Diljit Dosanjh has been making it to headlines for the wrong reasons. The actor’s next film, Sardaar Ji 3, has been caught in controversy due to the casting of Pakistani actress Hania Aamir. After the Pahalgam attack in April, Pakistani artists are once again banned from working in India. While the makers have decided not to release the film in India, keeping in mind the sentiments of people here, the film and Diljit have been facing backlash on social media. Now, the actor’s manager, Sonali Singh, has shared a long note in support of Diljit.
In her post, she has written that Diljit always chooses love over hate. The note reads, “In a career spanning over two decades, Diljit Dosanjh has become a cultural icon not only for India but for the global stage. Yet, time and again, he has been placed under the scanner especially as a proud Sikh, a Punjabi, and an artist who has chosen to represent India with quiet pride rather than loud declarations. Despite being repeatedly targeted, Diljit has never resorted to outrage. His consistent message in interviews, music, films, and public appearances has always been rooted in love, unity, and kindness. This recent wave of criticism surrounding his upcoming Punjabi film Sardaar Ji, due to the presence of a Pakistani co-star, is both disheartening and unfair especially considering the timing and the nature of the project (sic).”
She further wrote that Sardaar Ji 3 was shot before the ‘political climate intensified’, and it is a film where the innocent families of the producers are involved as it is funded with personal life savings.
Sonali wrote, “It’s not a film backed by a giant corporate house that can absorb the blow of massive losses. This is someone’s life’s earnings and it’s at risk of being wiped out entirely. Even while fighting other battles including a film that has been delayed for over two years despite no controversial co-actors. And yet in the face of it all Diljit has chosen to respect the sentiments of the Indian public and authorities. He is not releasing the film in India, standing in alignment with the nation’s current mood, showing once again that he honours the decisions of his own country even at a personal and professional cost. (sic).”
Singh, in her long note, wrote that the decision of not releasing the movie in India will have a huge impact on the film’s business, but Diljit is not thinking about himself, and he is just trying to ‘mitigate the losses as much as he can for the producers’.
Diljit Dosanjh Is Choosing Love
The note further read, “Like always, he’s choosing love. He’s choosing others over himself. Again. What hurts the most is this: On one hand, the global media celebrates him as the first Indian to perform at Coachella, to appear on Jimmy Fallon carrying his Traditional Identity, to walk the Met Gala carrying his culture & roots. And every single time, he proudly carries India with him. But on the other hand, in his own country how quickly we forget. How conveniently we celebrate him when he puts India on the map, and how easily we trash him when the narrative turns (sic).”
Diljit Dosanjh’s Manager Questions Why He Has To Prove His Patriotism
Singh, in her note, has questioned people why Diljit has to prove his patriotism again and again. She wrote, “Does anyone think this doesn’t break his heart? Does anyone imagine how demoralising it is to fight for visibility as a brown Indian artist on the world stage and still have to fight for belonging in India? Where does someone like him belong, then? And maybe we need to ask ourselves Is it because he wears a turban? Because he is not Hindu? Is that why he is asked, again and again, to prove his patriotism while others are simply assumed to be loyal? It hurts (sic).”
Sardaar Ji 3 Release Date
Sardaar Ji 3 is slated to release on June 27, 2025. The film won’t be releasing in India, but it will hit the big screens in overseas.
There were reports last month that Diljit and Sonali have parted ways professionally. However, the latter’s agency has been posting about the actor on Instagram, and now, even she has come out in support of the Sardaar Ji 3 actor. So, we don’t exactly know whether Sonali is still managing Diljit’s work or not.
