A collage of Naseeruddin Shah and Diljit Dosanjh.
Credit: Special Arrangement
Legendary actor Naseeruddin Shah is one of the notable faces in Indian cinema who has never shied away from voicing their opinion in public. With the Padma Shri and Padma Bhushan to his name, the actor has made a mark in the cine field and has landed himself in trouble after making a social post in support of Diljit Dosanjh, who is facing heat for working with Pakistani actress Hania Amir in Sardaar Ji 3.
The veteran actor became the centre of controversy for lending his support. His post went viral on social media and has irked several industry insiders. Naseeruddin publicly came out in support of the singer-turned-actor, stating that Dosanjh had no involvement in the film’s casting decisions.
On Monday, Naseeruddin Shah posted on Facebook, condemning the criticism directed at Dosanjh. “I STAND FIRMLY WITH DILJIT. The dirty tricks deptt of the Jumla Party has been awaiting a chance to attack him. They think they’ve got it at last. He was not responsible for the casting of the film; the director was,” he wrote.
“What these goons want is to put an end to personal interaction between the people of India and Pakistan. I have close relatives and some dear friends there, and no one can stop me from meeting them or sending them love whenever I feel like it,” Shah added.
His post triggered widespread outrage across social media platforms, and minutes after the post, Naseeruddin became a trending topic and the subject of intense debate online.
Screenshot of the Facebook post Naseeruddin Shah deleted.
Credit: Special Arrangement
Amid the severe backlash, Naseeruddin Shah has deleted the post supporting Diljit Dosanjh for reasons known only to him.
Sardaar Ji 3 controversy erupted on June 22 after the launch of the trailer, revealing Pakistani actress Hania Aamir as the female lead. The decision to cast Hania Aamir has fueled public outrage and boycott calls in India. Despite the backlash in India, Sardaar Ji 3 has seen positive reception abroad and has collected Rs 11.03 crore worldwide in just two days, as per Box Office India.