Punjabi singer and actor Diljit Dosanjh is once again at the centre of a controversy, this time over his film Satluj. Just two days after its release, the film was pulled from the OTT platform Zee5, sparking a wave of anger on social media. Users have been flooding timelines with posts supporting the film and questioning the decision to take it down.
Stuck With The Censor Board For Four Years, Then Released Uncut
Satluj had been waiting for a certificate from the Central Board of Film Certification, or CBFC, for nearly 4 years. After the long wait, instead of a theatrical run, the film was finally released in its uncut version directly on the OTT platform Zee5. But the relief did not last long. Exactly two days after release, the film disappeared from the platform. Zee5 issued an official statement regarding the removal of the film, and once that statement came out, the anger among viewers and social media users only grew stronger.
Diljit Dosanjh Says The Film Will Not Be Stopped Now
Reacting to the film being pulled, Diljit Dosanjh openly voiced his displeasure. He shared a video of a screening of Satluj on social media and wrote that the film will not be stopped now, and that no one can suppress Khalra Sahab's voice. The video he shared is from a village in Punjab, where hundreds of villagers can be seen gathered around a large screen mounted on a wall, watching Satluj together. On X, formerly Twitter, in his post dated July 5, 2026, he wrote in Punjabi that no one can suppress Khalra Sahab's voice. Following this post, many other users on X also expressed their anger.
Social Media Users Voice Their Anger
After the film was taken down, several users reacted on X. One user wrote that the film may have been removed, but the politics around it has not, and that the removal of Satluj from Zee5 has given all the parties involved a fresh opportunity to play politics. Another user alleged that Satluj was banned because it exposed certain truths that those in power did not like. This user, referring to alleged atrocities by Punjab Police, wrote that the film depicted police corruption, fake encounters, abuse of power, and how the common man is crushed under the system, adding that all political parties are the same and are completely corrupt. Another user wrote that the ban on Satluj in India deserves to be condemned, saying it exposes the real face of the world's largest democracy. According to this user, propaganda films get tax exemptions and promotion, but when Punjab tries to tell its own story and voice its pain, its voice gets suppressed through censorship. Yet another user wrote that they were deeply disturbed by the arbitrary removal of Satluj from Zee5 in India, noting that the film sheds light on a painful chapter of Punjab's history and honours the extraordinary courage and sacrifice of Sardar Jaswant Singh Khalra, and that it should therefore be watched and discussed rather than suppressed. The same user added that Punjab's history should be viewed with honesty, justice and sensitivity rather than being silenced, and strongly condemned the decision while appealing for Satluj to be made available again for audiences across India.
The Film Is Inspired By The Life Of Jaswant Singh Khalra
Satluj is inspired by the life of human rights activist Jaswant Singh Khalra. The film was earlier titled Punjab 95, but because of certification troubles it could not be released for nearly 4 years. After a long fight to secure CBFC approval, the film finally released on Zee5. Diljit had also stated that the film was releasing on OTT in its uncut version, meaning no cuts had been made to it. Its removal just two days after release has now reignited the debate around Jaswant Singh Khalra's story.
