Honey Singh Supports Diljit Dosanjh in Lyric Controversy, Calls Out Double Standards Over Alcohol References

In 2024, Diljit Dosanjh emerged as a global icon with remarkable achievements, from his international talk show appearances to record-breaking concerts and praise for his role in Amar Singh Chamkila. However, his journey was not without controversy, as he faced calls to modify song lyrics referring to alcohol and violence during his concerts.

Several states issued advisories urging him to change his lyrics, sparking a debate on the consistency of these guidelines. Diljit, who complied with the requests, responded by saying, "If all states ban liquor consumption, I will never sing a song about alcohol in my entire life..." His statement highlighted the contradictions within these regulations and raised important questions about societal attitudes toward alcohol in India.

Amid this debate, rapper Honey Singh expressed support for Diljit in an interview with India Today, criticizing the double standards of states that issued advisories but continued to profit from liquor sales. He remarked, “They aren’t shutting down liquor stores. Let them make it a dry state, and make India a dry country. Then we can have a conversation about all this." Honey's comments pointed to the irony in the situation and echoed a larger conversation about alcohol’s role in Indian society.

In a surprising turn, Honey Singh also revealed that he had quit drinking and jokingly suggested adapting to such directives. He quipped that songs like “Char Bottle Vodka” could be turned into instrumentals and suggested singing about traditional Indian drinks like lassi or jal jeera, saying, “We’ll definitely join this campaign. We’ll sing a song about lassi, about chhaas, about jal jeera. You know, something similar."

This debate has sparked wider discussions about alcohol’s place in Indian culture, with Honey noting that alcohol references are not limited to Punjabi music but are part of the broader social fabric. “We go to parties; people are drinking. We go to weddings; people are drinking. It’s in the culture, not just in Punjab..." he explained.

As Diljit wraps up his Dil-luminati tour, which culminates with a grand concert in Ludhiana on New Year’s Eve, the year has been both challenging and triumphant for the artist.