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The success of Sardaar ji 3starring Pakistani actress Hania Aamir and Indian Punjabi singer-actor Diljit Dosanjh, continues to make waves, becoming the highest-grossing Indian Punjabi film in Pakistan.

Released globally, including in Pakistan, on June 27, the film has reportedly earned over PKR 310 million (Rs 31 crore) at the Pakistani box office. According to industry reports, Sardaar ji 3 has surpassed the earnings of the previous record-holder, Carry is Jatta 3setting a new benchmark for Indian Punjabi cinema in Pakistan.

Internationally, the film has also been performing strongly, grossing over USD 6 million so far.

However, due to rising diplomatic tensions between India and Pakistan following a terrorist attack in Pahalgam on April 22, the film was not released in India.

The controversy around the film began with the release of its trailer, when backlash emerged in India over the casting of Pakistani actress Hania Aamir. In the context of ongoing political tension, a segment of Indian social media users harshly criticized the filmmakers for featuring a Pakistani artist.

This was followed by boycott campaigns in several Indian states, with right-wing political groups staging protests outside cinemas and demanding the film be removed from Indian streaming platforms and cinema chains.

Earlier, in an interview with BBC Asian Network, Diljit Dosanjh explained that the decision to release the film internationally rather than in India was made jointly with producers, given the film’s substantial investment. He added that the movie was filmed in the UK during a time when relations between India and Pakistan were stable, and the international release aimed to recover costs and ensure profitability.

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