Actor-singer Diljit Dosanjh, currently captivating audiences on his Dil-Luminati India Tour, has addressed ongoing criticism over alleged alcohol glorification in his songs. Performing in Lucknow on Friday, Diljit hit back at what he called “fake news” and directly responded to a news anchor's challenge to create hit songs without alcohol references.
Sharing a video on his X account, the 40-year-old artist firmly countered the allegations. “There’s an anchor on TV who challenged me to make a hit song without alcohol references. For your kind information, sir, songs like Born To Shine, Kinni Kinni, GOAT, Naina, and Lover are far more popular than Patiala Peg. Your challenge is pointless,” he said.
While clarifying he wasn’t defending his work, Diljit raised questions about the selective criticism aimed at singers. “If songs are to be censored, the same should apply to Indian cinema as well,” he argued. “Which big actor hasn’t done an alcohol-related scene or song? Censorship should be consistent. Singers aren’t soft targets,” he added.
Highlighting his credibility, Diljit emphasized the quality of his work, saying, “My songs and films are not cheap. My films have even received National Film Awards. We could easily display disclaimers about alcohol being injurious to health at concerts, but doing so might seem like we are targeting someone unfairly.”
Diljit also issued a challenge to the media, saying, “If you’ve spread fake news, I challenge you to report the correct news.”
The controversy stems from a request by the Telangana government, urging Diljit to avoid performing songs that glorify alcohol or drugs at his Hyderabad concert. In response, the singer creatively adjusted his lyrics, replacing words like “daaru” with “coke” and “theka” with “hotel.” He has since announced similar adjustments for his Ahmedabad concert in respect of Gujarat’s prohibition laws.
Despite the controversy, Diljit continues to maintain his massive fan base, with his tour attracting packed crowds. Following Pune, the Dil-Luminati India Tour will make stops in Kolkata, Bengaluru, Mumbai, Indore, and Chandigarh, before concluding in Guwahati on December 29.
