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.
