LATEST IN NEWS
Diljit on Satluj OTT takedown: `I challenge the darkness`
Updated on: 06 July, 2026 10:22 AM IST |Prith
Actor-singer Diljit Dosanjh has responded after his long-delayed film Punjab `95, which was released in India on the streaming platform ZEE5 under the new title Satluj, was taken down just two days after its debut. The film had remained stuck for more than three years due to certification issues with the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC). Despite the prolonged delay, it eventually premiered on ZEE5 without any reported cuts. However, the film`s sudden removal has sparked fresh controversy, with Diljit sharing a cryptic reaction that appears to reference both the movie`s fate and the real-life story it portrays.
Taking to Instagram, Diljit posted a still from the film along with a powerful caption that read, "I challenge the darkness." He further wrote in Punjabi that the same thing that happened to Satluj had also happened to Shaheed Jaswant Singh Khalra, the human rights activist whose life inspired the film. His message was widely interpreted as a reflection on the obstacles the project has continued to face.
Interestingly, Diljit had hinted at the possibility of the film being removed even before it happened. In a video that has since gone viral, he expressed concern that Satluj might disappear from ZEE5 shortly after its release. Speaking in Punjabi, he remarked that while there was a fear the film could be removed on Monday, someone would have downloaded it by then. He added that there was no need to worry and said those trying to stop the film could continue their efforts.
On Sunday evening, ZEE5 confirmed that Satluj had been made unavailable in India until further notice. In an official statement, the streaming platform said it was exploring all appropriate legal and procedural avenues to restore the film for viewers at the earliest opportunity. ZEE5 also thanked audiences for their overwhelming support, stating that the response since the film`s release had been extraordinary. The platform reaffirmed its faith in the film and its creative vision, emphasizing its belief that meaningful storytelling has the power to inspire and leave a lasting impact.
Directed by Honey Trehan, Satluj chronicles the life of Jaswant Singh Khalra, who investigated the alleged illegal cremation of thousands of unidentified bodies in Punjab between 1984 and 1994 before he disappeared in 1995. The film had earlier faced significant hurdles after the CBFC reportedly sought 127 cuts, leading to years of delays before its eventual digital release.
View this post on Instagram
Taking to Instagram, Diljit posted a still from the film along with a powerful caption that read, "I challenge the darkness." He further wrote in Punjabi that the same thing that happened to Satluj had also happened to Shaheed Jaswant Singh Khalra, the human rights activist whose life inspired the film. His message was widely interpreted as a reflection on the obstacles the project has continued to face.
Interestingly, Diljit had hinted at the possibility of the film being removed even before it happened. In a video that has since gone viral, he expressed concern that Satluj might disappear from ZEE5 shortly after its release. Speaking in Punjabi, he remarked that while there was a fear the film could be removed on Monday, someone would have downloaded it by then. He added that there was no need to worry and said those trying to stop the film could continue their efforts.
On Sunday evening, ZEE5 confirmed that Satluj had been made unavailable in India until further notice. In an official statement, the streaming platform said it was exploring all appropriate legal and procedural avenues to restore the film for viewers at the earliest opportunity. ZEE5 also thanked audiences for their overwhelming support, stating that the response since the film`s release had been extraordinary. The platform reaffirmed its faith in the film and its creative vision, emphasizing its belief that meaningful storytelling has the power to inspire and leave a lasting impact.
Directed by Honey Trehan, Satluj chronicles the life of Jaswant Singh Khalra, who investigated the alleged illegal cremation of thousands of unidentified bodies in Punjab between 1984 and 1994 before he disappeared in 1995. The film had earlier faced significant hurdles after the CBFC reportedly sought 127 cuts, leading to years of delays before its eventual digital release.
ADVERTISEMENT
Are you waiting for Awarapan 2 ?
ADVERTISEMENT
