Amid the controversy surrounding Diljit Dosanjh’s new film Sardaar Ji 3, veteran actor Naseeruddin Shah recently stepped in to support him. Naseer posted a strong message online, calling out political parties for unfairly targeting Diljit. He questioned why there’s such selective outrage against the singer-actor. But soon after facing major backlash, Naseer deleted the post.Not staying completely silent, though, he followed it up with a cryptic quote, which read, “It is almost impossible to carry the torch of truth through a crowd without singeing somebody’s beard – Georg Christoph Lichtenberg.”
This mysterious post stirred up reactions online. Some users appreciated his courage, saying he has the right to speak up and use his influence. One person wrote, “You’re free to share your opinion, but so is everyone else.” Another added, “It’s tough—truth doesn’t always win, power and the crowd often do.”
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But not everyone was supportive. Some accused him of always speaking against the country. One user said, “If your ‘torch of truth’ is about selective outrage and playing the victim, maybe it’s time to put it out.” Another comment slammed him for using social media as a platform for “dramatic monologues full of bias.”Here’s what Naseeruddin had written on Facebook, before he deleted his post. He wrote, “I STAND FIRMLY WITH DILJIT. The Jumla Party’s dirty tricks department has been waiting to attack him. He didn’t cast the film—blame the director. But since Diljit is a known face, he’s become the target. His mind isn’t poisoned, which is why he agreed to the cast.”He went on to say, “These people want to cut off any personal connection between Indians and Pakistanis. I have family and friends there, and no one can stop me from sending them love. And to those saying ‘Go to Pakistan,’ I say—Go to Kailasa.”The backlash against Diljit started after the makers of Sardaar Ji 3 cast Pakistani actress Hania Aamir, despite a ban on Pakistani actors following the Pahalgam attack. When a promo video featuring Hania was shared, it sparked even more outrage among Indian fans, who questioned Diljit’s choice.The film’s makers decided not to release it in India and opted for an international release instead. However, groups like AICWA weren’t happy. They wrote letters to top officials including the Prime Minister and even urged the makers of Border 2 to reconsider casting Diljit.In response, Diljit told BBC Asian Network, “I signed this film way back in February, before the attack happened. The producers have invested heavily in it. If they choose to release it overseas, I’ll stand by their decision.”
