One of India’s biggest stars Diljit Dosanjh has defended his new film, which won’t be shown in India following controversy over its casting.

The Punjabi singer and actor features in Sardaar Ji 3 alongside Canadian actress Neeru Bajwa, but backlash against his other co-star, Hania Aamir, has overshadowed its release.

The Pakistani actress was criticised for comments online after tensions flared between India and Pakistan in April, when 26 tourists were killed in an attack in Indian-administered Kashmir.

Speaking to BBC Asian Network, Diljit defended the movie, saying “everything was fine” between the two countries during filming in February.

“When the film was being made, the situation was OK.

“After that, there’s been a lot of things… that are not in our hands.”

India blamed Pakistan for the April attack – which Pakistan denied – and then launched air strikes inside Pakistan and Pakistan-administered Kashmir, with Pakistan firing missiles back.

It was the worst military confrontation between the neighbouring countries in decades, with dozens of people killed.

Hania reportedly shared comments on social media calling India’s strikes “cowardly” and “shameful”.

That sparked backlash in India and calls to boycott the Punjabi-language film, which is released on Friday.

“The producers decided that the film won’t be able to release in India but it can release overseas,” Diljit told BBC Asian Network’s Haroon Rashid, speaking both Punjabi and English.

“Obviously they’ve put a lot of money in the film and when they made it none of this had happened – so we were like, they are already going to have a loss.”

On working with Hania, Diljit says “we didn’t have much time together” but describes her as “very professional”, adding they had a “very good” experience on set.

Newsbeat has approached Hania Aamir for comment.

Diljit and Neeru have been working together for 15 years and Sardaar Ji 3 is their seventh film together as a lead couple.

The actress says that during that time, Diljit’s work on screen and as a musician has “impacted the Punjabi community greatly”.

“We finally have representation,” she says. “We are finally being celebrated and it is because of him.”

Diljit’s profile has been slowly rising outside of India, where he’s been a household name for years.

And his reputation for representing Punjabi culture was on display at last month’s Met Gala in New York.

His head-turning look was inspired by 20th century Indian king Maharaja Bhupinder Singh and included a cape printed with Gurmukhi (Punjabi) script and a jewel-encrusted turban, as well as a replica of a priceless necklace worn by the monarch.

“For me to go to the Met Gala wasn’t a big thing,” he says.

“But for Punjab and the turban to go there – that was the biggest thing.”

The star says the thought of wearing the symbolic outfit to the event – seen by millions around the world – got him emotional before he’d even arrived.

And the look wouldn’t be complete without a key accessory – his kirpan.

He says he was told not to take the ceremonial sword with him, but managed to get it past the event’s security thanks to an unwitting accomplice.

Shakira.

“Her dress was huge and had lots of pins and metal in it,” he says.

“And because Shakira is such a big star, no-one wanted to go behind her because they wouldn’t get any photos.

“I thought: ‘I don’t mind, I’ve come here, that’s the main thing’.

“As she was going through the metal detector, it was beeping so much – I just put the kirpan under my cape and followed through.

“They were so busy checking her that they didn’t even check me.”

As well as fashion and acting, Diljit has been making waves around the world with music too.

In 2023, he became the first Punjabi star to play Coachella, following that up with an appearance on The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon in 2024.

He says he purposely chose to sing Punjabi folk and bhangra tracks during the performance rather than some of his more western-inspired songs.

“If I’ve been given the chance to be on that stage, if I can showcase our music, our beats, then that’s a big deal,” he says.

He recently released a dance track with Korean star Jackson Wang, went viral on social media with Will Smith and brought out Ed Sheeran during his UK tour.

“It’s my intention if my song becomes a massive international hit then I want it to be Punjabi in feel, the beat, it needs a dhol in it,” he says.

“Otherwise what’s the point if it’s the same as someone else’s style?”

Watch Haroon Rashid’s full interview with Diljit Dosanjh and Neeru Bajwa on the BBC Asian Network Youtube Channel and listen to his show on weekdays from 11:00-15:00 on BBC Sounds.

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