The North American Punjabi Association (NAPA) expresses strong condemnation of the insensitive and evasive remarks made by Bollywood actor Ajay Devgn regarding the controversy surrounding celebrated Punjabi artist Diljit Dosanjh. Mr. Devgn’s comments, made during a promotional event for his film Son of Sardaar 2 in Mumbai, were not only dismissive but dangerously ambiguous at a time when clarity and solidarity are most needed.
Ajay Devgn, when questioned by the media on the orchestrated online attacks against Diljit Dosanjh for his professional collaboration with Pakistani actress Hania Aamir, chose to hide behind a veil of so-called neutrality. His statement — “Kya sahi hai, kya galat hai, I am not in his shoes to comment on that” — reeks of cowardice and irresponsibility. This is not a matter of “point of view” as Mr. Devgn casually claims. It is a matter of art, culture, and cross-border collaboration — something that should be celebrated, not vilified. It is utterly shameful that Mr. Devgn, who has profited off portraying Sikh characters on screen, now refuses to stand up for a fellow Punjabi artist under fire simply for exercising his artistic freedom.
Instead of using his platform to de-escalate a manufactured controversy and support peaceful cultural exchange, Mr. Devgn chose to fan the flames of division by offering a false equivalency between national security concerns and professional artistic collaborations.
Let us remind Mr. Devgn and the wider Bollywood ecosystem:
Diljit Dosanjh does not need to justify his castings to politically motivated trolls or self-proclaimed nationalists. Art and cinema should transcend borders, not be shackled by jingoism. The Pakistani actress in question, Hania Aamir, may have expressed controversial opinions, but Diljit cannot and should not be held accountable for the personal views of his co-actors, any more than Mr. Devgn should be judged for the past affiliations and misdeeds of his Bollywood colleagues.
Moreover, to exploit the tragic loss of lives in the Pahalgam attack to target an artist like Diljit is nothing short of appalling and unethical. These tragedies must never be used as tools to stifle creativity, attack freedom of expression, or whip up nationalist hysteria. Chahal further said that Daljit is not just a Punjabi icon, but a global ambassador of our community, language, and culture. His contributions to music, cinema, and humanitarian causes have been enormous, and he deserves respect — not selective silence from Bollywood’s privileged elite.Chahal urge responsible voices within the Indian film industry to rise above petty politics and extend unequivocal support to artists who promote cultural harmony, not divisiveness. Silence in the face of hate is complicity.