A day after Satluj was effectively taken down from availability in India, lead actor Diljit Dosanjh addressed the situation during a live Instagram session on Monday. The actor spoke openly about the sudden restriction placed on the film, reflecting on its long and difficult journey while expressing a mix of disappointment and acceptance. The film, which was removed from ZEE5 India on July 5 pending further notice, had already been surrounded by controversy since its release.

During the live interaction, Diljit shared his thoughts on the sequence of events leading up to the ban. Greeting his audience, he said that he had anticipated such a development, noting that while he expected restrictions to come into effect after the weekend, he did not think it would happen as early as Sunday evening. He also explained why the team had chosen a limited promotional strategy, suggesting that uncertainty around the film’s release played a key role in their approach. According to him, promoting it heavily could have risked it not releasing at all.

Despite the setback, Diljit expressed a sense of satisfaction that the film had still reached viewers through OTT platforms. He mentioned that many people had already accessed the content and even shared that it was being screened in some places, including Gurudwaras using projectors, which he found deeply meaningful.

He added that once content is available online, it can never truly be erased, highlighting the permanence of digital media. Reflecting on the production journey, Diljit said the film had been in development for six to seven years and had faced repeated obstacles along the way. He noted that the team had been “fighting” for several years to bring the project to completion and remained hopeful it might return in some form in the future.

He also spoke about production delays and disruptions, including halted shoots and internal challenges. Despite these difficulties, he praised producer Honey Trehan for his deep personal commitment to the project. Diljit recalled that he was emotionally moved after watching the final cut in 2023, saying it left him overwhelmed and emotional due to the power of the story.

The film is based on the life of human rights activist Jaswant Singh Khalra, who disappeared in 1995. Diljit emphasized that the story still feels relevant today, expressing sadness that humanity, in his view, has not progressed as much as it should have. He concluded the live session with a spiritual note, expressing faith and reciting a Gurbani verse meaning that God is the ultimate doer of all actions.

In an official statement, ZEE5 addressed the removal of Satluj, acknowledging the strong audience response and thanking viewers for their support. The platform said the film’s unavailability in India was temporary and reiterated its commitment to powerful storytelling and meaningful narratives. ZEE5 added that it would explore all possible avenues through due process to restore the film for audiences in the future.

The film itself has had a turbulent path to release, undergoing multiple title changes and censorship hurdles. Initially titled Ghallughara, it was later renamed Punjab 95 before finally being released as Satluj after several cuts mandated by the Central Board of Film Certification. According to reports, the film was cleared with 21 edits and a compulsory title change before its final version went live on the platform. Directed by Honey Trehan and produced by RSVP and MacGuffin Pictures, the film features an ensemble cast including Arjun Rampal, Kanwaljit Singh, Suvinder Vicky, and Geetika Vidya Ohlyan in key roles.