All posts tagged: Satluj banned

Satluj ban shows they ‘couldn’t digest the truth’, says Kanwaljit Singh | Bollywood News

Satluj ban shows they ‘couldn’t digest the truth’, says Kanwaljit Singh | Bollywood News

Published by Webster

5 min readMumbaiJul 8, 2026 09:35 PM IST Who is doing it like Kanwaljit Singh? After winning widespread acclaim for his nuanced performance in Arati Kadav’s Mrs last year, the veteran actor has once again left audiences impressed with his portrayal of the antagonist in Honey Trehan’s Satluj (formerly titled Punjab 95). The film, however, had a short-lived release. It was taken down from ZEE5 just 48 hours after its premiere, reportedly under the direction of the Government of India. Despite its removal, pirated copies of the film have continued to circulate online, with viewers widely praising Kanwaljit Singh’s performance. ‘Naseeruddin Shah called me’ In a recent interview with News18, the actor revealed that one of the most memorable responses to his performance came from veteran actor Naseeruddin Shah. “The thing that made me happiest was that Naseer called me and said some very kind things. That meant a lot to me. I mean, everyone likes to be appreciated; there’s nothing unusual about that, but when someone like Naseer says it, it feels even more …

Gul Panag reacts to Satluj removal from ZEE5: ‘Don’t stop telling difficult stories’ | Bollywood News

Gul Panag reacts to Satluj removal from ZEE5: ‘Don’t stop telling difficult stories’ | Bollywood News

Published by Webster

Actor Gul Panag has weighed in on the controversy surrounding the removal of Satluj from ZEE5, saying India should not shy away from revisiting difficult chapters of its history. In a strongly worded post on X, Panag argued that while films can and should be debated, banning them is never the answer. Her comments come days after Satluj, starring Diljit Dosanjh and inspired by the life of Sikh human rights activist Jaswant Singh Khalra, was pulled from ZEE5 in India less than 48 hours after its release. Recalling her childhood in Punjab during the years of militancy, Gul Panag said she witnessed both terrorist violence and alleged human rights violations, making it all the more important that such stories continue to be told. “I grew up in Punjab during the brutal years of militancy. I remember reading newspaper headlines about buses being stopped and innocent passengers being pulled out and killed. I also remember accounts of young men being picked up, detained and tortured, despite having nothing to do with the movement. Including from my …

‘What is this freedom of speech?’: Kanwaljit Singh reacts to Satluj being pulled from ZEE5 | Bollywood News

‘What is this freedom of speech?’: Kanwaljit Singh reacts to Satluj being pulled from ZEE5 | Bollywood News

Published by Webster

Actor Kanwaljit Singh, who plays a senior police officer in Honey Trehan’s Satluj, a character many believe is inspired by former Punjab DGP KPS Gill, has reacted to the film’s sudden removal from ZEE5 just two days after its release. Questioning the state of freedom of speech in the country, the veteran actor said the makers are planning to move court to challenge the decision. The Honey Trehan-directed political drama, which finally premiered on the streaming platform after being delayed for nearly four years, was taken down without any official explanation from ZEE5. Speaking to The Free Press Journal, Kanwaljit said he had spoken to director Honey Trehan soon after the film was pulled from the platform. “I spoke to Honey after the film was taken down, and he said they shall be taking the matter to court. But what I don’t understand is why they had to take it off. Even people who weren’t going to watch it will want to watch it now. It has also been downloaded by so many people, so …

Banned in India, Diljit Dosanjh’s Satluj triggers record 374% surge in ZEE5’s overseas app downloads

Banned in India, Diljit Dosanjh’s Satluj triggers record 374% surge in ZEE5’s overseas app downloads

Published by Webster

4 min readNew DelhiJul 7, 2026 03:08 PM IST Diljit Dosanjh’s long-delayed film Satluj may have disappeared from ZEE5 in India within 48 hours of its release, but its brief availability appears to have delivered a massive boost to the streaming platform overseas. The film has reportedly drove a record surge in international downloads of the ZEE5 app. The film, previously titled Panjab 95, premiered on ZEE5 on July 3 after remaining unreleased for nearly four years. Inspired by the life of Sikh human rights activist Jaswant Singh Khalra, Satluj quickly generated buzz on social media before it was removed from the platform in India on July 5, citing “current developments.” Although it is no longer available in India, audiences in countries including the US, Canada and Australia continue to watch the film, while pirated copies have also surfaced online and are being widely shared. Satluj drives record overseas ZEE5 downloads According to NDTV, Satluj significantly boosted ZEE5’s international traffic. While the platform has not disclosed official figures, the report said monthly downloads of the …

RGV lauds Diljit Dosanjh’s ‘quiet fury’ after watching Satluj’s pirated version: ‘True art’ | Bollywood News

RGV lauds Diljit Dosanjh’s ‘quiet fury’ after watching Satluj’s pirated version: ‘True art’ | Bollywood News

Published by Parlour News

The celebrations for director Honey Trehan and actor Diljit Dosanjh were short-lived. Their long-delayed film Satluj (previously titled Punjab 95) finally premiered on ZEE5, only to be taken down within 48 hours following directives from the Government of India. While the film was removed from the platform, pirated copies soon surfaced online, with many viewers calling it one of the year’s finest films. The film’s removal has prompted several voices from across the film industry and beyond to speak out in its support. Filmmaker Ram Gopal Varma hailed Satluj as “cinema used as confrontation.” Sharing his thoughts on X, he wrote, “Just saw SATLUJ and it is not a film, but a deep wound that will never heal. It stirs up the sludge in one of the darkest chapters of our history. This is cinema used as confrontation, where @diljitdosanjh acts with a quiet fury with no chest thumping heroism. His only weapons are a ledger and a conscience. @rampalarjun adds layers of moral rot in the institutional complicity that feels chillingly realistic.” Praising Honey …

Diljit Dosanjh’s film is unwavering and uncomfortable

Diljit Dosanjh’s film is unwavering and uncomfortable

Published by Webster

When a film struggles for years to get clearance from the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC), with demands of allegedly cutting down over 120 scenes, finally gets a release on OTT, only to be pulled down in a couple of days, it says a lot. Director Honey Trehan, actor Diljit Dosanjh and the team of makers firmly stood by their project and refused to bow down by making the cuts, and Satluj (previously named Punjab 95) justifies why. The film starts with a bunch of police officers casually driving through the dark fields of Punjab, drinking and joking about marriage, promotions, etc., before they kill a couple of alleged ‘militants’ just as casually and move on. The story then moves forward to a series of similar killings by the police, the very people entrusted with the power to maintain law, and expected to be trusted by the public as their protectors. It sends chills down the spine knowing that the film is actually based on true events. Disclaimer: We do not own any of …

‘Same fate as Jaswant Singh Khalra saab’: Diljit Dosanjh predicted Satluj being taken down from Zee5, reacts to ‘ban’

‘Same fate as Jaswant Singh Khalra saab’: Diljit Dosanjh predicted Satluj being taken down from Zee5, reacts to ‘ban’

Published by Parlour News

It arrived after an almost four-year-long battle with the censors, but Diljit Dosanjh’s Satluj (earlier called Panjab 95) lasted merely two days on Zee5, the streaming platform, before it was taken down inexplicably. On Sunday, the streamer issued a statement saying the Honey Trehan film was no longer available in India, but promised to find ways to get it back. The film’s lead, Diljit, had predicted this might come to pass while interacting with fans the day before the shadow ban. The singer-actor also reacted to the film being made unavailable in India, remembering the late Jaswant Singh Khalra, whose life story the film tells. Diljit Dosanjh as Jaswant Singh Khalra in a still from Satluj. Satluj taken down from Zee5, Diljit reacts On Sunday evening, Zee5 issued a statement informing viewers that Satluj is no longer available in India. “In light of the current developments, ‘Satluj’ will 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 at …