Why Bollywood’s Coolest Star Is Suddenly Its Most Controversial — The Real Story Behind Diljit, Hania, and the Sardaar Ji 3 Meltdown

From patriotic praise to a PR nightmare, how Diljit Dosanjh’s latest film lit a cultural firestorm no one saw coming

Sneha Kashyap 4 weeks agoLast Updated: June 28, 2025

57,260 3 minutes read

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Reviewed & Published by HH Entertaintment Desk

Mumbai, June 28: You’d think a superstar like Diljit Dosanjh, riding high on a global music tour and a Netflix banger (Chamkila, hello?), would be untouchable right now. But here we are — barely 24 hours after the release of Sardaar Ji 3 — watching one of India’s most beloved pop culture figures get dragged into a cross-border cinema storm he likely didn’t sign up for.

And no, it’s not about the movie’s content. It’s about everything around it.

A Punjabi Blockbuster That Skipped Its Biggest Market

Let’s start with the jaw-dropper: Sardaar Ji 3 dropped in every major market except India. That’s right — no screenings in Delhi, no buzz in Chandigarh, no B-town premiere nights. Why? A very complicated mix of politics, patriotism, and PR mess.

On paper, the movie is vintage Diljit — dhol beats, flashy sherwanis, lots of wink-wink masala. But throw in a Pakistani co-star (Hania Aamir, who’s got serious Gen-Z energy) and release it during post-Operation Sindoor tensions? That’s a recipe for trouble.

And trouble came fast. FWICE and other film unions reportedly refused certification. Rather than battle it out with censors, the producers quietly pulled the India release — reportedly eating a 40% revenue loss, as per co-producer Gunbir Singh Sidhu.

Honestly, that might have been the least messy option.

Hania Aamir’s Insta Slip That Lit the Fuse

Here’s where it gets juicy. Pakistani star Hania Aamir, who until last week was posting loved-up selfies with Diljit from the sets, apparently liked a post critical of India’s military operations — and then deleted it when the backlash hit. Too late. Indian Twitter noticed, Bollywood noticed, and Sidhu was not having it.

“She hit below the belt,” he told The Indian Express, basically implying she tanked the whole India release. No word yet from Hania, but she’s gone radio silent. Meanwhile, co-star Neeru Bajwa quietly scrubbed the film’s posters from her social feed. A soft unfollow? Maybe. But the vibes are off.

Enter: Javed Akhtar, Always With the Mic Drop

Like clockwork, Javed Akhtar stepped in — the elder statesman of Bombay cinema who doesn’t do diplomatic. Speaking to Hindustan Times, he warned that this kind of boycott culture “only hurts Indian producers.” He didn’t name names, but the subtext? “Y’all are torching your own backyard.”

And then there’s Imtiaz Ali, who has real skin in the game (he just directed Diljit in Chamkila). He called the singer “a patriot” and basically rolled his eyes at the cancel crowd. “Usmein desh bhakti ka jazba bhara hua hai,” he said. Translation: “Cut the nonsense, the guy’s more desi than your WhatsApp forwards.”

Meanwhile in Pakistan? Absolute Mayhem (The Good Kind)

Here’s the twist: Sardaar Ji 3 is killing it in Pakistan. Sold-out shows. Screaming fans. A reported record-breaking Indian opener, even beating Sultan. The irony’s not lost on anyone — the one place this film wasn’t allowed to screen is the one place it would’ve done crazy numbers.

But this boom across the border comes with a side of bad optics. For some in India, it’s a betrayal; for others, it’s just proof that art can cross borders — even if censors can’t.

And What About ‘Border 2’?

Now here’s where things get really dicey. Diljit is — or was — supposed to star in Border 2, a high-octane, chest-thumping war epic. But the buzz now? Studio insiders are reportedly eyeing Ammy Virk as a possible replacement, per India Today. Publicly, though, producers are playing it safe: “No plans to remove him — yet.”

Translation? They’re testing the waters.

Look, nobody wants to be the guy who replaces Diljit mid-project. But with all this controversy swirling, PR teams are scrambling to figure out whether he’s a box-office boost or a political liability.

So Where Does Diljit Stand?

If you know Diljit, you know this isn’t his style. He’s not a controversy guy. He’s the guy who brings mangoes to Jimmy Fallon. The guy who dances with fans at Coachella. The guy who refuses to speak bad about anyone — even when provoked.

But right now, he’s caught in a cultural moment way bigger than his movie. He’s the face of a question Bollywood can’t stop asking: Can we still collaborate with Pakistan, even artistically? Or is that door closed for good?

Whatever happens next — whether Border 2 drops him, whether the film finds a way to India eventually — one thing’s clear: Diljit didn’t change. Bollywood did.

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Author Profile

Sneha Kashyap

Reporting Fellow at Hindustan Herald

Sneha Kashyap is a Reporting Fellow at Hindustan Herald, specializing in the vibrant world of entertainment and contemporary lifestyle trends. A student at GGSIPU, Delhi, Sneha brings a fresh perspective and a keen eye for cultural narratives to her daily reporting. She is dedicated to exploring the latest in film, music, fashion, and social phenomena, offering readers insightful and engaging content.