Naseeruddin Shah Voices Support for Diljit Dosanjh Amid Sardaar Ji 3 Controversy

Veteran actor Naseeruddin Shah has come forward in support of Punjabi superstar Diljit Dosanjh, who is currently facing backlash for his role in Sardaar Ji 3, co-starring Pakistani actor Hania Aamir. The film, which released overseas on June 27, has not been released in India, but has stirred considerable controversy due to its cross-border casting.

Taking to social media on Monday, Shah openly expressed solidarity with Diljit, slamming the criticism directed at the actor. Sharing a Facebook post, he wrote, “I STAND FIRMLY WITH DILJIT. The dirty tricks deptt of Jumla Party has been awaiting a chance to attack him. They think they’ve got it at last. He was not responsible for the casting of the film, the director was.”

Naseeruddin Shah also pointed out that the criticism seems to target Diljit because of his popularity. He noted that the casting was not the actor’s decision and that the negative reaction stems from prejudice. “But no one knows who he is whereas Diljit is known the world over, and he agreed to the cast because his mind is not poisoned. What these goons want is to put an end to personal interaction between the people of India and Pakistan. I have close relatives and some dear friends there and no one can stop me from meeting them or sending them love whenever I feel like it.”

He concluded his post with a strong retort to the frequently used "Go to Pakistan" slur, stating, “And my response to those who will say ‘Go to Pakistan’ is ‘GO TO KAILASA’.”

The controversy surrounding Sardaar Ji 3 intensified after the trailer's release, leading to calls for a ban on Diljit and his future projects in India. The All Indian Cine Workers Association (AICWA) and Federation of Western India Cine Employees (FWICE) have also issued statements demanding a boycott. Additionally, singer Mika Singh has urged Diljit to apologise for working alongside a Pakistani actor.

The uproar comes in the wake of heightened India-Pakistan tensions following the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack and India’s subsequent Operation Sindoor on May 7, which involved air strikes on terror bases in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir.

Despite the controversy, Sardaar Ji 3 has made its international debut, with Diljit yet to publicly respond to the backlash.