As if the inability of Diljit Dosanjh to release his Punjabi film, Sardaarji 3, in India wasn’t bad enough, the Federation of Western India Cine Employees (FWICE) has now written to Prime Minister Narendra Modi to revoke the actor-producer’s passport. The association has also requested Modi to likewise revoke the passports of the entire cast and crew of the controversial film. For those who came in late, the film released Overseas today (27th June) but it was not allowed to be screened in India because the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) did not issue it a certificate.
No reason was assigned by the CBFC for the non-issuance of certificate. But it doesn’t require extra intelligence to understand that the CBFC has chosen to remain mum over the certification because Sardaarji 3 stars Pakistani actress Hania Aamir. Although the film was shot before the Pakistani terrorist attack in Pahalgam in April this year, film industry associations like the FWICE and the All India Cine Workers Association (AICWA) have called for a ban on the film and other action against Dosanjh and those associated with the film.
Of course, not allowing the film to release in India for absolutely no fault of Diljit Dosanjh or, for that matter, anybody else associated with the film (because it wasn’t as if they signed Hania Aamir after the terrorist attack) reeks of misdirected anger and absolute foolhardiness. Asking the PM to revoke passports is equally ridiculous.
Meanwhile, rumours about Diljit Dosanjh having been removed from the cast of Border 2 are false. He has already completed 50% of his shooting in the war film. In fact, Diljit is scheduled to start another shooting spell in Pune from 2nd July alongwith other actors of the film.