Actor-pop star Diljit Dosanjh has been embroiled in a controversy ever since he announced that his film Sardaar Ji 3, also starring Pakistani actor Hania Aamir, would be released outside of India, despite Indian cine bodies issuing a blanket ban on Pakistani artistes working in Indian films following the Pahalgam terror attack. The makers of Sardaar Ji 3 argued that their film was shot before the Pahalgam attack, when no such ban was in place. It was speculated that Diljit might get recast in Border 2, but the actor shared a reel from the set of the film recently. Now, the FWICE has said that they have lifted the ban on Diljit, but only for this film. Border 2 producer, T-Series head, Bhushan Kumar, has also said that after this, he won’t work with Diljit.
In a chat with India Today, Federation of Western India Cine Employees president BN Tiwari said, “We have met Bhushan Kumar twice and he requested that since they have shot with Diljit’s portions in the film already, and they only have a song left to shoot with him. He said he is at a juncture where he can’t have Diljit to leave the film but in future, he said that he won’t take anyone who is the middle of a dispute.”
Bhushan Kumar told the publication that he has written a letter to the federation stating that he won’t cast Diljit in any future films. “Will never cast Diljit Dosanjh in future films. Have issued a letter to the federation,” he was quoted as saying.
Ashoke Pandit, who is the the president of the Indian Film and Television Directors’ Association, also spoke to the publication and said that the ban on Diljit has only been lifted for Border 2. “Our non-cooperation against Diljit continues so anybody else works with him in another film, then he should be ready for facing huge losses. The federation will not bow down and the federation will not be responsible for the heavy losses suffered by that producer. It’s a call we have taken in good sense and for welfare of he industry. There is no Pakistani actor in the film and then the film is based on security forces, so all these things are considered by the federation,” he said.
Diljit-starrer Sardaar Ji 3 released in Pakistan, and other international territories, made over Rs 18 crore during the three-day opening weekend. As per Sacnilk, it delivered the biggest opening for an Indian film in Pakistan as it made nearly Rs 4 crore during the first weekend.
Apart from Border 2, Diljit has already been announced to star in Imtiaz Ali’s next. He was also set to star in Boney Kapoor’s No Entry 2 with Varun Dhawan and Arjun Kapoor.
