Saturday, March 29, 2025
Mumbai | July 11, 2025 – Actor-politician Kangana Ranaut has weighed in on the controversy surrounding Sardar Ji 3, which stars Pakistani actress Hania Amir alongside Punjabi superstar Diljit Dosanjh. Amid growing backlash from audiences and public figures, Kangana has accused some in the industry of pushing their “own agendas” while ignoring broader national sentiments.
In an interview with Times Now, Kangana responded to the film’s casting decision, saying,
“Everyone is a stakeholder in nation-building. I’ve said this before — we must develop a collective sense of responsibility. Why does Diljit get to walk a different path? Why do some cricketers or artists behave differently, as if nationalism is not their concern? Even a soldier has his own form of patriotism.”
The casting of Hania Amir has sparked criticism in India, especially following the April 22 terrorist attack in Pahalgam, which severely strained relations between India and Pakistan. The situation intensified further after India launched Operation Sindoor on May 7, targeting terror bases in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK).
Commenting further, Kangana added:
“Some people truly have their own agendas. I’m not saying that’s unnatural, but we need to work toward unifying our voices. This unity only comes when we convey these values to our politicians and public figures. That’s your job.”
The film Sardar Ji 3, directed by Amar Hundal, was released overseas on June 27 and features a cast including Neeru Bajwa, Gulshan Grover, and Sapna Pabbi alongside Diljit and Hania. The timing of the release, and especially Hania’s involvement, has added fuel to the ongoing social media backlash.
Following Operation Sindoor, the Indian government took steps to ban social media accounts of several Pakistani celebrities, including Fawad Khan, Mahira Khan, Ali Zafar, Atif Aslam, Rahat Fateh Ali Khan, and Hania Amir. This blanket measure signaled a tougher stance on cultural exchanges between the two countries.
While some Indian artists like Javed Akhtar and Mika Singh have offered nuanced takes on the issue, public sentiment remains divided. Kangana, however, is unambiguous in her stance, implying that cultural collaborations with Pakistani talent are inappropriate during such politically sensitive times.
As the debate over cross-border artistic collaboration heats up, Sardar Ji 3 continues to trend, not just for its box office performance, but also for the political storm it has triggered.
