Diljit faces backlash over Hania Aamir film amid Indo-Pak tensions

ISLAMABAD: Indian superstar Diljit Dosanjh is facing a backlash from extremist groups in India after the release of the trailer of his upcoming film Sardaar Ji 3, which stars Lollywood actress Hania Aamir.

The trailer quickly created a firestorm on social media, with some Indian users and hardline nationalists calling Diljit a traitor and an anti-national for collaborating with a Pakistani artist at a time of ongoing tensions between the nuclear-armed countries.

A viral post on Platform X (formerly Twitter) tagged the Indian Ministry of External Affairs and urged them to cancel Diljit Dosanjh’s passport, alleging that they were showing “indifference” by promoting the film with a Pakistani actress amid alleged cross-border hostilities.

The Hindutva-inspired user said that Diljit chose to promote the film with a Pakistani actress at a time when Pakistan attempted to attack the Golden Temple. This is unacceptable.

The Federation of Western India Cine Employees (FWICE) also expressed strong disapproval. President BN Tiwari warned that Dosanjh and production house White Hill Studios would be permanently banned if the film with Hania Aamir’s scene is released internationally.

‘Sardaar Ji 3’ was reportedly completed before the recent Indo-Pak diplomatic tensions erupted. Despite speculation about Aamir’s scenes being reshot, the final trailer confirms that she remains a part of the project. The film is set to release internationally on June 27, but is unlikely to hit theatres in India.

Pakistani fans, on the other hand, praised Diljit for resisting nationalist pressure. Fans showered him with love for standing with art over hate.

The controversy highlights how political tensions continue to spill over into cultural spaces. Whether Indian authorities will heed the demands to cancel Diljit’s passport is uncertain, but the uproar is another sign of the fragile state of cultural exchange between the two neighbors.