunday (22 June), Diljit released the trailer of the film, announcing the release date and revealing Pakistani actor Hania Aamir's presence in the film. Ever since the trailer dropped, Diljit has been caught in the eye of the storm. The Federation of Western India Cine Employees earlier sent a letter to Imtiaz Ali to cut his ties from the singer-actor. "Your involvement risks sending a deeply conflicting message, especially given your influence as a director known for socially resonant themes... "We, therefore, strongly appeal to you to reconsider your collaboration with Diljit Dosanjh and withdraw from associating with any artist who has been officially boycotted by FWICE. Upholding the dignity of our industry and the nation must remain paramount over professional or commercial interests." The film body also appealed to the Government of India to blacklist Diljit Dosanjh and Sardaar Ji 3 makers from film industry, also appealing to Prime Minister Narendra Modi to ensure that their passports are revoked and their Indian citizenship is cancelled. In A Nutshell Amid Sardaar Ji row, Imtiaz Ali credited Diljit Dosanjh as the son of the soil. He reiterated his patriotism which has been questioned in the context of Sardaar Ji 3 row.
Hindustan Times
20-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Hindustan Times
Woman on the verge: How Sahiba Bali is working her way to the top
When asked where home is, Sahiba Bali finds it hard to answer. Bali, 30, is part-Kashmiri, part-Punjabi, but was born in Kolkata. She spent her early years in Indonesia (the Bali jokes write themselves), but returned to Delhi to complete school and attend Delhi University. Then, she flew to the UK to complete her Masters in marketing, and did an extra business course at Oxford, just because she could. Then, she moved to Mumbai. But the reason someone would ask her that in the first place is because Bali is everywhere. She started off as a brand manager for Zomato, was an associate director at Unacademy, and found time to be a lifestyle content creator. She ended up hosting S4 of Shark Tank India, is now a sports broadcaster and an anchor at Disney Star, and has been in three movies and several web series. She played Kashmiri student Ambreen in Laila Majnu (2018), an Inter-Services agent Abida in the Netflix series Bard of Blood (2019), and an exacting journalist in Amar Singh Chamkila (2024). For this season's IPL, Punjab Kings brought her on as their marketing and digital curator, making those viral fun Reels with cricketers. While you catch your breath, she's now in a music video too: Haqeeqat, sung and composed by Akhil Sachdeva. None of this, she says, was part of the plan. Early start As the only child of a banker and a production-house director, Bali recalls watching both parents hard at work, every day. She ended up excelling in her studies simply because she didn't know any other way. But being an only child meant more than academic excellence. 'My parents were working through the day, so I would be left to my own devices,' Bali recalls. 'I had only myself to entertain and motivate.' Cue the extracurriculars: Bharatanatyam, keyboard, jazz, debating, theatre. 'I was doing so much, and a lot of it was competitive. It just inculcated this behaviour of trying to excel in different things. That stayed with me.' It also helped chart a multi-pronged path to the spotlight. Acting was never meant to be more than a side hustle, Bali says. But perhaps the roulette of auditions and rejections didn't hit as hard. 'During the weeks when I wasn't acting, instead of sulking about the lack of work and feeling bad about rejection, I took a marketing job on the side.' Bali originally auditioned for Triptii Dimri's role in Laila Majnu, but got the part of her sister instead. She auditioned for Kiara Advani's role in Kabir Singh, as well as Anushka Sharma's role in Sultan, opposite Salman Khan. She recalls a Netflix show that fell through. 'I had this great role — a woman from Delhi who lives in Gurgaon, a complete girl-next-door. But unfortunately, after we signed the contract and everything, they went ahead with someone else because they wanted to package it differently.' She just kept auditioning until the tide began to turn. Audiences noticed her small part in Laila Majnu. She began to be recognised for the videos she'd do with Zomato; her fresh vibe resonating with viewers on YouTube and Instagram. People began watching her vlogs (each video now has more than 20 lakh views). Speak easy Bali is often cast as Kashmiri. 'Maybe I look and talk the part.' But she's eager to break that stereotype. 'I want a typical Yash Raj filmi, over-the-top romantic drama,' she says, and quickly adds that she'd also do 'a very natural, Piku-type role'. But she's aware that her big break is yet to come. Until then, she's not shying away from being herself in public. Last year, Bali was invited to an Indian billionaire's son's wedding, a much-spotlighted event that was dubbed The Shaadi Of The Century. She skipped it, telling interviewers that she didn't want to attend it just for the attention. In April, she was one of the few people in entertainment to speak up against the erasure of Mughal history from grade 7 NCERT textbooks. As a star-in-the-making, she knows the cost of speaking her mind. But she knows how fickle fandom is too. 'It's the small things,' she says. 'I don't talk about something, people start forming opinions about me. If I do say something about an issue, then there are questions.' Of course, like all young people, she yearns for simpler times. 'There are days where I really wish we had gone back to analogue life and didn't have smartphones,' she admits. The constant scrutiny means 'whenever I'm saying anything, I have to think twice'. But years of putting in the effort, competing and coming out shining are helping her battle online negativity and public opinion. 'I tell myself that this is for two hours, that people are going to forget, that there are bigger problems in the world, that nobody cares about you in the grand scheme of things,' she says. 'I don't worry about what I can't change.' We'll be seeing more of her on screen. Let's hope she keeps that fighting spirit intact. From HT Brunch, June 21, 2025 Follow us on
