Fact Check: Diljit Dosanjh quits Bollywood after backlash over Pakistani co-star? Here are the facts

Hyderabad: Punjabi singer and actor Diljit Dosanjh has courted controversy for going ahead with the release of his film Sardaar Ji 3, which features Pakistani actress Hania Aamir.

The film is slated for an international release on June 27. Despite the Pahalgam terror attack straining relations between India and Pakistan, Diljit has been actively promoting the film alongside co-star Neeru Bajwa. He even shared the trailer, where Hania Aamir features prominently, further fuelling criticism.

The Federation of Western India Cine Employees (FWICE) has condemned Dosanjh for working with Aamir, demanding a complete ban on all his future projects.

In this context, a video of Dosanjh has begun circulating on social media, claiming that after the call for a ban on the Punjabi star, he responded, stating that he has no interest in working in Bollywood.

In the video, Dosanjh can be heard saying, “I do not need to work in Bollywood. I have never aspired to become a big Bollywood artist. I love music, and I can create it without being bound by anyone. No superstar can tell me that this music won’t work, or that someone else’s song would work better; none of this works on me. No one can stop us or me from making music. I will keep making music for as long as I want to, and for as long as God allows me to. And I do not give a damn about getting work in Bollywood.”

An X handle, Megh Updates, known for peddling misinformation, shared the video and wrote, “Bollywood associations have reportedly threatened to impose a ban on Diljit Dosanjh. In response, Diljit said he doesn’t care about Bollywood. No interest in working in Bollywood — making it clear he’s unfazed by the industry’s pressure and will do what he feels is right.” (Archive)

Fact Check

NewsMeter found that the claim is misleading, as the video does not show Dosanjh responding to the recent calls for a ban on him in India. The viral clip is from an interview in 2021.

We conducted a keyword search and found a report published by Filmfare on September 20, 2021, titled “I have no desire of becoming a Bollywood star - Diljit Dosanjh.”

According to the report, during an interview with a leading portal, the Punjabi singer and actor was asked about his time in Bollywood. Filmfare quoted Dosanjh as saying, “I have no desire to become a Bollywood star. I love music, and without anybody’s say, I can make my music. No superstar can tell me that this music won’t work, or that someone else’s song would work better; none of this works on me. Punjabi artists are independent, and that's great freedom to have. Nobody can stop us, nobody can stop me from making music. I will keep making music for as long as I want to, and for as long as God allows me to. And I do not give a damn about getting work in Bollywood.”

This statement is nearly identical to the one in the viral video, except for the mention of Punjabi artists, which is missing from the circulating clip.

Taking a cue from this, we conducted a keyword search on YouTube and found an interview of Diljit Dosanjh with Anupama Chopra published by Film Companion Studios on September 20, 2021.

Around the 25-minute mark, Chopra poses a short question, saying: “Nobody works in the Bollywood industry the way he does; you just show up.” In response, Dosanjh delivers the same statement quoted by Filmfare and heard in the viral video.

However, this video also revealed that his remark about the freedom enjoyed by Punjabi artists has been edited out from the circulating clip.

What has been Dosanjh’s reaction after the recent backlash?

According to a report published by The Indian Express on June 25, in an interview with BBC Asian Network, Diljit shared that the situation between India and Pakistan was fine when he signed the film.

He said in Hindi, “When the film was made, the situation was fine. This film was shot in February. A lot of things happened after that which are not in our control. When the Pahalgam attack happened, the producers knew that they could not release this film in India anymore. But they decided to release it overseas as they have invested a lot of money in the film. They will 100 per cent suffer losses because they are removing an entire territory.”