'Sardaar Ji 3' finally arrives in India
“The cross-border Punjabi film 'Sardaar Ji 3', starring Pakistani actor Hania Aamir alongside Indian singer and actor Diljit Dosanjh and Neeru Bajwa, has finally reached Indian audiences through a digi…”
The horror-comedy premiered on Chaupal OTT on November 9, 2026, giving Indian viewers access to a film that had already enjoyed an international theatrical release, including in Pakistan, on June 27, 2025. The film was initially kept out of Indian cinemas following objections to Hania's casting amid deteriorating relations between India and Pakistan.
The controversy intensified after the April 22, 2025, Pahalgam attack, which triggered strong opposition to professional collaborations involving Pakistani artists. The Federation of Western India Cine Employees (FWICE) urged the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) to withhold certification, adding to pressure on the producers.
The makers subsequently opted for an overseas release rather than risk an Indian theatrical opening. The production team maintained that the film had been shot in February 2025, before the political situation changed, and that no Pakistani artist had been signed or engaged after the Pahalgam attack.
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The producers also said they would withhold the film and its promotional material from India until circumstances became more favourable. Diljit addressed the controversy in an interview with BBC Asian Network, explaining that developments after filming had made an Indian theatrical release difficult.
He acknowledged the financial implications of losing access to a major market but said he supported the producers' decision to release the film internationally. Despite missing an Indian cinema release, the film reportedly performed strongly in Pakistan.
Exhibitor Nadeem Mandviwalla estimated its local box-office earnings at approximately Rs600 million, making it one of the biggest Punjabi film releases in the country. Diljit also praised Hania's professionalism during filming, describing their experience on set as positive.
He said he respected her work and emphasised the importance of respecting personal privacy, particularly that of women. Directed by Amar Hundal, 'Sardaar Ji 3' is the third instalment in the Punjabi horror-comedy franchise.
Diljit plays Jaggi, a ghost hunter who takes on a supernatural assignment at a mansion in the United Kingdom, with Hania also appearing as a ghost hunter. The film's digital arrival marks a fresh distribution window for a project whose original release became entangled in cross-border political tensions.
While its Indian theatrical debut never materialised, the OTT release has finally opened another route to audiences in the country.
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