A major controversy has surfaced in the Indian film industry as Pakistani actress Hania Aamir stars in the upcoming Punjabi horror-comedy film Sardaar Ji 3, alongside superstar Diljit Dosanjh.
Due to escalating tensions between India and Pakistan, the film will not be released in India and will instead be available exclusively in international markets.
Diljit Dosanjh himself confirmed the release plans on social media, stating that Sardaar Ji 3 will premiere overseas on June 27.
The movie’s trailer has also been geo-blocked in India, making it inaccessible to Indian viewers on YouTube, though teasers and songs from the film remain available.
The film features Diljit Dosanjh, Hania Aamir, and Neeru Bajwa in lead roles. In the trailer, Hania Aamir appears as a ghost hunter who teams up with Diljit’s character to exorcise a spirit from a palace in the United Kingdom. The movie is positioned as a horror-comedy with a satirical take on paranormal activities.
The release of Sardaar Ji 3 has sparked opposition from the Federation of Western India Cine Employees (FWICE), which has formally objected to the inclusion of Pakistani artists like Hania Aamir, Nasir Chinyoti, Daniyal Khawar, and Saleem Albela in the cast. The federation urged the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) to deny the film clearance in India.
FWICE cited recent guidelines from the Indian Ministry of Information and Broadcasting that prohibit collaborations with Pakistani artists in Indian productions. They emphasized that national interest must be considered when certifying the film.
The Indian entertainment industry’s restriction on Pakistani artists tightened following a terrorist attack in Pahalgam, Kashmir, which claimed 26 lives.
In the aftermath, film authorities were instructed to enforce the prohibition on involving Pakistani actors and technicians.
This is not the first such case. Earlier, the Indian censor board imposed a similar restriction on Abeer Gulal, a Hindi film featuring Pakistani actor Fawad Khan, blocking its release in India.
As Sardaar Ji 3 faces controversy over its casting choices, the film’s international release will proceed as planned, but its absence from Indian theaters marks another chapter in the ongoing cultural and political tensions between the two neighboring countries.
