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Naseeruddin Shah doesn’t give ‘a fiddler’s fart’ about backlash for defending Diljit Dosanjh

Naseeruddin Shah doesn’t give ‘a fiddler’s fart’ about backlash for defending Diljit Dosanjh

The actor's post defending the star has gone missing, but he says he didn't delete it, nor has he walked back on his statement.
03 Jul, 2025

Veteran Indian actor Naseeruddin Shah is not one to walk back on his words. Days after he made a Facebook post supporting Diljit Dosanjh for working with Hania Aamir in Sardaar Ji 3 — the post has since gone missing from Facebook — Shah has clarified he stands by his statement and that he did not delete the post.

“I have NOT deleted my post about Diljit Dosanjh. I don’t care a fiddler’s fart for backlash,” he wrote in a new Facebook status.

In alleged screenshots of the post shared by Indian media, Shah had called out the “dirty tricks department of the Jumla Party,” saying that they had been looking for an excuse to target Dosanjh. “He was not responsible for the casting of the film — the director was,” he noted. “But no one knows who he is, whereas Diljit is known the world over, and he agreed to the cast because his mind is not poisoned.”

In a strong rebuke of efforts to discourage cultural exchange between India and Pakistan, Shah added, “What these goons want is to put an end to personal interaction between the people of India and Pakistan. I have close relatives and some dear friends there, and no one can stop me from meeting them or sending them love whenever I feel like it. And my response to those who will say ‘Go to Pakistan’ is — Go to Kailasa.”

Shah followed it up with a quote by German scientist and philosopher Georg Christoph Lichtenberg in another status: “It is almost impossible to carry the torch of truth through a crowd without singeing somebody’s beard.”

The actor’s remarks come at a time when Dosanjh is facing criticism from right-wing Indian circles and some film bodies for working with Aamir. His Punjabi comedy film, which was released overseas and in Pakistan on June 27, was not released in India. It triggered a wave of angry calls for bans and subsequent messages of solidarity.

Dosanjh has responded briefly but firmly to the backlash. Most recently, he defended the makers of Sardaar Ji 3 for releasing it abroad without any cuts.

In an interview with BBC Asian Network, Dosanjh said, “When the film was being made, the situation was okay. When I signed the film, everything was okay. After that, there have been things that have been out of our control, and so, if the producers want to release the film abroad, I am with them.”

Dosanjh added that the producers made the decision not to release Sardaar Ji 3 in India to mitigate possible losses.

Comments

Johnw Jul 03, 2025 03:20pm
Shah's irrelevance is quite understated.
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JAMIL SOOMRO Jul 03, 2025 03:56pm
BJP are you listening? Naseeruddin Shah is finally addressing you.?
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Laila Jul 03, 2025 04:39pm
I have seen some his old art films when he was young. Great actor. Decent human being too. His post speaks both to the Indian critics but also many Pakistani critics who don't understand the concept of cross border interaction.
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Multani Jul 03, 2025 05:18pm
Why are we so obsessed with Indians while they choose to complete ignore us and look down upon us with disgust.
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Dr. Salaria, Aamir Ahmad Jul 03, 2025 05:29pm
At least somebody in the ranks and columns of Bollywood has got the guts and the grit to be on the right side and shun discrimination on the basis of religion, race, color, class, creed, background, ethnicity and geography.
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Pankaj Jul 03, 2025 06:42pm
We dont care about Naseer's opion either. He does not speak for any of us.
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GLEN D'ABREO Jul 04, 2025 12:32am
India is just upset they have no control over love for art & culture across Pakistan & India
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Reality Jul 04, 2025 03:18am
Ways of staying relevant n get noticed after years of being famous and later downfall
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Ron Jul 04, 2025 04:02am
proud of you sir.
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Tayyaba Khan Jul 04, 2025 07:08am
Naseeruddin Shah just more respect and love your way. Nobody is like you in the whole film industry. Love
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Riaz Ahmed Jul 04, 2025 08:23am
Most Dawn stories are written with a mind that the reader knows the background. Now here the criticism is on casting some Aamir, but nowhere its mentioned who Aamir is?
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Ahmed Jul 04, 2025 09:37am
That's because what Nasseruddin says doesn't matter.
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Laila Jul 04, 2025 12:02pm
@Reality How is he trying to stay relevant or get noticed? He is a established name, has had a long successful career, is in his 70s, is still successful and active both as an actor and a director. There is no alleged downfall. He just gave his opinion. Like millions of people on both side of the border. He also makes a good point.
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Laila Jul 04, 2025 12:24pm
@Riaz Ahmed The first paragraph mentions 'Hania Aamir' who is a well known drama actress in Pakistan. Also there is a picture of her...
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SalTheReader Jul 04, 2025 04:35pm
Mr. Shah is always a voice of reason at times like these. Def. a sane voice amongst the ‘jingoistic and bellicose fervour’, not to mention Islamophobia that continues unabated from all corners of India for quite sometime now.
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DIBAKAR DEV GOSWAMI Jul 04, 2025 05:29pm
IT'S VERY UNFORTUNATE ON THE PRETEXT THAT THE TWO COUNTRIES RELATIONS R DISTURBED ONLY THE CHARACTERS OF THE FILM WHETHER IT'S RIGHT WING INDIAN SECTION OR LEFT WING, IT DOESN'T MATTER BUT THE POINT IS THE CONSERVATIVE FANATICS WHO HAS NO VALUES OFTEN BARRICADES INNER VALUES OF THE FILM WHETHER IT'S IN RELEVANT POSITION OR DEPICTING SOME UNTOWARD FACTS......... VERY EMBEZZALMENT FROM THESE SECTIONS
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Reality Jul 04, 2025 05:49pm
@Laila...yes he was once famous n was a good actor but lately read many articles on how he always starts controversies just to get parts or during his son's debut. Always downplays other legends like rajesh khanna ,kher khans...hypocritical behaviour
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J Jul 04, 2025 05:55pm
Funny thing is “No one gives fiddlers fart” about him in India too!
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JAMIL SOOMRO Jul 04, 2025 10:08pm
What Naseeruddin Shah has said, " Fiddlers Fart "if translated literally in our desi Urdu Language would mean : "Main Is Masley Par Deta Hoon Ek Dhamakey Dar Pad."?
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Gurpreet Singh Jul 05, 2025 03:30am
Naseeruddin Shah was a great actor of his times but he’s almost irrelevant today. As for Diljeet, it was a stupid decision by him to hire a Pakistani actress, knowing fully well that things can flare up between the two countries at any time. Especially when there’s no dearth of high quality talent in our own country.
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Hindustani Jul 05, 2025 01:06pm
Laila, Shah Saab is a great actor and was popular for a long time. But he is not popular anymore. Bollywood movies are banned in Pakistan. I don't know why Pakistani actors want to act in Bollywood movies.
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