Indian Punjabi actress Neeru Bajwa has unfollowed Pakistani actress Hania Aamir on social media and deleted all promotional content related to their upcoming film Sardaar Ji 3 from her official Instagram account.
The action of Neeru Bajwa fuelled speculation about behind-the-scenes tensions and political pressure.
The social media users were quick to notice the sudden disappearance of Sardaar Ji 3 posts and the absence of Hania Aamir from Neeru Bajwa’s following list.
The move comes amid reports that Bajwa may have been subjected to threats from extremist Hindu groups over her collaboration with a Pakistani artist.
The film, which features Hania Aamir in a prominent role alongside Bajwa and Diljit Dosanjh, was completed before the recent escalation in India-Pakistan tensions.
Following the conflict, several right-wing groups in India reportedly pressured the filmmakers to remove Hania from the project, warning of a boycott if their demands were not met.
Despite the controversy, the filmmakers have chosen to proceed with the film’s release on June 27 but only outside India. The decision was made to protect the financial investment already made in the film and to avoid further political complications domestically.
Lead actor Diljit Dosanjh expressed his support for the producers in a recent interview, saying that, “If the filmmakers want to release the movie internationally, I fully support them. They have invested a great deal in this project, and their efforts deserve to be seen,”.
The incident highlights the increasing challenges cross-border artistic collaborations face in the current geopolitical climate.
While no official statement has been issued by Neeru Bajwa or the filmmakers addressing the social media move.
The public reaction suggests that the controversy has cast a shadow over what was once a celebrated collaboration between Indian and Pakistani talent.
Hania Aamir makes waves as Indian media focus her after Punjabi film Sardaar Ji 3
