Gurugram: The overseas release of Diljit Dosanjh’s much-anticipated Punjabi film Sardaar Ji 3 sparked fierce protests Friday in Haryana’s Karnal, where members of lesser-known right wing group Jago Hindu Jago Sena burned the actor-singer’s effigy outside a prominent mall, condemning the casting of Pakistani actress Hania Aamir.
In Ambala, All India Anti-Terrorist Front national president Viresh Shandilya issued a stern warning to disrupt cinema halls if the film is screened, accusing Aamir of insulting India and the Indian Army.
The controversy, rooted in Aamir’s remarks post the 22 April Pahalgam terror attack and subsequent Indian Army’s action against terrorist camps in Pakistan, has reignited debates over cross-border cultural collaborations amid heightened tensions.
The film, starring Diljit Dosanjh and Pakistani actor Hania Aamir, was released internationally Friday. However, due to the ongoing cross-border tension and objections from Indian film bodies, the producers decided to skip release in India.
On Friday, Jago Hindu Jago Sena activists staged a demonstration outside Super Mall in Karnal, burning an effigy of Diljit Dosanjh. The group accused Dosanjh of betraying national sentiments by casting Hania Aamir, who they claim labelled the Indian Army and the nation “cowardly” in social media posts following India’s retaliatory Operation Sindoor after the Pahalgam attack.
Hania Aamir’s official Instagram account where she posted this message is no longer available in India.
“Diljit has been showered with love by Indians, but by working with an actress who insults our martyrs, he’s stabbed the nation in the back,” said Pandit Dinesh Sharma, the outfit’s chief, addressing the crowd at Karnal.
The protesters argued that Aamir’s inclusion in Sardaar Ji 3—the third installment of the popular Punjabi franchise—was an insult to the sacrifices of Indian soldiers.
They warned that if the film is released in Super Mall, its management would be held accountable, emphasising that “anti-national ideologies will not be tolerated at any cost”. The group clarified that their protest was not against any religion or community but against those who harbour anti-India sentiments and disrespect toward the armed forces.
In Ambala, Viresh Shandilya of the All India Anti-Terrorist Front vowed to prevent Sardaar Ji 3 from being screened across India. He demanded that Dosanjh remove Aamir from the film and publicly denounce her alleged remarks against the Indian Army.
“If this film is released in theatres, we will ensure it doesn’t run. Cinema halls will face vandalism, and Diljit Dosanjh will be responsible,” he warned, adding that casting Aamir was an insult to martyrs and their families.
Shandilya referenced the Pahalgam attack, and said an Indian film featuring an actress who allegedly mocked India’s response was “a victory for Pakistan’s ideology and a defeat for India”.
He urged the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) to ban the movie, citing national sentiment, and called on Indian artistes to prioritise the country’s interests in their decisions.
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Pahalgam attack & India-Pakistan tensions
The protests stem from the 22 April terrorist attack in Pahalgam’s Baisaran meadow, where 26 tourists were gunned down. The killings led to Indian airstrikes under Operation Sindoor, targeting terrorist bases in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir.
Hania Aamir’s alleged social media comments calling India’s strikes “cowardly” and “shameful” post-Operation Sindoor fuelled the outrage.
The controversy surrounding Sardaar Ji 3 has seen protests in several parts of the country, including in Punjab, Maharashtra, and Karnataka, where right-wing groups and local outfits have condemned Diljit Dosanjh for casting a Pakistani actress.
The film fraternity has also joined the chorus, with the Federation of Western India Cine Employees (FWICE) and the All India Cine Workers Association (AICWA), terming the decision to cast an Pakistani actor “anti-national”, and calling for a boycott of Dosanjh and the filmmakers.
Speaking to BBC Punjabi Thursday, Dosanjh had clarified Sardaar Ji 3 was shot in February 2025, before the Pahalgam attack, and the decision to release it overseas was made by producers to mitigate financial losses. “The situation is not in our hands. I respect Hania’s professionalism, and the producers have invested heavily,” he added.
(Edited by Ajeet Tiwari)
Also Read: ‘Stop working with Diljit’—Sardaar Ji 3 faces boycott call. AICWA opposes Hania Aamir