Latest news with #DiljitDosanjh-starrer
Indian Express
18-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Indian Express
Row over ‘Sardar Ji 3': trend of cross-border collaborations in Punjabi film industry unlikely to sustain
Even as Bollywood has refused to cast Pakistani actors following the 2016 Uri attack, the Punjabi film industry continues to find itself entangled in the debate, more so now in the wake of the controversy surrounding Sardar Ji 3, the Diljit Dosanjh-starrer that features Pakistani actress Hania Aamir in a prominent role. The film, which has not yet been released in India, is currently collecting huge profits in Pakistan and overseas, once again sparking a debate over the involvement of actors from the neighbouring country in Indian Punjabi films. Speaking to The Indian Express, Punjabi singer-music director Ravinder Ranguwal said, 'The Punjabi film industry continued casting Pakistani actors, or rather, started featuring them more actively post-2016. All roles involving Pakistani actors were shot overseas.' A major driver of this collaboration, industry insiders say, is the shared linguistic and cultural heritage between Charda Punjab (East Punjab in India) and Lehnda Punjab (West Punjab in Pakistan). Since both regions speak Punjabi, films that blend talent from both sides enjoy wider acceptability. 'The shared language and culture create an organic appeal in both Punjabs, which naturally enhances commercial success,' Ranguwal added. However, he admitted that the situation might change now. 'After all the controversies that followed the Pahalgam terror attack, I don't think the Punjabi industry will cast Pakistani actors in future projects. Films that had already been signed are a different matter altogether, given the financial stakes involved,' he said. The Chal Mera Putt franchise stands as a prime example of this trend. The first instalment, released in 2019, was a blockbuster and featured Pakistani actors like Iftikhar Thakur, Nasir Chinyoti, and Akram Udas in prominent roles. Its success was followed by Chal Mera Putt 2 (2020) and Chal Mera Putt 3 (2021), both of which included even more Pakistani talent and enjoyed massive popularity, particularly among the Punjabi diaspora in both countries and overseas. According to an announcement made earlier this year, Chal Mera Putt 4 is scheduled for release in August, but with growing scrutiny of cross-border collaborations, the filmmakers have yet to disclose whether any changes have been made to the cast. Besides this franchise, several other Punjabi films in recent years — including Maa Da Ladla, Honeymoon, and Carry on Jatta 3 — have featured Pakistani actors in significant roles. In fact, in the last four to five years, blending artists from both sides of Punjab had almost become a norm in the industry. Now, with Sardar Ji 3 facing potential non-release in India due to its Pakistani cast, concerns are being raised about whether Chal Mera Putt 3 will meet the same fate. The film reportedly features an even more extensive lineup of Pakistani actors than the Dosanjh movie. Following the Pahalgam attack, actor Iftikhar Thakur — one of the most celebrated Pakistani comedians involved in cross-border Punjabi films — had allegedly made controversial remarks directed at India, prompting a fresh wave of criticism. 'There's no shortage of talent in Punjab. We don't necessarily need to rely on Pakistani actors to make successful films,' Ranguwal had said then. While the shared language and commercial potential of such collaborations have been key motivators, industry voices now question whether Punjabi cinema should follow Bollywood's path in phasing out Pakistani actors altogether. 'Even Hindi films are widely watched in Pakistan. So, if Bollywood can thrive without casting Pakistani actors, Punjabi cinema can also evolve with local talent,' said an insider from the Punjabi industry.
Indian Express
01-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Indian Express
Sardaar Ji 3 box office collection: Record-breaking performance in Pakistan pushes Diljit Dosanjh's controversial film towards Rs 20 crore mark
Sardaar Ji 3 box office collection: Braving the controversy over the presence of Pakistani actor Hania Aamir in its cast, despite a ban imposed by the Federation of Western India Cine Employees (FWICE) on artistes from the neighboring country in the wake of the Pahalgam attack, the Punjabi horror comedy Sardaar Ji 3 is continuing its successful run at the box office. In spite of not receiving a release in India due to the row, the Diljit Dosanjh-starrer raked in impressive moolah during its opening weekend, thanks to the overwhelming response it has been getting in Pakistan. According to the makers, the third instalment in the Diljit Dosanjh-led franchise has grossed a whopping Rs 18.1 crore worldwide in just three days. Following a 'record-breaking overseas opening' of Rs 4.32 crore on Friday (June 27), which rose to Rs 6.71 crore on day two, the horror comedy recorded a global gross of Rs 7.07 crore on Sunday, taking its total worldwide collection to Rs 18.1 crore. If the current trend continues and the movie manages to maintain momentum, Sardaar Ji 3 might even surpass the collection records set by the first two instalments in the franchise, further underscoring how much not getting a theatrical release in India has impacted its potential earnings. Meanwhile, the film has also achieved another milestone by recording the biggest opening for an Indian movie in Pakistan. According to India Today, Sardaar Ji 3 earned Rs 3.5 crore (PKR) on its first day, surpassing the record previously held by director Ali Abbas Zafar's Sultan (2016), featuring Salman Khan, Anushka Sharma and Randeep Hooda in key roles, which had minted Rs 3.4 crore (PKR) on its opening day. Although it's been four days since the film hit screens, the controversy surrounding it seems far from over. Recently, legendary actor Naseeruddin Shah also came out in support of Diljit Dosanjh. In a now-deleted Facebook post, he wrote, '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.' Breaking his silence on the matter, the singer-turned-actor 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.'
Indian Express
21-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Indian Express
What to watch on OTT: The Great Indian Kapil Show S3, We Were Liars S1
What to watch on OTT The Great Indian Kapil Show S3 with Salma Khan on it's opening episode to Diljit Dosanjh-starrer Detective Sherdil, here's a latest watchlist on OTT. The Great Indian Kapil Show S3 (Netflix) The Indian Kapil Show is returning with its third season and will have Salman Khan as a guest on its premiere episode which will air on Saturday (June 21). This season will have both Navjot Singh Sidhu and Archana Puran Singh on the couch. Detective Sherdil (Zee5) Diljit Dosanjh-starrer is scheduled to stream from June 20. The Hindi-language mystery comedy tells the tale of a unique detective tasked with solving a case that is far from ordinary. Ace (Prime Video) This Tamil-language film stars Vijay Sethupathi. The movie is a taut thriller of reinvention, deceit, and survival. It also features Yogi Babu, Rukmini Vasanth, Rajkumar, Denesh Kumar, Priscilla Nair, R.J. Ramesh and P.L. Thenappan in pivotal roles. Kabul (Lionsgate Play) This gripping drama set in Afghanistan's capital under Taliban rule. It explores the stories of survival and moral dilemmas as the Taliban brutally takes over Kabul. We Were Liars S1 (Prime Video) Based on the best-selling novel by E. Lockhart, the series is about Cadence Sinclair Eastman and her tight-knit inner circle, nicknamed the Liars, during their summer escapades on her grandfather's New England private island. 8 highest paid Hindi TV actors
