The dispute took place on Tuesday evening at a multiplex inside Trillium Mall, where Amritsar resident Varinder Singh arrived with his wife and four minor children to watch the film. According to the family, theatre staff refused to issue tickets after noticing that the children were under 18 years of age.

A video of the confrontation, recorded by Singh and later shared on social media, shows him arguing with multiplex employees and questioning why his family was prevented from watching a film that, according to him, promotes Sikh heritage.

During the exchange, Singh compared Dastar with mainstream films such as Dhurandhar and Animal, claiming that movies featuring violence had been widely screened, while a film highlighting Sikh history was being kept out of reach of Sikh children.

He also appealed to other moviegoers and staff members present at the multiplex for support. However, those present reportedly explained that the theatre was simply following the certification rules. After the discussion failed to resolve the issue, the family left without watching the film.

Responding to the allegations, multiplex staff said they had acted strictly in accordance with CBFC regulations. Since Dastar has been certified 'A', cinemas are legally prohibited from allowing anyone below the age of 18 to watch the film, even if accompanied by parents or guardians.

Varinder Singh, a jeweller and social media influencer, later claimed that he had contacted members of the film's production team to understand why the movie had received an adults-only certificate. According to him, the makers told him the film was originally intended for family audiences and children, but the CBFC eventually granted it an 'A' certificate.

The producers have publicly confirmed that the certification process continued until the eve of the film's release. According to official statements from White Hill Studios and lead actor Tarsem Jassar, the CBFC cleared the film only after requiring multiple edits, with the final certificate reportedly being issued on the night before its theatrical release.

Released on July 17, Dastar explores themes linked to Sikh identity, diaspora experiences and incidents of racial violence faced by Sikh immigrants in the United Kingdom during the 1980s. The film also depicts violence and alleged police brutality inspired by historical events, elements that are understood to have influenced the CBFC's decision to restrict the film to adult audiences.

The controversy has also reignited debate over film certification in India. Critics of the decision argue that stories centred on Sikh history and identity often face stricter scrutiny, while supporters of the certification process maintain that the CBFC is required to classify films based on their content rather than their subject matter.

The issue follows recent discussions surrounding Satluj, another Punjabi film that attracted attention during the certification process. Observers note that films dealing with Punjab's political history, the events of 1984 and Sikh identity have increasingly faced close examination from certification authorities because of their sensitive themes.

As of now, neither the CBFC nor the makers of Dastar have issued any fresh statement addressing the Amritsar incident. The controversy, however, has added another chapter to the ongoing conversation over censorship, audience classification and the balance between historical storytelling and regulatory standards in Indian cinema.