Naseeruddin Shah Clarifies: “I Didn’t Delete My Post”
Veteran actor Naseeruddin Shah has addressed the confusion surrounding his recent Facebook post backing singer-actor Diljit Dosanjh. After the post disappeared from his profile, many assumed it was deleted in response to backlash. However, the actor has now made it clear — he did not delete it.
Speaking through a recent opinion piece in The Indian Express, Naseeruddin wrote, “If this is taken to be a justification of my Facebook post (which has been taken down, not deleted by me) in support of Diljit Dosanjh, so be it. But the fact is I need to justify nothing. I said whatever I had to say and I stand by it.”
“I’m Not Discouraged by Lack of Support”
The actor also addressed the silence from the film industry. “I wasn’t expecting any — they all either have too much to lose or they disagree,” he added, standing firm despite the criticism and lack of backing.
To his online trolls, one of whom reportedly told him, “Pakistan nahin ab kabristaan,” Naseeruddin responded by quoting renowned Urdu poet Jigar Moradabadi:
“Mujhe de na ghaiz mein dhamkiyaan, giren lakh baar ye bijliyan, / Meri saltanat yehi aashiyaan, meri milkiyat yehi chaar par.”
Support for Diljit Amid Sardaar Ji 3 Controversy
Earlier this week, the actor publicly supported Diljit Dosanjh, who has been facing online attacks for the casting of Pakistani actor Hania Aamir in Sardaar Ji 3. The film, which released overseas on June 27, has not been released in India and arrives during heightened Indo-Pak tensions following the Pahalgam terror attack and India’s retaliatory Operation Sindoor.
Shah wrote in his now-removed post: “I STAND FIRMLY WITH DILJIT. The dirty tricks department of Jumla Party has been awaiting a chance to attack him. They think they’ve got it at last. He wasn’t responsible for casting — the director was.”
He continued, “But no one knows who the director is, whereas Diljit is known the world over. He agreed to the casting because his mind is not poisoned. What these goons want is to block personal interaction between people of India and Pakistan. I have dear friends and relatives there — and no one can stop me from loving or meeting them.”
Taking a final dig at his critics, he added: “To those who tell me to ‘Go to Pakistan,’ I say — GO TO KAILASA.”
Despite the post being removed, Naseeruddin stands by every word. “I don’t care a fiddler’s fart for backlash,” he remarked in a follow-up statement.