Diljit Dosanjh, recognized as one of the top 50 Asian celebrities, has found himself embroiled in a cultural and political controversy that has led to the suspension of the Indian release of his newest film, Sardaar Ji 3. This horror-comedy, which premiered internationally on 27 June, is on track to become one of the highest-grossing Punjabi-language films in history. The filming took place in the UK in February 2025, prior to the militant attack in Kashmir on 22 April that reignited tensions between India and Pakistan. In response, the Indian government mandated the removal of all digital content originating from Pakistan. Sardaar Ji 3 was filmed in the UK in February 2025, well before the attack. The Federation of Western India Cine Employees has urged India’s Central Board of Film Certification to refuse the film a release certificate based on the nationality of Aamir.
In its opening week, Sardaar Ji 3 generated 336 million rupees (£2.9 million) overseas, marking an impressive achievement for a non-Hindi film, and recorded the largest opening for an Indian film in Pakistan. Industry experts, including film producer and distributor Girish Johar, suggest that the film could have potentially doubled its earnings had it been released in India, particularly with a star like Dosanjh leading the cast. Renowned Indian filmmaker Anurag Kashyap contends that the backlash regarding the involvement of a Pakistani actor serves as a distraction.
Both Sardaar Ji 3 and Panjab ‘95, a Punjabi biopic focusing on human rights activist Jaswant Singh Khalra, have been stalled due to ongoing censorship disputes. The film, which chronicles Khalra’s life, underwent scrutiny to identify politically sensitive material. The state’s continuous delays ultimately jeopardized the film’s release prospects. The committee proposed 21 cuts, and the film was screened seven times, resulting in new cuts being made each time.
