Indian actor and singer Diljit Dosanjh broke his silence on the controversy surrounding his Sardarji 3 movie with Pakistani actress Hania Aamir and the Pahalgam attack. Concerning the recent matches between India and Pakistan.
Speaking at a concert in Malaysia, Diljit said that his film Sardarji 3 was shot before the Pahalgam attack, and the matches between India and Pakistan in the Asia Cup are being played months after the Pahalgam attack.
Diljit Opens His Heart to Fans
The actor said that he has many answers to the critics and naysayers,s but he has been quiet. Several clips emerged on social media platforms featuring Diljit saluting the national flag. He said, “That’s my country’s flag. Always respect.” He then took permission from the audience to speak a few words about some things.
Speaking in Punjabi, he said that when his film Sardarji was shot in February, the matches were being played. Diljit expressed grief about the Pahalgam terror attack, a terror attack that happened in the IIOJK on April 22 that claimed the lives of 26 people, mainly tourists.
He said, “After that, the tragic Pahalgam terror attack happened. At that time, and even now, we have always prayed that the terrorists should receive strict punishment. The difference is that my film was shot before the attack, and the match was played after the attack.”
Facing Backlash Over Hania Amir Casting
Diljit Dosanjh has a massive fan following in India and Pakistan as well as the Indian and Pakistani diaspora communities across the world. Dosanjh was immensely criticized earlier this year over the presence of Hania Amir in his film Sardarji 3. The makers were forced to release the film worldwide as it is, without any reshoots or cuts except in India.
This decision was also slammed. The Federation of Western India Cine employees even demanded that the film industry backlist Diljit Dosanjh and even sought the cancellation of his Indian citizenship. He also expressed his grievances against the Indian media who he accused of presenting him as anti-India. “The national media tried their best to portray me as anti-national, but Punjabis and the Sikh community could never go against the nation,” said Dosanjh.
He said that he has remained quiet for several months due to several reasons. “I kept quiet, kept everything inside me. There are many things to say. The difference now is that a match is still being played. But at the time, the national media kept painting Diljit Dosanjh as anti-national. But everyone knows that a Punjabi Sardar can never be a traitor.“
Diljit Dosanjh’s movie, starring Pakistani actor Hania Amir, was released against the backdrop of the continuing tensions between India and Pakistan following the Pahalgam attack. The film also starred Neeru Bajwa, Gulshan Grover, and Sapna Pabbi, among others. The film was directed by Amar Hundal and was released overseas on June 27.
Diljit Dosanjh breaks his silence over the Sardarji 3 controversy. He said, “My movie was shot in February when the matches were being played. After that, the Pahalgam terror attack happened. At that time, and even now, we have always prayed that the terrorists should receive… pic.twitter.com/S0UkgpOgb9
— Akashdeep Thind (@thind_akashdeep) September 24, 2025
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Cricket Rivalry Reflects Rising India-Pakistan Tensions
The tensions between the two nations accelerated following the Pahalgam attack in April, after which India launched a direct attack on Pakistan under Operation Sindoor on May 7. According to India, it carried out air strikes on the terrorist hideouts in Pakistan and Kashmir. Following the attack, several accounts of several leading Pakistani celebrities, including Fawad Khan, Mahira Khan, Ali Zafar, Atif Aslam, and many others, were blocked in India immediately.
India and Pakistan have recently faced off twice on the cricket pitch in the ongoing Asia Cup in the United Arab Emirates. India won the matches but refused to greet the opponents.
The recent Asia Cup clash was the first engagement of India and Pakistan on the cricketing field following the four-day military escalation. A cricket match was tainted with the political tensions between the two countries when the Indian team, under the leadership of Surya Kumar Yadav, did not shake hands with the Pakistani captain and the team on the field after winning the match. In retaliation, Pakistan’s skipper Salman Ali Agha refused to attend the post-match ceremony.
From GVS South Asia Desk