Diljit Dosanjh had predicted that his film “Satluj” could be removed from ZEE5 in India, and his concerns came true just days after its release. The film, which is based on the Punjab insurgency era and follows the story of human-rights activist Jaswant Singh Khalra, was taken down from the streaming platform in India two days after its release. A video of Diljit speaking about the possibility of the film being removed has since gone viral on social media.

In the video, Diljit Dosanjh said there was a fear that the film could be removed from ZEE5 on Monday. He added that viewers might have already downloaded the film by then and appeared unfazed by the possibility of its removal. “No problem. No tension. Those who want to stop this, they can try,” the actor and singer said, suggesting that he had already anticipated challenges surrounding the film’s availability in India.

Following the film’s removal, ZEE5 issued a statement thanking viewers for the response to “Satluj” but did not reveal the exact reason behind the decision. The streaming platform said it was grateful to those who subscribed, watched and supported the film. It also said the response had meant a great deal to the team behind the project and reaffirmed its support for the film and the creative vision of those involved.

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ZEE5 said it believes powerful storytelling can inspire audiences, endure over time and leave a lasting impact. However, the platform confirmed that “Satluj” would remain unavailable in India until further notice in light of current developments. It added that it would explore appropriate avenues through due process to bring the film back to audiences and said its commitment to creators and meaningful stories remained unchanged.

Diljit Dosanjh also reacted after the film was pulled from the platform by sharing a short clip from the movie. Echoing a famous line associated with Jaswant Singh Khalra, whom he portrays in the film, Diljit used the hashtag “I Challenge The Darkness.” In his post, he suggested that what happened to “Satluj” was similar to what had happened to Khalra, whose life and work form the central focus of the film.

Directed by Honey Trehan, “Satluj” explores one of the darkest periods in Punjab’s recent history. Jaswant Singh Khalra was a human-rights activist known for documenting alleged illegal disappearances and secret cremations during the insurgency era in Punjab. Diljit Dosanjh plays the lead role, while the cast also includes Kanwaljeet Singh, Arjun Rampal, Suvinder Vicky and Geetika Vidya Ohlyan.

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