Diljit Dosanjh's top 6 controversies over the years - Casting Hania Aamir to feud with AP Dhillon

Diljit Dosanjh, a well-known Punjabi singer-actor who, after conquering regional borders, made his mark in Bollywood and then became a global phenomenon with his music. Most commonly hailed for his down-to-earth nature, Diljit is no stranger to controversies. Throughout his career, he faced controversies including issues related to casting choices, concert challenges, and disputes on social media. Below is a comprehensive overview of some of the significant controversies linked to him over the years.

Diljit Dosanjh’s ‘Sardaar Ji 3’ became the talk of the town from the moment it was announced. It is one of the highly anticipated instalments of the franchise, and some time back, when initial reports of Hania Aamir joining ‘Sardaar Ji 3’ surfaced, fans couldn’t keep calm. However, the situation is different now. Following the terrorist attacks and military operations, the relationship between India and Pakistan is very sensitive at the moment. Owing to the same, there is a nationwide ban on Pakistani artists and content, and amid the same, the casting of Hania Aamir has been strongly condemned by the Federation of Western India Cine Employees (FWICE). The film body has called the act a ‘blatant violation’ and has urged the CBFC to deny certification of ‘Sardaar Ji 3’. An action has been demanded against Diljit and the producers of the movie as well.

The producers of the movie clarified that they stand with their nation, but the film was made way before the situation between India and Pakistan got worse. Considering the current tensions, they are only releasing the movie overseas. Diljit Dosanjh also came in support of his producers and mentioned he stands by their decision, as the makers are already incurring a loss by not releasing the movie in India.

The ‘Sardaar Ji 3’ controversy has cast a shadow over Diljit Dosanjh’s upcoming movie - ‘Border 2’. The FWICE called the casting of the ‘Born To Shine’ star a serious blow to national sentiments. The film body says that Diljit being a part of a movie celebrating the Indian armed forces is inappropriate, given his collaboration with the Pakistani actress. The federation has written letters to the film producers regarding the same.

A separate letter has been sent to Sunny Deol that reads - “We are confident that the values you have always upheld, both on screen and off, will guide you to take a stand in line with the nation’s sentiments.”

Back when he was doing his Dil-Lumiati Tour in India, he took to his social media handle to put up a promotional post. During his Chandigarh show, in the post instead of Punjab, he wrote Panjab, and owing to this incorrect spelling, the singer-actor faced heavy criticism. It led to an online debate, where some accused Diljit of endorsing a Pakistani interpretation of the state’s name. The ‘Jatt & Juliet’ actor Diljit sent his clarification on the matter. He mentioned that "Panjab" is a historically correct transliteration, which means "land of five rivers." He added it has no political connection.

During his south leg on the ‘Dil-Luminati’ tour in India, Diljit received a legal notice. Ahead of his concert in Telangana, the Karnataka state government banned him from performing songs with alcohol-related themes. Reportedly, the government had a broader concern about the influence of such songs over the audition in regions sensitive to alcohol consumption issues. The ban sparked mixed reactions. Some believed it was an unnecessary decision made by the government, curbing artistic creativity and expression. On the other hand, some stood in support of the Government’s decision. Amid all things, Diljit Dosanjh didn’t change his songlist for the performance, but improvised the lyrics, which took the entertainment bar to another level.

Diljit created history by becoming the first Punjabi artist to take the stage at the renowned Coachella music festival in 2023. However, his performance sparked controversy when he asked a fan to lower the Indian flag, which some viewed as disrespectful to the country's national symbol. Diljit later explained that his intention was to foster unity and inclusiveness among the varied audience, rather than to show disrespect toward India. Nonetheless, the incident ignited discussions around patriotism and the proper display of national symbols during international events.

Another controversy that revolved around Diljit Dosanjh also included another Punjabi artist, AP Dhillion. Their feud reportedly began when AP Dhillon accused Diljit of blocking him on Instagram. On the other hand, Diljit denied the claim, stating that his issues were political rather than personal with other artists. The exchange unfolded publicly through concert remarks and social media posts, highlighting tensions within the Punjabi music industry.