Singer-actor Diljit Dosanjh has publicly responded to the controversy surrounding his film Sardaarji 3, breaking his prolonged silence to question the selective outrage he experienced. Speaking at a live concert in Kuala Lumpur, Dosanjh drew a sharp comparison between the backlash against his film for featuring Pakistani actor Hania Aamir and the relatively muted public response to ongoing India-Pakistan cricket matches. A video of his emotional address quickly went viral on social media platform X.
Dosanjh provided a timeline to contextualize the criticism, clarifying that the film was shot in February, which was before the Pahalgam attack in April—a tragedy for which India has blamed Pakistan. He expressed profound sorrow for the attack and asserted that whoever was responsible must be punished strictly. However, he highlighted a critical discrepancy: “The difference is that my film was shot before the attack, and the match was played after the attack,” pointing to a perceived inconsistency in public and media reaction.
The actor explained that he had deliberately chosen to remain silent despite having numerous answers to give when he was being widely criticized and labeled “anti-national” by sections of the Indian media. He reinforced his patriotism by saluting the Indian flag during the concert, declaring his unwavering respect for it. Dosanjh concluded by firmly defending his character and loyalty, stating, “Everyone knows that a Punjabi Sardar can never be a traitor.”
The controversy had escalated earlier this year when the film’s makers decided to release the film worldwide with Hania Aamir’s scenes intact, only editing her out for the Indian release. This decision, along with Dosanjh’s association with the project, led to severe backlash, including a demand from the Federation of Western India Cine Employees (FWICE) for the industry to blacklist him and even revoke his Indian citizenship.
