Diljit Dosanjh is one of the biggest Asian stars in the world. So why can’t Indian cinemagoers see his latest film?

He is number one in the UK list of top 50 Asian celebrities in the world, has headlined arenas in the UK, US and across Europe as part of his sold-out Dil-Luminati world tour, and recently strutted the Met Gala carpet in an ivory-toned turban. But despite Diljit Dosanjh’s stellar status, the Punjabi actor-singer has been caught in a cultural and political row that has halted the Indian release of his latest movie, Sardaar Ji 3. The horror-comedy came out internationally on 27 June and is well on its way to becoming one of the highest-grossing Punjabi-language films of all time. But it has been denied a release in Indian cinemas, where it has been deemed controversial because of the nationality of the film’s co-star, Pakistani actor Hania Aamir. The militant attack in Kashmir on 22 April reignited India-Pakistan tensions, and as a result 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, but the Federation of Western India Cine Employees (FWICE) – a film industry workers’ union – urged India’s Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) to deny the film a release certificate on the basis of Aamir’s nationality. In its first week, Sardaar Ji 3 earned 336m rupees (£2.9m) overseas, a stellar performance for a non-Hindi movie, and recorded the biggest opening for an Indian film in Pakistan. Experts such as film producer and distributor Girish Johar say the film would probably have doubled those earnings had it been released in India, especially with a crowd puller like Dosanjh as its star. Celebrated Indian film-maker Anurag Kashyap, a vocal opponent of censorship, argues that Dosanjh is “India’s biggest cultural ambassador”. He adds: “The ones objecting to the film are simply badge-wearing patriots trying to win some extra brownie points with those in power. And Diljit, being as visible and loved as he is, is an easy target.” Kashyap argues that the outrage surrounding the presence of a Pakistani actor is a smokescreen. “It’s not about her presence – it’s about ideology. Anything that challenges the majority’s narrative is blocked.” The refusal to release Sardaar Ji 3 sends a clear message, he says. “The bigger the financial loss, the more afraid people will be to dabble in non-populist storytelling.” Asim Nawaz Abbasi, editor of the Dayspring, a Pakistani youth-focused newspaper believes withholding the film may be backfiring. “The controversy has intensified interest in the film in Pakistan. It feels like the film is being talked about even more, almost like people want to watch it because it was blocked in India.” Dosanjh remains undeterred, continuing to celebrate the film’s global success, even resharing an Instagram video of Pakistani audiences breaking into applause. Sardaar Ji 3 is not the only Dosanjh film to be put on hold. Panjab ‘95, a Punjabi language biopic of human rights activist Jaswant Singh Khalra, has been locked in a censorship battle since director Honey Trehan first submitted the film for certification to the CBFC in 2022. The film traces the life of Khalra, who exposed the extrajudicial killing of more than 25,000 people in Punjab by security forces and his subsequent abduction and murder. Trehan’s script was vetted to flag any politically sensitive content. “Law firms then advise producers to omit parts that might invite backlash, post which the producer greenlights the film,” he says, adding that the state’s repeated stalling of the film eventually killed its release prospects. “It started with CBFC suggesting 21 cuts. Then it went on to 37, 45 and 85. The committee had viewed the movie seven times already, making fresh cuts each time, raising the number to 127. That’s where I drew the line,” Trehan says. “They demanded I change the protagonist’s name – on whom the very biopic was based – followed by removal of all references to Punjab and images of flags. What was left of the movie?” “The goal of India’s censor board is to not just censor the film but tire the film-maker,” he adds.