Veteran actor Anupam Kher recently reacted to Diljit Dosanjh’s decision to collaborate with Pakistani actor Hania Aamir in ‘Sardaar Ji 3’.
Kher expressed his reluctance to engage in such projects, citing personal and nationalist sentiments. In an interview with NDTV, he shared that while Dosanjh has the right to make his own choices, he , particularly in light of events like the Pahalgam terror attack.
“It’s his fundamental right. He has full freedom to exercise his right and he should be given the freedom to exercise it. I can say from my point of view that maybe I wouldn’t do what he did,” Kher stated.
The actor, who is known for his nationalist views, elaborated on his stance by drawing a metaphorical comparison, “I’d say, ‘You slapped my father, but you sing very well, you play a very good table, so you come and perform at my house’. But I wouldn’t be able to do that. I am not that great.” He expressed his strong belief that artistic talent does not override political tensions.
Kher’s remarks stem from his emotional ties to those affected by conflict, particularly in reference to women who in April this year. He expressed his inability to separate such events from artistic collaborations, which he believes may undermine the gravity of these losses.
“I won’t hit him back, but I won’t give him the right… The rule that I practice at my home, I practice in my country. I am not that great that I could see my family get hit or see my sister’s sindoor get destroyed for art. Those who can do so, they have all the freedom,” Kher commented.
Pakistani artists have been banned in India since the 2016 Uri attack. Kher’s remarks highlighted a broader debate regarding cross-cultural collaborations in the film industry amid geopolitical tensions.
Dosanjh, who is yet to publicly respond to Kher’s comments, continues to gain global acclaim for his work, while ‘Sardaar Ji 3’ continues to perform well in theatres overseas.
Earlier, while promoting the film, the actor said he had no control over the film’s release time, and that it was shot with Aamir before the Pahalgam attack.