The entertainment world is no stranger to controversy, and actor-singer Diljit Dosanjh recently found himself at the heart of one. His upcoming film, ‘Sardaar Ji 3,’ has drawn heavy criticism. The reason? He chose to work with a Pakistani actress in the movie. This decision sparked outrage among many, especially after a recent terror attack in Pahalgam. It seems feelings are still running high against Pakistani artists.
Amidst this brewing storm, veteran lyricist Javed Akhtar stepped in. He offered some surprising support for Diljit. Akhtar shared his thoughts during an interview with NDTV, weighing in on the ‘Sardaar Ji 3’ debate.
Here’s the twist: the filmmakers pointed out that ‘Sardaar Ji 3’ was shot before the Pahalgam attack even happened. Javed Akhtar brought this up in his defense of Diljit. He asked, "What could the poor guy do?" He couldn’t have known what was coming. Akhtar then made a point about the money involved. He argued that if the film doesn’t get released, it’s not Pakistani investors who lose out. Instead, it’s Indian money that would go down the drain. He wondered what benefit there would be in that.
Akhtar believes the government and the censor board should show some understanding. He suggested they look at the situation with a bit of sympathy. His advice was clear: tell the filmmakers not to repeat such collaborations in the future. But for this specific film, since it was made earlier, he felt it should be released. "Let it out," he said, "but make sure it doesn’t happen again."
The film ‘Sardaar Ji 3’ was directed by Amar Hundal. Due to the controversy, the creators decided not to release it in India. However, the movie did hit international cinemas on June 27. Besides Diljit Dosanjh, the film also stars Hania Aamir and Neeru Bajwa.