My film was shot before Pahalgam, but now matches are being played: Diljit Dosanjh breaks silence
Kuala Lumpur: Singer-actor Diljit Dosanjh has spoken publicly for the first time on the controversy surrounding his film Sardaarji 3, his association with Pakistani actor Hania Aamir, and the recent India–Pakistan cricket clash. Addressing his fans during a concert in Malaysia, Dosanjh also expressed grief over the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack, in which 26 people, mostly tourists, were killed.
Several videos from the concert have surfaced online, showing Dosanjh saluting the Indian national flag on stage. “Woh mere desh da jhanda hai. Always respect,” he told the crowd. Seeking permission to share his views, he explained in Punjabi that Sardaarji 3 was filmed in February, prior to the Pahalgam attack, while the cricket match between India and Pakistan was played later in September.
“The tragic Pahalgam terror attack happened afterwards. At that time, and even now, we have always prayed that the terrorists should receive strict punishment. The difference is that my film was shot before the attack, and the match was played after it,” he said.
India and Pakistan met on September 14 in the Asia Cup, their first encounter since the attack. India secured a seven-wicket victory in the Group A clash but refused to exchange pleasantries with the Pakistan side, a decision seen as reflecting the strained ties between the two nations.
Dosanjh criticised sections of the media for portraying him as “anti-national” over his film casting. “The national media tried their best to portray me that way, but Punjabis and the Sikh community could never go against the nation,” he said.
The actor-singer further noted that he had “many answers” to the accusations but chose silence. “I didn’t speak. I have many answers. But whoever tells you anything, you shouldn’t take that poison inside you. I learned that from life,” he told the audience.
Earlier this year, Dosanjh faced backlash for working with Pakistani actor Hania Aamir in Sardaarji 3, released overseas on June 27. Directed by Amar Hundal, the film also featured Neeru Bajwa, Gulshan Grover, and Sapna Pabbi.
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No unannounced load shedding in Kerala, outages due to overload, says Minister
Palakkad (PTI): Kerala Electricity Minister K Krishnankutty on Saturday said there was no unannounced load shedding in the state, attributing recent power interruptions to temporary overload caused by high consumption.
Clarifying concerns raised from various parts of the state, the minister said the disruptions are not deliberate but occur when demand peaks, particularly between 10 pm and 11 pm.
"It is not being done intentionally. Power consumption has risen sharply, and when there is excessive and indiscriminate usage, the system experiences overload, leading to natural supply interruptions," he told reporters here.
His remarks come amid complaints that several areas have been witnessing frequent power cuts, often lasting around 15 minutes and occurring multiple times during the night.
Krishnankutty said the state's power demand has crossed 6,195 MW, putting pressure on the supply system. He added that around 70 per cent of Kerala's electricity is procured from outside, and existing power banking arrangements have been exhausted.
"We have approached the Regulatory Commission seeking permission to purchase more power. However, this will come at a higher cost," he said.
The minister said the government is trying to avoid increasing electricity tariffs and urged consumers to exercise restraint in usage to help manage the situation.
Responding to opposition criticism over the ruling LDF's earlier claims of a decade without power cuts, he said the current situation is not unique to Kerala.
A power crisis is emerging across the country, he said, and sarcastically asked the Opposition to take note of the role of natural factors in this.
Krishnankutty expressed confidence that the situation would improve within two days, while cautioning that long-term energy security would depend on enhancing in-state power generation.
He also warned that future generations could face serious challenges if adequate electricity production capacity is not developed within Kerala.
