Diljit Dosanjh recently garnered flak for featuring Pakistani actress Hania Aamir in his film upcoming film Sardaar Ji 3. Criticism intensified when he unveiled the trailer for the film on his Instagram on Sunday night, with many bashing Dosanjh for being “insensitive” amid geo-political tensions between India and Pakistan following the recent Pahalgam terror attack.
The actor-singer announced that the film will not release in India, aiming only for an “overseas release”, scheduled for June 27.
In response, B.N. Tiwari, President of the Federation of Western India Cine Employees (FWICE), has accused Dosanjh of hurting Indian sentiments and called for a ban on all his future projects in the country, be it his music, films, or television shows.
“By working with a Pakistani actor, Diljit has hurt Indian sentiments. He has disrespected the sentiments of the nation and insulted the sacrifice of our brave soldiers. His preference for Pakistani talent over Indian artists raises serious questions about his loyalty and priorities,” Tiwari said in a statement to Hindustan Times.
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“Diljit working with a Pakistani actor is something we are not ready to overlook. We have called for a strict ban on all upcoming films, songs or any other sort of projects,” he continued, adding that the same will apply to all the producers of Sardaar Ji 3.
Tiwari mentioned that the union had previously reached out to the makers of the film, requesting an explanation. “Humne letter de diya tha, ko jawab nahi aaya. Ab seedha ban karenge (We gave them a letter but didn’t get a response from the team. Now, we will directly ban them).”
Earlier this month, FWICE urged the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) to withhold certification to block Sardaar Ji 3’s release in India