Diljit Dosanjh's 'Satluj' Vanishes From ZEE5 Within 48 Hours, Actor Says 'It Was Bound to Happen'

Diljit Dosanjh's long delayed film 'Satluj' , originally titled 'Punjab '95' , has once again found itself at the centre of controversy after being removed from ZEE5 in India just two days after its release . The film, which is based on the life of human rights activist Jaswant Singh Khalra , had finally premiered on the streaming platform on Friday without any cuts after remaining entangled in censorship issues for more than three years.

On Sunday evening, ZEE5 announced that the film had been made unavailable in India "until further notice", citing "current developments" without offering further details. The platform, however, praised the overwhelming response received by the film and reaffirmed its support for its creative vision, adding that it is exploring all possible legal avenues to bring the film back for audiences.

Breaking his silence on Monday through an Instagram Live session from the United States, where he is currently touring, Diljit Dosanjh said he was not surprised by the decision. The actor revealed that he had expected the film to be removed, believing such a move was inevitable.

"I thought it would happen on Monday when offices opened. I didn't expect it to happen on Sunday itself," he said, adding that the makers deliberately chose not to promote the film because they feared it might not even survive for two days if it attracted widespread attention before release.

Despite the setback, Dosanjh expressed satisfaction that the film had reached audiences. He said many viewers had already watched or downloaded it and that discussions around the film, particularly among young people, were encouraging. Referring to videos showing screenings at a gurudwara, he said the team's hard work had finally connected with people.

The actor also asserted that attempts to suppress the film would only increase public curiosity, remarking that "nothing disappears from the internet."

Directed by Honey Trehan , 'Satluj' portrays the life of Jaswant Singh Khalra , who investigated the alleged cremation of thousands of unidentified bodies in Punjab between 1984 and 1994 before being abducted in 1995 . The project had earlier faced demands for 127 cuts from the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) , delaying its release for years. The film also stars Arjun Rampal , Kanwaljit Singh , Suvinder Vicky and Geetika Vidya Ohlyan .