Did T-Series Pressure FWICE to Lift Diljit Dosanjh's Ban?

Synopsis
Key Takeaways
- Diljit Dosanjh continues to work on "Border 2" despite a reported ban.
- T-Series sought to lift the ban due to logistical challenges.
- FWICE expressed concerns over national sentiment.
- The film industry faces ongoing tensions regarding collaborations with foreign artists.
- Artistic freedom must navigate complex national sentiments.
Mumbai, July 4 (NationPress) Despite being reportedly banned by the Federation of Western India Cine Employees (FWICE), Punjabi singer and actor Diljit Dosanjh remains involved with the film "Border 2".
In a recent interview with IANS, FWICE president B N Tiwari discussed whether the makers of 'Border 2', T-Series, exerted pressure to lift the ban on Diljit.
Tiwari stated, "If you consider a request pressure, then you could deem it as such. We have a good rapport with T-Series. We visited them four times and cautioned them that they could not proceed with the shoot, yet they persistently requested another chance. They struggled to find a different ensemble of artists for their film, and given their inability, it was our responsibility to devise a solution, as it concerned our nation's interests."
The FWICE President added that the producer of "Border 2" had sent a letter asking them to allow Diljit to participate in the project.
He revealed that the filmmakers urged them to permit Diljit’s involvement, noting that a significant portion of the filming had already been completed, making it challenging to replace any actors in the war drama. The team also pointed out that most of the action sequences had been filmed, making a replacement for Diljit exceedingly difficult.
Amid controversy surrounding Diljit for collaborating with Pakistani actress Hania Aamir in "Sardaar Ji 3", FWICE had communicated with Bhushan Kumar, JP Dutta, Nidhi Dutta, and Anurag Singh, requesting that Diljit be removed from the sequel.
"The Federation of Western India Cine Employees (FWICE), which represents the backbone of the Indian film and television industry, is profoundly disappointed and alarmed by the casting of actor-singer Mr. Diljit Dosanjh in your upcoming film Border 2, produced under JP Films in collaboration with T-Series and directed by Anurag Singh. By choosing to work with an artist who has blatantly disregarded the ongoing tensions and national sentiments, your production undermines the unity displayed by the Indian film industry in support of the nation," the letter stated.