International sensation, Punjabi singer-actor Diljit Dosanjh’s latest Punjabi film, Sardaar Ji 3, saw a worldwide release on June 27 but skipped India owing to growing protests in the country for having cast Pakistani actor Hania Aamir.
Objections arose after the film’s teasers were out and people spotted the actor from across the border starring as one of the main female leads along with popular Punjabi star Neeru Bajwa. Diljit was accused of supporting the “enemy country” and asked to remove Hania’s scenes.
Objections against Pakistan have gained ground post recent heightened tensions between India and its neighbour after the deadly Pahalgam terror attack and the consequent Operation Sindoor by India.
White Hill Studios, which has produced the film, issued a statement to defend the casting, saying Hania was picked before tensions arose between India and Pakistan.
“This is to bring to everyone’s kind notice that the film named, Sardaarji 3, was shot well before the prevailing situation that our country is facing now and it was never ever the case that any Pakistani artist was signed or was engaged after the terrorist attack in Pahalgam,” said the statement by the filmmakers.
“We stand united with our country and our fellow countrymen during this sensitive time. Considering the same, we had decided not to release the film or any of its promotional content in India until the situation becomes opportune,” they confirmed that the film or related promotional activities won't take place in India.
Meanwhile, Diljit, in an interview with a London-based broadcasting service, said that said that the film had been shot before the ongoing India-Pakistan tensions and that producer's money was at stake.
They had therefore decided to skip India and release it worldwide on June 27.
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