As backlash mounts over Diljit Dosanjh’s casting of Pakistani actress Hania Aamir in Sardaar Ji 3, BJP leader and actor Hobby Dhaliwal voices strong support for the Punjabi superstar.
Chandigarh (Punjab) [India], June 29 — Amid the growing backlash surrounding the release of Sardaar Ji 3 and its casting of Pakistani actress Hania Aamir, BJP leader and actor Hobby Dhaliwal has stepped forward to defend Diljit Dosanjh, saying that Punjab and Punjabi pride stand with him.
Speaking to media, Dhaliwal remarked,
“Even before this, many artists from Pakistan have worked in India… We are in favour of Diljit Dosanjh… The stages where the world’s biggest artists dream of performing, our Punjabi gabru, with a turban on his head, proclaims ‘Punjabi aa gaye oye’. When he goes to the same stage with the tricolour in his hand, then our pride becomes even greater… Punjab, Punjabi, and Punjabiyat are with you, Diljit.”
Diljit Dosanjh, the globally recognized Punjabi singer-actor, has found himself at the center of a political and cultural storm due to his collaboration with Hania Aamir in Sardaar Ji 3. The film, which released theatrically on June 27, was not released in India, further intensifying public debate.
The backlash is particularly heated given the recent Pahalgam terror attack, which has renewed tensions between India and Pakistan. Many critics argue that collaborating with Pakistani artists at such a time sends a poor message to the Indian public.
In a further escalation, the Federation of Western India Cine Employees (FWICE) has written to the producers of the upcoming Border 2, requesting that they sever ties with Diljit Dosanjh.
The FWICE letter reads:
“Your involvement risks sending a deeply conflicting message, especially given your influence as a director known for socially resonant themes… We, therefore, strongly appeal to you to reconsider your collaboration with Diljit Dosanjh and withdraw from associating with any artist who has been officially boycotted by FWICE. Upholding the dignity of our industry and the nation must remain paramount over professional or commercial interests.”
Despite the rising heat, Diljit has not issued any public statement in response to the controversy as of now. However, voices like Hobby Dhaliwal’s have added a layer of regional and cultural solidarity, especially among Punjabi artists and fans who view Dosanjh as a global ambassador of Punjabi identity.
With Sardaar Ji 3 off Indian screens and the future of Diljit’s Bollywood collaborations under scrutiny, the situation remains tense—blurring the lines between art, nationalism, and diplomacy.