Indian actor and singer Diljit Dosanjh made his first public appearance in India on Monday weeks after facing intense backlash over his cross-border film Sardaar Ji 3.

The actor was spotted at Mumbai airport, where he was warmly welcomed by paparazzi despite the controversy surrounding his latest release.

In a video that quickly went viral on social media platforms, particularly Instagram, Diljit can be seen exiting the airport dressed in a white T-shirt, blue jeans, and a red turban.

He responded to paparazzi calls of "Paaji" with folded hands, a warm smile, and a friendly wave before stepping into his car—avoiding photo requests but acknowledging the media with visible grace.

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The brief but significant appearance marks Diljit’s return to India following the overseas release of Sardaar Ji 3 on June 27. The film was not released in Indian cinemas due to heightened tensions between India and Pakistan after the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack.

The casting of Pakistani actress Hania Aamir in the lead role triggered backlash from Indian film bodies, with calls for boycotts and demands for Diljit to be removed from upcoming Bollywood projects.

Back in India for Border 2 shoot

According to Indian media reports, Dosanjh has returned to begin shooting for Border 2, the sequel to the 1997 war epic Border.

The new installment is being directed by Anurag Singh and features a star-studded cast including Sunny Deol, Varun Dhawan, and Ahan Shetty. The project is jointly produced by Bhushan Kumar, Krishna Kumar, JP Dutta, and Nidhi Dutta under the banners of T-Series and JP Films.

The film is scheduled for a Republic Day weekend release on January 23, 2026. Diljit had previously confirmed his involvement in the film through Instagram reels, where he hinted at upcoming shoots for both Border 2 and another project titled No Entry 2.

Sardaar Ji 3 fallout and industry backlash

Diljit Dosanjh found himself at the centre of a political and industry storm in recent weeks after the trailer of Sardaar Ji 3 revealed Hania Aamir as a lead actress. Following the Pahalgam attack, Indian film bodies reasserted an unofficial industry-wide restriction on Pakistani artists working in Indian productions.

In response, the film’s producers opted not to release the movie in India.

Despite the boycott, Sardaar Ji 3 earned over Rs11 crore globally within its first two days, with Pakistan emerging as its strongest market. Diljit later shared videos highlighting the enthusiastic response the film received across Pakistani theatres—an act that drew further criticism from hardline voices in India.