Punjabi singer-actor Diljit Dosanjh has found himself surrounded by serious controversy after his recent interaction with actor Amitabh Bachchan. Earlier this week, a video went viral showing him touching the feet of the Bollywood legend during the filming of the TV show Kaun Banega Crorepati 17. 

The gesture was meant as a mark of respect, Bachchan introduced Dosanjh as “Punjab de puttar” (son of Punjab) and responded with a warm hug. The moment was received by many fans as humble and genuine.

However, the US-based Khalistani group Sikhs for Justice (SFJ), led by Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, has opposed this gesture strongly. The group claims that by touching Bachchan’s feet, Dosanjh has disrespected the memory of victims of the 1984 anti-Sikh riots, a deeply traumatic event in India’s history. 

In a statement, the SFJ said: “By touching the feet of Amitabh Bachchan, the man whose words fuelled the 1984 genocide, Diljit Dosanjh has insulted every victim, every widow, and every orphan of the 1984 Sikh genocide.”

The controversy has escalated further because Dosanjh’s next concert is scheduled for November 1 in Australia, a date that coincides with what the Sikh community observes as the “Day of Remembrance” for the 1984 Sikh genocide. 

The SFJ has threatened to “shut down” his concert and has issued open calls asking all Sikh institutions, artists, and audiences to boycott the show or any event involving someone linked to what they describe as the “white-washing” of the riots.

According to reports, the SFJ also sent a letter to the religious authority Akal Takht Sahib (the highest temporal seat of Sikhism) urging them to summon Dosanjh to explain himself publicly. 

The group claims this is not about ignorance but about betrayal and about remembering the thousands who died or suffered in 1984. Amid this, Dosanjh continues his Australia tour, where he recently made history by becoming the first Indian artist to sell out a stadium show in Sydney. Tickets for some shows reportedly sold for up to $800, with 30,000 fans in attendance.

This entire affair raises several important questions. Was Diljit Dosanjh’s gesture simply an act of respect toward a senior actor, or has it been interpreted as a political statement by some? How will his upcoming concert move forward amid threats and calls for a boycott? And what does this situation mean for artists who often find themselves caught between celebrating their culture and navigating sensitive historical wounds that still affect many people today?