Diljit Dosanjh’s latest Punjabi comedy with a twist of horror, Sardaar Ji 3, is creating waves across global cinemas and surprisingly, it has done so without a single screening in India.

The film, which also stars Pakistan’s rising star Hania Aamir, premiered internationally on June 27 and earned nearly 5 million dollars within just 10 days. It has already become the highest-grossing Punjabi film of the year and ranks third in global openings for Punjabi-language films, just behind Jatt and Juliet 3. With its growing popularity, it might soon take the top spot in international markets.

Though the film was blocked in India, Sardaar Ji 3 received a warm welcome in North America, the UK, the Gulf region, and Pakistan. Pakistani audiences, especially, showed strong support, with theatres in major cities reporting sold-out shows. However, due to Muharram, box office numbers were not tracked during its first weekend.

The decision to withhold the film’s release in India came in the wake of rising political tensions following the Pahalgam incident. Film bodies reportedly advised the Indian censor board to deny approval. The trailer was blocked for Indian viewers, and industry groups like FWICE and AICWA criticized Diljit for working with a Pakistani actress.

Some even went as far as accusing him of collaborating with someone “linked to terrorism,” targeting Hania Aamir unfairly. Rumors followed that Diljit had been dropped from the film Border 2. But the actor quickly dispelled those claims by appearing in behind-the-scenes clips from No Entry 2 alongside stars like Varun Dhawan and Mona Singh.

Despite the uproar, Hania Aamir received praise from Pakistani stars including Mahira Khan, Mehwish Hayat, Aiman Khan, and Zara Noor Abbas. Diljit also had kind words for his co-star, calling her professional and easy to work with, even though they didn’t spend much time together on set.

Meanwhile, Neeru Bajwa, another lead in the film, quietly unfollowed Hania on Instagram and removed promotional posts, hinting at some internal discord.

Diljit stood by the filmmakers and their decision not to release in India, acknowledging the financial risks involved but stating that the situation was out of their control. He expressed full support for the producers.

Read more: ‘Sardaar Ji 3’ Collects 5 million USD Overseas Despite India

Diljit Dosanjh’s latest horror-comedy, ‘Sardaar Ji 3‘, co-starring Hania Aamir, has rewritten Punjabi cinema history — without ever screening in India. The third instalment of the popular Sardaar Ji franchise premiered internationally on June 27, grossing approximately USD5 million in just 10 days from overseas markets, making it the top-grossing Punjabi film of the year.

Despite being blocked in India, Sardaar Ji 3 posted strong numbers across North America, the UK, the Gulf, and Pakistan. According to Hindustan Times, the film registered the third-highest global opening for a Punjabi-language title, trailing only behind Jatt & Juliet 3. If momentum continues, Sardaar Ji 3 may become the highest-grossing Punjabi film in international markets.

The film also released in Pakistan, where sold-out screenings were reported. However, box office numbers were not recorded over the opening weekend due to cinema closures during Muharram.

The decision to skip Indian cinemas followed rising political tensions between India and Pakistan in the aftermath of the Pahalgam attack. After regulatory film bodies urged the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) to withhold approval, the film’s trailer was geo-blocked in India. Federation of Western India Cine Employees (FWICE) and All India Cine Workers Association (AICWA) were among collectives that slammed collaboration with Pakistani artists. AICWA insisted that the Indian film industry “stand united and not associate with Diljit in any professional capacity,” while some voices accused the singer-actor of “working with a terrorist” — a reference to Hania’s casting.

In the wake of the controversy, speculation was rife that Diljit had been removed from the upcoming film Border 2. However, the Punjabi star was quick to dispel rumours. In a behind-the-scenes video later posted to Instagram, Diljit was also spotted on the set of No Entry 2, seen laughing with co-stars Varun Dhawan, Ahan Shetty, and Mona Singh.

In an interview with Haroon Rashid on BBC Asian Network, Diljit defended his choice to work with Hania. “When this film was being made, the [political] situation was fine,” he said, citing financial risk from blocking international release. Diljit maintained that producers had already lost “a lot of money” after refusing to release the film in India. “But the situation is out of our hands, and [the producers] have my full support,” he added.

When asked about sharing the screen with Hania, the actor-singer had only good things to say. “My experience with Hania was very good,” stated Diljit in a short but sweet commendation. “She was professional when we were working. We didn’t have that much time together, though.”

Completing the film’s leading trio is Canadian-Punjabi actor Neeru Bajwa of Jatt & Juliet fame who was quick to unfollow Hania on Instagram amid backlash. Neeru also appeared to have removed all promotional material for Sardaar Ji 3 from her IG grid.

On the Pakistani side, celebrities including Mahira Khan, Mehwish Hayat, Zara Noor Abbas, Anoushey Ashraf, and Aiman Khan took to social media to praise Hania and express support for the collaboration.

Also Read: ‘Sardaar Ji 3’ Dominates Box Office Despite India Ban

Pakistani actor and director Danish Nawaz stunned fans by sharing a selfie with Bollywood icon Shah Rukh Khan, a photo that immediately set social media ablaze.

Taking to Instagram Stories, Danish uploaded the now-viral picture with King Khan himself. While he remained tight-lipped about the location, fans were quick to speculate that the snapshot was taken in Dubai, a city Shah Rukh frequently visits for high-profile events and business dealings.

The surprise post didn’t just stay confined to his followers. Pakistani entertainment platform DivaMag reposted the image, perfectly capturing the sentiment: “Our very own Danish Nawaz had an absolute fan moment when he met and took a selfie with Bollywood star Shah Rukh Khan.

Danish Nawaz, celebrated for his direction of hits like Chupke Chupke, Dobara, Kala Doriya, and Hum Tum, has carved his own path in Pakistan’s entertainment industry. But in that split second captured on camera, he was just like any other fan: wide-eyed, awestruck, and genuinely thrilled.

While the post sparked a wave of excitement, not everyone bought into its authenticity. Some skeptics online questioned whether the image was real or AI-generated, but the emotion in Danish’s expression said it all; this was a genuine fan-boy moment.

Read more: Danish Taimoor Basks in Success of ‘Mann Mast Malang’ Despite Backlash Over Controversial Content