Monday, July 6, 2026: Just days after finally reaching audiences, Diljit Dosanjh-starrer Satluj has been pulled from ZEE5 in India, marking yet another chapter in the film’s long and controversial release journey.
The Honey Trehan directorial debuted on the streaming platform on July 3 but was taken down within 48 hours. Confirming the move, ZEE5 announced that the film would remain unavailable in India “until further notice,” citing “current developments” without revealing further details.
Despite withdrawing the title, the platform signaled its continued support for the project. In a statement, ZEE5 said it is pursuing all appropriate legal and procedural options to make Satluj available to Indian audiences again.
The streamer also thanked viewers for their response to the film, sharing on Instagram, “Satluj may have paused. But the conversation it started hasn’t. Thank you for the incredible love. We hope to bring it back soon.”
While Indian subscribers can no longer access the film, Satluj continues to stream in international markets.
Based on the life of human rights activist Jaswant Singh Khalra, Satluj chronicles his efforts to expose the alleged enforced disappearances and extrajudicial killings of thousands of Sikhs in Punjab between 1984 and 1994. Khalra was abducted in 1995 and later declared murdered. In 2005, six Punjab Police officials were convicted for their role in the case.
ZEE5 Says It Hopes to Restore Diljit Dosanjh’s Satluj Soon
Produced by Ronnie Screwvala’s RSVP Movies in collaboration with Honey Trehan and Abhishek Chaubey’s MacGuffin Pictures, the film has undergone multiple title changes over the years. It was initially announced as Ghallughara, later renamed Punjab ’95, and ultimately released under the title Satluj.
Long before its OTT release, the film had become the subject of a prolonged certification dispute. According to Trehan, the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) requested several edits after the film was submitted in 2022, along with a change to its title. The filmmakers chose not to accept the proposed cuts, delaying the film’s release for years.
The uncertainty also led to the film being withdrawn from its scheduled world premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival in 2023. Even in 2025, the project had reportedly not received certification for release in India.
Speaking during a private screening at the Cannes Film Festival that year, Trehan claimed government officials had pressured the producers to shelve the project. Following the film’s latest removal from ZEE5, the director admitted he was shocked by the decision.
“I got to know about the removal of Satluj from ZEE5 in India at around 8:15 pm on Sunday. I am at a loss right now. I don’t know how to react to this development,” Trehan told The Indian Express.
For now, the future of Satluj in India remains uncertain, with ZEE5 expressing hope that the film will return to the platform after due process.
