Punjabi singer Diljit Dosanjh is in the headlines again, this time for his film Sardaar Ji 3 with Hania Aamir, set to release on June 27. The film has been banned in India, and Diljit faces sedition charges. Meanwhile, Pakistani TV presenter Nadia Khan praised Hania Amir after watching film's trailer.
She said, ''Hania Amir and Diljit Dosanjh's film is finally releasing after many rumours and controversies. Amid India-Pakistan tension, it was said that the film should be re-shot as a Pakistani actress cannot be in the film. The makers, the actor, and everyone involved are Sikhs who fear no one, and I admire their strategy. They stayed silent, didn’t respond to speculation, and let people believe Hania had been removed. Diljit Dosanjh also stayed quiet. Now that the trailer is out, Hania is everywhere. Meanwhile, in India, there are calls to ban the film, and Diljit is being labeled a traitor.''
Previously, during the Pakistan-India conflict, Nadia Khan criticized Hania Aamir, saying she was wasting her time trying to build a presence in India. Nadia remarked, “Hania is just wasting her time with her Indian PR. She may appear in a film with Diljit, but in the long run, it won’t work in her favour.”
It should be noted that the trailer of the film Sardaar Ji 3 was released on June 23. Since then, Diljit has been facing allegations of sedition. Recently, FWICE (Film Federation of Western Cine Employees) wrote a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Home Minister Amit Shah, Foreign Minister S. Jaishankar, and Information and Broadcasting Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw, demanding the cancellation of the citizenship of Diljit and the makers and producers associated with the film.
Diljit Dosanjh shared experience of working with Hania Amir
In an interview with BBC Asian Network, Diljit shared his first reaction to working with Hania Amir. He said that when the film was made, the situation was fine. When we shot in February, the situation was fine. Many things are not in our hands. The producers decided that it would obviously not be released in India, so they are releasing it overseas. They had in mind that there would be a loss because you are removing a territory.
Further, Diljit said, when I signed the film, everything was fine. Now the situation is not in our hands. If they want to release it outside, I am with them.
Sharing his experience about working with Hania Amir, Diljit said that she is very professional. When we were working, there wasn't much time. I have a lot of respect for her work. I always respect everyone's privacy. I am very private myself, so I give space to others as well. Especially to girls. Our conversations were to the point.
FWICE objects to Diljit's casting in 'Border 2'
FWICE has sent a letter to Bhushan Kumar, requesting them to consider working with Diljit in the film Border 2. In the letter, FWICE stated that the decision violates its boycott directive, which was issued after Diljit Dosanjh collaborated with Pakistani actress Hania Aamir in Sardar Ji 3. The Federation has urged producer Bhushan Kumar to reconsider casting Diljit in future projects.
A similar letter is sent to director Imtiaz Ali and actor-producer Sunny Deol.