Diljit Dosanjh returns to ‘Border 2’, but conditions apply

So, remember that whole row about Diljit Dosanjh being banned from Border 2? Yeah — turns out the ban’s been lifted. But the behind-the-scenes drama? It’s got more twists than a soap opera.

A film, a ban and a meltdown

It all started when Diljit was cast with Pakistani actress Hania Aamir in Sardaar Ji 3. Not exactly the best-timed move, especially with tensions high after the Pahalgam attack. Film bodies such as the FWICE and AICWA didn’t take it lightly — they slapped a ban on him and called for Border 2 to be stopped. Shooting at the National Defence Academy? They wanted that revoked too.

Things snowballed fast. Celebs such as Rupali Ganguly and Abhijeet Bhattacharya went full throttle on social media. Hashtags, angry rants, the works. Suddenly, Diljit—who’s mostly seen as chill and unproblematic — was in the eye of a political and cultural storm.

The U-turn: more strategic than emotional

Here’s where it gets interesting. Producer Bhushan Kumar stepped in, asking FWICE to reconsider. Why? Because, well, 85 per cent of Border 2 was already shot. The only thing left was a song. Scrap the film now and it’s not just Diljit who loses — it’s the crew, the co-stars (hello, Sunny Deol and Varun Dhawan) and honestly, crores of investment.

FWICE agreed... sort of. They revoked the ban — but only for this film. And Bhushan had to put it in writing. No more Diljit in future projects. Talk about damage control wrapped in diplomacy.

What now?

Diljit’s still in Border 2, set to release in January 2026. But the larger boycott? It’s still in place. It’s one of those messy moments where art, politics and public emotion collide — and no one walks away completely clean.