Veteran Indian actor Naseeruddin Shah has broken his silence after controversy erupted over his now-missing Facebook post defending singer-actor Diljit Dosanjh. The post was made in response to the backlash Diljit received for working with Pakistani actress Hania Aamir in the film Sardar Ji 3.
“I Didn’t Delete the Post” – Naseeruddin Shah Responds
After sharp online criticism, Shah clarified on Facebook that he did not delete his post supporting Diljit. “I don’t care about reactions,” he stated firmly.
In his original post, Shah had expressed strong support for Diljit, writing:
> “I stand firmly with Diljit. The usual crowd was waiting to pounce on him with their toxic narrative. Diljit is not responsible for casting — the director is.”
Diljit Dosanjh has been facing widespread backlash from certain Indian circles for sharing screen space with Hania Aamir, a Pakistani actress, in the upcoming film Sardar Ji 3. The film released globally on June 27, excluding India.
Despite the missing post, Shah’s words continue to echo, especially his critique of those pushing anti-Pakistan sentiments:
> “They want complete disconnection between Indians and Pakistanis. But I have relatives and friends in Pakistan, and no one can stop me from loving them.”
Filmmaker Ashoke Pandit Fires Back In response, filmmaker Ashoke Pandit slammed Shah, stating:
> “His comments calling us ‘gangs’ and ‘usual parties’ are disappointing. A seasoned actor should speak more responsibly.”
Pandit also pointed out that Diljit, as an actor, had a choice to reject working with a Pakistani co-star but chose not to.
While the post may no longer be visible, Naseeruddin Shah’s stance remains clear. He stands by Diljit, promotes artistic freedom, and rejects the growing cultural divide.
In his follow-up post, Shah quoted German philosopher Georg Christoph Lichtenberg:
> “To carry a torch of truth through a crowd without setting someone’s beard on fire is almost impossible.”
