Did FWICE President B N Tiwari Confirm T-Series Pressured to Lift Ban on Diljit Dosanjh?

Synopsis
Key Takeaways
- Diljit Dosanjh continues to work on "Border 2" despite a ban.
- FWICE holds significant authority over casting decisions.
- Pressure from T-Series played a role in lifting the ban.
- The film industry grapples with national sentiments.
- Artistic choices can have profound implications for public relations.
Mumbai, July 4 (NationPress) Despite being allegedly banned by the Federation of Western India Cine Employees (FWICE), the talented Punjabi singer and actor Diljit Dosanjh remains involved in the film "Border 2".
In a special discussion with IANS, FWICE president B N Tiwari addressed whether the producers of "Border 2", specifically T-Series, exerted influence to lift the ban on Diljit.
Tiwari shared, "If you interpret a request as pressure, then you can label it as such. We have maintained a strong rapport with T-Series. We approached them four times and cautioned them about continuing the shoot without addressing the matter, but they persisted in asking for a chance. Their inability to find a different ensemble for their film made it our obligation to find a resolution, especially with our nation's finances at stake."
The FWICE President also revealed that the producer of "Border 2" sent them a letter requesting permission for Diljit's participation in the project.
He disclosed that the filmmakers urged them to allow Diljit to be part of the production as a significant portion of the shoot was already completed, making it challenging to find alternative actors for the war drama. They further explained that most of the action sequences had already been filmed, rendering Diljit’s replacement extremely difficult.
In light of the backlash against Diljit for working alongside Pakistani actress Hania Aamir in "Sardaar Ji 3", FWICE had previously reached out to Bhushan Kumar, JP Dutta, Nidhi Dutta, and Anurag Singh, requesting Diljit's removal from the sequel.
In their communication, the Federation expressed their deep disappointment and concern regarding the casting of Diljit, emphasizing that collaborating with an artist who has disregarded the ongoing tensions and national sentiments undermines the solidarity of the Indian film industry with the nation.