Diljit Dosanjh has caught everyone’s attention again, and this time, it’s not just because of his music or films. The singer-actor recently shared a cryptic Instagram Story that read: “Censored before release?” This message, though short, has created a stir, especially since it comes at a time when he is facing backlash for casting Pakistani actress Hania Aamir in his upcoming Punjabi film ‘Sardaar Ji 3’.Trouble around ‘Punjab 95’The post is believed to refer to ‘Punjab 95’, a film based on the life of human rights activist Jaswant Singh Khalra. The movie, which tells the story of extra-judicial killings of Sikh men in the late 1990s, has faced many delays. The Censor Board had earlier asked for 120 cuts in the film, which led to strong objections.
According to News18, Khalra’s widow, Paramjit Kaur Khalra, had opposed these cuts. She said, “The biopic on my husband’s life was made with the family’s consent and should be released without any cuts.” In January this year, Diljit’s team and the film’s producer Honey Trehan had announced that the film’s release was being delayed. They said, “The movie Punjab ’95 will not release on 7th Feb due to circumstances beyond our control.”This latest Instagram Story by Diljit has now brought the film back into conversation, with many wondering if he was hinting at the ongoing censorship battle.‘Sardaar Ji 3’ skips Indian theatresAdding to the buzz is the upcoming release of ‘Sardaar Ji 3’, the third part of Diljit’s popular horror-comedy franchise. However, the film is not releasing in Indian theatres. Instead, it will premiere overseas on Friday, June 27. This decision comes after criticism around the casting of Hania Aamir, especially following tensions between India and Pakistan. Backlash over Hania AamirThe choice to cast Hania Aamir has drawn heavy criticism. Following the Pahalgam terror attack, many Pakistani celebrities, including Hania, Mahira Khan, Sanam Saeed, and Ali Zafar, saw their Instagram accounts blocked in India after a legal request. Hania also faced backlash for allegedly making anti-India remarks after Operation Sindoor. This has led to strong online criticism against her and against Diljit.Many people are angry on social media. Some feel that casting a Pakistani artist at such a sensitive time was wrong. Film industry bodies, like the Federation of Western India Cine Employees (FWICE), have also spoken out. They have repeated their stance that Pakistani artists should not be working in Indian productions.Diljit’s thoughts on borders and unityIn an earlier interview with Recording Academy President Panos A. Panay, Diljit spoke about how music connects people from different places.He said, “Countries are at war, and we don’t have control over these things. But I believe music is something that unites nations. I feel blessed to be part of something that spreads love across nations.”Diljit also shared a deep message, saying, “I think we need to look beyond nations and focus on Mother Earth. All these borders are part of the same Mother Earth, and I belong to her.” Quoting a line taught by his Guru, he added, “’Hum aadmi hain ek daami’, meaning ‘We humans are here only for a brief moment.’ We are here for very limited time, we should not waste our time fighting with each other.”
