Diljit Dosanjh plays activist Jaswant Singh Khalra in ‘Satluj’. Pics/By Special Arrangement

Mohar Basu (MID-DAY; July 7, 2026)

Just about 48 hours. That’s how long Diljit Dosanjh’s Satluj, formerly titled Punjab '95, was available for streaming in India before it was pulled down from ZEE5 on the evening of July 5, even as it remained accessible overseas. Sources have told mid-day that the takedown decision came after the government apparently flagged the film — a biopic on human rights activist Jaswant Singh Khalra — citing threats to national security.

Satluj chronicles how Khalra investigated the extrajudicial killings of Sikh youths during the Punjab insurgency between 1984 and 1995. Sources revealed that authorities were concerned that the film could be used to revive separatist sentiment in Punjab ahead of the Assembly elections in November.

An insider said, “The concern is the environment in which the film is releasing. There is a feeling that certain groups could weaponize the film to further their own agenda. The assessment has been made from a national security perspective, not a political one. With Punjab heading towards elections, the authorities are not willing to take chances.” 

Despite the latest takedown, director Honey Trehan’s movie — that was stuck in a years-long battle with the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) — continues to circulate online. During a recent Instagram Live, Dosanjh acknowledged that users were downloading the film through torrent websites. 

Shortly afterwards, an X account user told mid-day that over 5000 people had downloaded the movie through their link. “It started with over 300 downloads, but now there are over 5000 downloads of our print,” said the user. 

The film’s journey
- On the first viewing in 2022, the CBFC sought 21 cuts. The makers approached the Bombay High Court 
- In July 2024, mid-day reported that the CBFC’s list of cuts had risen to 85
- By September 2024, it sharply rose to over 120
- In January 2025, mid-day reported how the makers unsuccessfully tried a global release for the biopic
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After years of censorship battles, title changes and release delays, Diljit Dosanjh’s long-delayed film finally reached audiences without cuts — only to disappear from ZEE5 within two days. As speculation grows, no official explanation has emerged
HINDUSTAN TIMES (July 7, 2026)

For years, Honey Trehan’s film on human rights activist Jaswant Singh Khalra existed more as a censorship controversy than a movie. Announced as Ghallughara, later retitled Punjab ’95 and finally released as Satluj, the Diljit Dosanjh-starrer spent nearly four years battling certification hurdles before quietly premiering on ZEE5 on July 3.

There were no promotions, interviews or marketing campaigns. Then, just 48 hours later, the film disappeared.

On July 5, ZEE5 announced that Satluj would be unavailable in India “until further notice”, citing unspecified “developments”. The platform has not elaborated further, and neither the CBFC nor the film’s producers have publicly explained the move.

HT City reached out to all stakeholders but had not received a response at the time of going to press.

ONLY ONE MAN IS TALKING — DILJIT
The most detailed response has come from Diljit, who suggested the team always feared such an outcome. During an Instagram Live session, the actor said the makers deliberately avoided announcing or promoting the release because they worried the film might never reach audiences otherwise. In fact, during a fan interaction a day before the takedown, he had predicted it could happen: “Today is Saturday. I feel it could be taken down by Monday. But no worry, you download it and watch.”

After the removal, Diljit remained defiant. “You can trouble me as much as you want. I am with Punjab till the day I die,” he said, adding that he was satisfied the film had reached viewers and urging those who downloaded it to share it further.

Beyond Diljit, most stakeholders have remained silent. Producer Ronnie Screwvala has not commented, while director Honey Trehan only reposted ZEE5’s statement with the message, “Tera bhana meetha lage” (God’s will seems sweet).

WHY WAS THE FILM CONTROVERSIAL?
The film tells the story of Jaswant Singh Khalra, the human rights activist who investigated alleged illegal cremations and extrajudicial killings during Punjab’s militancy years. Khalra was abducted and murdered in 1995, and the case later led to the conviction of several police personnel. Because it revisits one of the most sensitive chapters in Punjab’s history, the project faced scrutiny from the start. After being submitted to the CBFC in 2022, the film reportedly ran into objections and was asked to make more than 120 cuts. Trehan maintained that such changes would fundamentally alter the film. The prolonged dispute derailed release plans and eventually pushed the makers towards a direct-to-digital release.

WHY OTT?
Unlike theatrical releases, OTT platforms do not require prior CBFC certification. Industry observers believe streaming offered the makers the only realistic way to release the film in its intended form. That makes its sudden removal all the more puzzling.

SO WHAT HAPPENS NOW?
Some observers point to the film’s politically sensitive subject matter, while others have noted that Punjab is due to hold Assembly elections early next year. Film trade analyst Atul Mohan says the exact trigger remains unclear but believes the subject itself may have raised concerns. “It is definitely a sensitive issue. Elections are coming in Punjab and maybe there could be a concern that no one should use this as propaganda,” he says.

Adding to the controversy, advocate Vineet Jindal has said he filed a complaint with the Ministry of Home Affairs seeking action against the filmmakers and ZEE5, alleging that the film promotes a distorted narrative around Punjab’s insurgency years, in addition to an FIR against Diljit. There is currently no indication that the complaint is linked to the film’s removal.