Diljit Dosanjh has received support from Punjabi singer Jasbir Jassi amid the controversy surrounding Pakistani actress Hania Aamir鈥檚 casting in the former鈥檚 upcoming movie Sardaar Ji 3. In a recent interview, Jassi mentioned that he respects people鈥檚 sentiments but also called out their alleged 鈥渄ouble standards鈥. He claimed that a number of Indian songs are either 鈥渟tolen鈥 or have been sung by foreign artists. Jassi argued that if the government wants to impose a complete ban on Pakistani artists, even their songs should be removed from all platforms in India.
鈥淚鈥檓 seeing how Diljit Dosanjh and his film are facing protests on social media because that film also stars a Pakistani artiste. I respect people鈥檚 sentiments that we should love our country and that we should stand by our country. But, why these double standards? If you don鈥檛 want any Pakistani artists singing, acting or working in any Indian film, you want to ban them. But 80% of the songs of our industry have been stolen, be it their tunes or words or the entire songs. There are so many songs in our films that have been sung by the artists of that country. I don鈥檛 want to take names because the list is too long. So, why these double standards?鈥 Jasbir Jassi told NDTV.
鈥淓ither get rid of all those songs from YouTube, Spotify and other digital platforms. But not like this, you take just one artist and start protesting against them. It鈥檚 like someone came to your house with something to eat and then you start calling them the enemy but you keep eating the things or sweets they brought along with them. If you want to ban (Pakistani artists), ban them completely. Get all that content available in the world lifted鈥 why are you banning films of one artist at a time?鈥 the singer added.
Diljit Dosanjh has been facing backlash for casting Pakistani actress Hania Aamir in his upcoming movie, Sardaar Ji 3. The Punjabi singer-actor has been accused of hurting national sentiments, especially after the shocking terror attack in Pahalgam earlier this year. Organisations like the Federation of Western India Cine Employees (FWICE) and the All Indian Cine Workers Association (AICWA) have also demanded a ban on Diljit and his future projects in India.
Meanwhile, Sardaar Ji 3, directed by Amar Hundal, is set for an overseas release on June 27. However, it will not be released in Indian theatres.