Veteran lyricist and writer Javed Akhtar has weighed in on the ongoing controversy surrounding Punjabi superstar Diljit Dosanjh’s latest film ‘Sardaar Ji 3’, which features Pakistani actress Hania Aamir and has faced a tough road to release in India.
Amid rising protests and demands for a ban due to the inclusion of a Pakistani actor, Javed Akhtar called for a more rational and measured approach, warning that blocking the film would only hurt Indian creators and not Pakistan.
Speaking on a private news channel, Akhtar said: “The film was already shot before any of the current tensions emerged. How could the filmmakers have predicted future events? If the film is banned now, it is not a Pakistani who will lose money; it is an Indian producer who will suffer. What’s the point of that?”
The film, which was released internationally on June 27, has yet to hit Indian theaters due to objections from sections of the audience and political groups over the casting of a Pakistani actress during a period of strained India-Pakistan relations.
Akhtar further urged both the government and the censor board to handle the situation with wisdom and leniency, saying: “They should just issue a clear statement that this won’t happen again. But once a film is made, it should be allowed to be released. Let this not become a precedent to stifle creativity. Moving forward, guidelines can be set, but punishing a film retroactively is unjust.”
The trailer for Sardaar Ji 3 sparked backlash after viewers noted the presence of Hania Aamir, leading to calls for boycotts despite the film being a work of fiction with no political message. Critics have also questioned why only Diljit Dosanjh is being targeted when many Indian artists and organizations continue to engage with Pakistani counterparts in various fields.
As the debate continues, Javed Akhtar’s comments have added a powerful voice advocating for artistic freedom, economic logic, and national interest, reminding stakeholders that knee-jerk bans may damage India’s own creative and economic ecosystem more than they hurt anyone else.
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