Mumbai: Punjabi musician and actor Diljit Dosanjh made waves at the Met Gala this year, not only with his regal Punjabi-inspired outfit but also with a behind-the-scenes story that’s gone viral since his interview with the BBC.

In a candid conversation, Diljit revealed that he snuck his kirpan (a ceremonial dagger) into the high-profile fashion event by walking in behind global pop star Shakira, who inadvertently diverted attention due to her own intricate, metal-adorned outfit.

Diljit shared that Met Gala organisers had initially warned him not to carry his kirpan, as it was categorised as a weapon and barred from the red carpet. While he was allowed to take backstage photos with the accessory, he was instructed to leave it behind before stepping onto the red carpet.

“They told me, ‘You can’t take it on the red carpet,’ so I said okay,” Diljit recounted. “But I felt bad because it was a part of my look.” However, a twist of fate and Shakira worked in his favour.

“Shakira was just ahead of me. Her dress had a lot of metal and it set off the metal detector. I had my cape on and the kirpan was hidden under it. Everyone was focused on her, so they didn’t check me,” he said with a laugh.

The revelation quickly gained traction online, especially on Reddit, where fans praised the singer-actor’s dedication to his cultural attire. One user wrote, “And all his effort was absolutely worth it bc wowww. So glad we got to see the full vision.” Another joked, “Thank you, Shakira.” Others questioned the policy of banning such religious and ceremonial items, noting that some women’s heels at the event were “certainly more dangerous.”

A playful nod to Shakira’s famous hit came from a user who quipped, “So her hips may lie a little bit.”

Controversy regarding Sardaarji3:

While his Met Gala moment won hearts globally, back home in India, Diljit is under fire. His upcoming film, “Sardaarji 3,” has drawn criticism for casting Pakistani actress Hania Aamir. In the wake of the recent Pahalgam terrorist attack, several Indian film bodies, including the All Indian Cine Workers Association (AICWA) and the Federation of Western India Cine Employees (FWICE), have renewed demands for a ban on collaborations with Pakistani artists.

Diljit, however, has defended the casting, stating the movie was shot much before the tensions. He also revealed that due to the current tensions, the film is being planned for release exclusively overseas to avoid further conflict in India.