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Mumbai, July 3
Actor-singer Diljit Dosanjh’s long-delayed film “Punjab ’95” has finally been released in India on the streaming platform ZEE5 under the new title “Satluj”, ending a wait of more than 3 years due to censorship hurdles. Directed by Honey Trehan, the film is inspired by the life of human rights activist Jaswant Singh Khalra. In the film, Dosanjh portrays Jaswant Singh Khalra, who investigated the cremation of thousands of unidentified bodies in Punjab between 1984 and 1994 before disappearing in 1995. The case later led to the conviction of four Punjab Police personnel for his abduction and murder, with their sentences subsequently enhanced to life imprisonment.
The film faced repeated delays after reportedly being asked to undergo 127 cuts by the Central Board of Film Certification. It was also withdrawn from the Toronto International Film Festival lineup in 2023 without an official explanation. A planned worldwide release in February 2025 also did not take place. Reacting to the release, Dosanjh said “Satluj” is a story of courage, conviction and humanity. He described portraying Jaswant Singh Khalra as one of the most meaningful experiences of his career and said the activist’s sacrifice and contribution to humanity inspired him to be part of the project.
Director Honey Trehan said the film was created with honesty, sensitivity and without compromise. He described it as a tribute to the resilience of the human spirit and confirmed that audiences can now watch the complete film in its original version without any cuts or compromises. Producer Ronnie Screwvala said the team has always believed in supporting stories that challenge audiences and leave a lasting impression. He thanked ZEE5 for providing the film with a platform to reach viewers.
According to the makers, the film explores the emotional struggles of families searching for missing loved ones while examining themes of power, accountability and resilience. Now streaming on ZEE5, “Satluj” marks the long-awaited release of a film that remained delayed for years due to censorship issues. Along with Diljit Dosanjh, the film features Arjun Rampal, Kanwaljit Singh, Suvinder Vicky and Geetika Vidya Ohlyan in key roles.
