- By Yashashvi Tak
- Fri, 11 Jul 2025 03:26 PM (IST)
- Source:JND
Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann earlier this week appeared to brush aside criticism directed at singer-actor Diljit Dosanjh for casting Pakistani actress Hania Aamir in his upcoming film “Sardaar Ji 3”.
According to a report by news agency PTI, Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann took a swipe at critics labelling Diljit Dosanjh a ‘gaddar’ (traitor) for casting Pakistani actress Hania Aamir in Sardaar Ji 3. Mann noted that many were upset with Dosanjh’s decision, citing prevailing national sentiment against giving a platform to artists from Pakistan until its government abandons its pro-terrorism stance.
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The Aam Aadmi Party’s senior leader also pointed out that the film was completed before the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack, which 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," Mann said.
The Punjab Chief Minister appeared to raise doubts over Pakistan’s participation in 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 approved Pakistan's participation in the Hockey Asia Cup, set to take place in Rajgir, Bihar, from August 27 to September 7.
Mann also criticised the backlash, saying Punjabis are being unfairly targeted by “self-proclaimed nationalists” who, he claimed, are envious of Punjab and its people. He called the ban on the film unwarranted, emphasising that the Punjabi community has played a crucial role in ensuring the country’s food security and protecting its borders.
Diljit Dosanjh’s Film Controversy
The controversy stems from the casting of Pakistani actress Hania Aamir in Diljit Dosanjh’s film, which has drawn sharp criticism from industry bodies such as the All Indian Cine Workers Association (AICWA) and the Federation of Western India Cine Employees (FWICE). In light of the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack, FWICE went as far as demanding the cancellation of Dosanjh’s Indian citizenship. The film and its lead actor have also faced widespread calls for a boycott on social media.
Several Sikh leaders across party lines have voiced support for Diljit Dosanjh, calling the demands to revoke his citizenship unfair and unwarranted. Amid the ongoing controversy, Dosanjh recently defended his decision to release “Sardaar Ji 3” in overseas markets.
He explained that since the film is barred from releasing in India due to the ban on Pakistani artists, the producers are already incurring losses. In such a situation, he argued, releasing the film internationally is a justified move.
“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 be released in India, so let’s release it overseas," Dosanjh had said.
India-Pakistan Relation
Relations between India and Pakistan plummeted to an all-time low following the Pahalgam terror attack. In response, the Indian armed forces launched strikes on nine terror camps across Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) on May 7, under a mission codenamed Operation Sindoor.
