Latest Delhi [India], July 6 (ANI): Diljit Dosanjh’s much-anticipated film ‘Satluj’, based on the lifetime of human rights activist Jaswant Singh Khalra, has triggered widespread reactions from celebrities and politicians after being pulled down from streaming platform ZEE5, just two days after its release.
The film, which had faced over three years of delay, was taken down from the OTT platform amid growing controversy.
ZEE5 confirmed in an official statement that the film will remain unavailable in India until further notice, adding that it’s exploring options to bring it back for audiences.
On Sunday, while announcing the removal, the streamer said, “In light of the present developments, Satluj will likely be unavailable in India until further notice. We remain committed to exploring every appropriate avenue through due process to bring the film back to our audiences on the earliest opportunity.”
Former cricketer and Rajya Sabha MP Harbhajan Singh also reacted strongly, drawing a comparison between the film’s material and historical events, stating that “Truth cannot remain buried ceaselessly”.
Taking to X, he wrote, “Jallianwala Bagh stands as one among history’s biggest massacres. It was carried out by a colonial regime. However the query that haunts me after watching Jaswant Singh Khalra is different: What’s more painful than oppression by an outsider? When those entrusted to guard their very own persons are accused of becoming the source of their biggest fear.”
He further reflected on the courage shown by Khalra in exposing alleged human rights violations through the Punjab insurgency era, noting that the injuries of state power abuse can last for generations, and said Punjab’s moms are still awaiting answers.
“A police officer’s duty is to guard innocent lives–to not abuse power. Khalra’s courage exposed evidence of alleged illegal disappearances and secret cremations, reminding us that the abuse of state power can leave wounds that last for generations. Punjab’s moms are still waiting for answers. Many families are still waiting for justice. Truth cannot remain buried ceaselessly. Outstanding work by @HoneyTrehan and @diljitdosanjh for bringing the story of Jaswant Singh Khalra to the world. His courage deserves to be remembered,” he added.
Jallianwala Bagh stands as one among history’s biggest massacres. It was carried out by a colonial regime. However the query that haunts me after watching Jaswant Singh Khalra is different:
What's more painful than oppression by an outsider? When those entrusted to guard their… pic.twitter.com/zb71vPhKss
— Harbhajan Turbanator (@harbhajan_singh) July 5, 2026Filmmaker Onir, who had praised the film after watching it, expressed his disappointment online, saying, “And once more the Industry at large is SILENT about what should alarm us all and it affects us all. How can we give up our right to inform stories… especially such powerful sensitive stories.”
And once more the Industry at large is SILENT about what should alarm us all and it affects us all. How can we give up our right to inform stories... especially such powerful sensitive stories. https://t.co/XSNEichfwE
— iamOnir (@IamOnir) July 6, 2026Actor Ranvir Shorey called the film’s removal deeply disappointing, “Utterly disappointing to listen to ‘Satluj’ had been pulled! Have been waiting to observe it! For a land that has an ancient history and heritage of learning from stories, I don’t know why we keep emboldening a culture of burying them,” he wrote.
Utterly disappointing to listen to ‘Satluj’ had been pulled! Have been waiting to observe it! For a land that has an ancient history and heritage of learning from stories, I don’t know why we keep emboldening a culture of burying them. https://t.co/aee90o6pLT
— Ranvir Shorey (@RanvirShorey) July 5, 2026Sukhbir Singh Badal, President, Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD), wrote on X, “Shocked and saddened by the arbitrary removal of #Satluj from #ZEE5 in India. A robust film that courageously unveils Punjab’s painful history and honours the supreme sacrifice of S. Jaswant Singh Ji Khalra can’t be silenced this manner. This shouldn’t be mere censorship — it’s an assault on our collective memory, truth, and freedom of expression.”
“I strongly condemn this move. Punjab deserves to confront its past with honesty, not suppression,” he added.
Shocked and saddened by the arbitrary removal of #Satluj from #ZEE5 in India.
A robust film that courageously unveils Punjab’s painful history and honours the supreme sacrifice of S. Jaswant Singh Ji Khalra can't be silenced this manner.
This shouldn't be mere censorship
— Sukhbir Singh Badal (@officeofssbadal) July 5, 2026Punjab Assembly Speaker Kultar Singh Sandhwan said, “The BJP is again attempting to do what the Congress party did by practising politics against the Panth by removing a movie based on the lifetime of Jaswant Singh Khalra from an OTT platform. This shouldn’t be a fictional film. Punjab is not going to tolerate such high-handedness.”
AAP MP Malwinder Singh Kang said, “It is a very unlucky and discriminatory act by the Central Government. Permission is being given to movies like The Kashmir Files, The Kerala Files, and Dhurandhar, which may profit the BJP politically. Then again, movies that showcase human rights violations and the massacre of Sikhs are being stopped. The film needs to be released.”
Punjab BJP President Kewal Singh Dhillon said, “We’re taking over this matter with the Central government.”
Filmmaker and actor Sujoy Ghosh also expressed disappointment, saying, “i saw satluj by honey trehan yesterday. gotey gripping stuff! such a well made film… you might almost touch the film… and superlative performances… each one… i’m slightly biased towards @rampalarjun but I bow to everyone for making such a very good film.”
i saw satluj by honey trehan yesterday.
gotey gripping stuff! such a well made film... you might almost touch the film... and superlative performances... each one... i'm slightly biased towards @rampalarjun but I bow to everyone for making such a very good film. 👏👏👏
— sujoy ghosh (@sujoy_g) July 6, 2026Hours after the film was taken down, Diljit Dosanjh broke his silence. In his live interaction, Diljit Dosanjh spoke candidly in regards to the sequence of events leading as much as the ban.
He said, “My love and respect to all of you. What I had already expected is strictly what happened. I believed the film might get banned when offices will open on Monday, but I didn’t realize it would occur as early as Sunday evening.”
Despite the restriction, the actor expressed relief that the film had still managed to achieve audiences through OTT.
“But now I actually have the satisfaction that not less than our work has reached people the way in which we wanted it to. People have already downloaded it. One thing that made me especially completely satisfied was seeing that they’re even screening the movie with a projector at Gurudwara Sahib. It brought me immense joy to see that,” the ‘Amar Singh Chamkila’ actor said.
“Once something is on the web, I don’t think it could possibly ever truly be deleted,” he added posing a broader reflection on digital permanence and audience access.
Concluding his live video, Diljit expressed his deep faith in God and quoted the Gurbani shabad, “Karan Kaaran sab ek hai,” which translates to “God alone is the doer of all deeds.”
The film relies on the lifetime of human rights activist Jaswant Singh Khalra from Punjab, who exposed alleged illegal killings and secret cremations through the late Eighties and early Nineteen Nineties when Punjab witnessed intense militancy and counter-insurgency operations. Khalra himself was ‘disappeared’ in 1995, and his body was found near the Harike Bridge on the Sutlej River.
He was allegedly kidnapped, tortured and killed on the behest of the then-Punjab Police officials.
The Supreme Court in 1996 ordered a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) probe within the case on a petition filed by Khalra’s widow.
The CBI found evidence that he was held at a police station in Tarn Taran and really helpful the prosecution of nine Punjab police officials for his murder and kidnapping. A Patiala court in 2005 convicted six policemen, while in 2007, the Punjab and Haryana High Court prolonged life imprisonment to 4 of the accused.
The decision was upheld by the Supreme Court in 2011.
Helmed by Honey Trehan, produced by RSVP and MacGuffin Pictures, ‘Satluj’ also starred Arjun Rampal, Kanwaljit Singh, Suvinder Vicky, and Geetika Vidya Ohlyan. (ANI)