Actor-singer Diljit Dosanjh is facing backlash for sharing screen space with Pakistani actor Hania Aamir in the film Sardaar Ji 3. In fact, the Federation of Western India Cine Employees (FWICE) issued a statement against Diljit and the producers of the movie, prompting the makers to release Sardaar Ji 3 only in overseas markets. Now, filmmaker Imtiaz Ali has come out in support of his Chamkila star amid the controversy.
In an interview with NDTV, Imtiaz said, “I can’t say much on the row, but since I know Diljit, I can say that us mein deshbhakti ka jazbaa poora bhara hua hai (he is completely filled with the spirit of patriotism). He is a son of the soil. You can see at all his concerts, he shows up with the Indian flag.”
The filmmaker added, “He is not a guy who fakes things. Fakeness ke saath woh kuch nahi karta hai (he does nothing with fakeness). No one asked him to do it. At the end of all his concerts, he says, ‘Main hoon Punjab’ (I am Punjab), with the Indian flag.”
Imtiaz Ali also addressed the backlash over the casting of Hania Aamir in Sardaar Ji 3. Imtiaz said, “I don’t know the details, but casting someone isn’t the decision of the actor. I don’t know how it went, but I know that uske andar desh prem bahut zyada hai (he has immense love for his country)… Jo log dekh paayenge unke andar ke sach ko, unko ye samajh mein aa jaayega (Those who are able to see the truth within him will understand this).”
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In an earlier interview with BBC Asian Network, Diljit Dosanjh reacted to Hania Aamir’s casting in Sardaar Ji 3. He said, “Jab yeh film bani thi tab toh situation sab theek tha. Matlab jab yeh humne shoot kiya, February mein… February mein shoot kiya, tab situation theek thi, saara kuchh sahi chal raha tha. Uske baad, dekho bohot saari cheezein, badi cheezein humaare haath mein nahi hai. Toh yeh producers ne decide kiya ki yeh film obviously ab India toh nahi lagegi, toh isko overseas release karte hain. Toh obviously inka bohot paisa laga hua hai, aur jab yeh film ban rahi thi tab aisa kuchh tha nahi.”
