A new controversy has emerged in the Hindi film industry after the Federation of Western India Cine Employees (FWICE) raised concerns about the casting of actor-singer Diljit Dosanjh in the upcoming war drama Border 2. The federation has criticized this decision as a clear breach of its previous boycott directive against Dosanjh.
In a letter sent to producer Bhushan Kumar of T-Series and the team at JP Films, FWICE voiced its disappointment over choosing Dosanjh for the sequel to the beloved 1997 film Border, directed by Anurag Singh.
The letter stated, “We at FWICE, representing the backbone of the Indian film and television industry, are deeply troubled by the casting of Mr. Diljit Dosanjh in Border 2. This decision goes against our official directive, which called for a boycott of Dosanjh after he worked with Pakistani actress Hania Aamir in Sardaar Ji 3.”
The FWICE further claimed that by collaborating with a Pakistani actor during ongoing geopolitical tensions, Dosanjh has disregarded national sentiments. They emphasized that the casting choice by JP Films and T-Series weakens the united front that the Indian film industry aims to show in support of the country.
Additionally, FWICE has issued legal notices to filmmaker Imtiaz Ali and veteran actor Sunny Deol for their involvement with Dosanjh in an upcoming project set to be released in April 2026. The federation labeled these associations as part of a larger “appeal regarding collaboration” with the banned artist.
This stance from FWICE stems from longstanding directives discouraging Indian artists from working with Pakistani talent due to border tensions. However, some critics argue that such boycotts may restrict artistic freedom and hinder global creative cooperation.
As this situation develops, many are keen to see if the creators of Border 2 and other projects featuring Dosanjh will adhere to FWICE’s requests or proceed with their casting choices.
