Diljit Dosanjh Speaks Out After Controversial Removal of 'Satluj' from ZEE5

Diljit Dosanjh Addresses Fans Amid 'Satluj' Controversy

Mumbai: Diljit Dosanjh, the popular actor and singer, has responded to the unexpected removal of his eagerly awaited film Satluj from the ZEE5 streaming service in India, which occurred just a day after its release.

On Monday, Diljit held an Instagram live session to express his gratitude to fans for their support. He highlighted that once content is shared online, it cannot be completely erased. He encouraged those who have seen and downloaded the film to share it with others who haven't yet watched it.

During the live session, Diljit remarked, “I went live to thank everyone for watching Satluj. My fears came true. I anticipated the film would be removed once the offices reopened on Monday, but I was surprised it was taken down on Sunday. I had a feeling it would be banned, which is why we chose not to promote it. Releasing it online without promotion seemed like the best option.”

He added, “I’m relieved and grateful that today’s youth is discussing Jaswant Singh Khalra. The film has reached many homes, and I want to congratulate the entire team for making it accessible to the public. This was the only way to release it, and now I feel at ease. People have already downloaded the movie, so it’s unstoppable.”

The singer, known for his role in 'Udta Punjab', shared his joy upon seeing a video from Rajasthan where the film was being screened in a Gurdwara. He urged viewers to share it with friends and family, stating, “The film will not be halted now.”

Diljit expressed, “I have been advocating for this movie for four years, and I’m thrilled it has finally been released in this manner.”

For those unfamiliar, Satluj, directed by Honey Trehan, tells the story of human rights activist Jaswant Singh Khalra and premiered on ZEE5 in India on Friday.

To everyone’s astonishment, the film was removed from the platform on Sunday.

ZEE5 issued a statement on their social media, saying, “Due to recent developments, Satluj will be unavailable in India until further notice. We are committed to exploring all appropriate avenues to bring the film back to our audience as soon as possible.” They also thanked viewers for their overwhelming response and reaffirmed their support for the film and its creative vision.

Director Honey Trehan responded to the situation by sharing ZEE5’s statement on social media, writing, “Tera bhana meetha lage.”

In Satluj, Diljit portrays Jaswant Singh Khalra, a human rights activist who investigated the illegal cremation of thousands of unidentified bodies in Punjab from 1984 to 1994 before his abduction in 1995.

The film faced delays after the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) requested 127 cuts. It has been produced by Honey Trehan, Abhishek Chaubey, and Ronnie Screwvala under the banners of MacGuffin Pictures and RSVP, featuring actors like Arjun Rampal, Kanwaljit Singh, Suvinder Vicky, and Geetika Vidya Ohlyan.