Satluj is down from Zee5

After spending nearly four years navigating censorship hurdles, Diljit Dosanjh’s Satluj—previously titled Panjab 95—finally made its long-awaited debut on Zee5. However, its much-awaited streaming release proved to be short-lived. Just two days after premiering on the platform, the film was pulled without any official explanation, leaving viewers and industry observers puzzled. Addressing the sudden development on Sunday, Zee5 confirmed that Satluj was no longer available for streaming in India while assuring audiences that it was exploring ways to restore access at the earliest. Interestingly, Diljit had already hinted at such a possibility during a fan interaction a day before the film disappeared from the platform. Following its removal, the actor-singer also reacted on social media, remembering the late human rights activist Jaswant Singh Khalra, whose extraordinary life inspired the film.

Zee5 breaks silence on Satluj

Hours after Satluj disappeared from its streaming library, Zee5 issued an official statement confirming that the film is currently unavailable in India. While the platform did not reveal the reason behind the decision, it assured viewers that it was exploring every possible legal and procedural avenue to bring the film back.

“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 the earliest opportunity. We are deeply grateful to every viewer who chose to subscribe, watch and champion the film. Your love and support have meant a great deal to us and to everyone who brought this story to life. At ZEE5, we stand firmly by ‘Satluj’ and the creative vision behind it. We believe powerful storytelling has the ability to inspire, endure and leave a lasting impact,” the streaming platform said in its statement.

Diljit Dosanjh reacts after Satluj is pulled

Reacting to Satluj being taken down from Zee5, Diljit Dosanjh shared a powerful scene from the film on social media along with the caption, “I challenge the darkness.” He also wrote in Punjabi, “Panjab 95 aka Satluj is meeting the same fate as the late Khalra saab,” seemingly drawing a parallel between the film’s uncertain future and Khalra’s own story.

Diljit had already predicted Satluj‘s removal

Even before Satluj disappeared from Zee5, Diljit Dosanjh had hinted that the film’s streaming journey might be short-lived. The project has remained at the centre of controversy since it was submitted to the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) in 2022, when the board reportedly sought 120 cuts. The dispute also led to the cancellation of its planned world premiere at the 2023 Toronto International Film Festival after the makers challenged the certification demands. Eventually, the film was retitled from Panjab 95 to Satluj and finally premiered uncut on Zee5 on Friday.

During an Instagram Live session on Saturday, Diljit was asked by a fan whether he feared the film could be removed from the streaming platform. Responding candidly, the actor-singer said, “Yes, there is. Just like there was surprise that it came on OTT in the first place. Today is Saturday. I feel it could be taken down by Monday. But no worry, you download it and watch. No issues.”

All about Satluj

Inspired by the life of human rights activist Jaswant Singh Khalra, Satluj chronicles his relentless pursuit of justice after uncovering the alleged secret cremation of thousands of unidentified bodies in Punjab between 1984 and 1994. He disappeared in 1995 and was later found to have been abducted and murdered. In 2005, four Punjab Police personnel were convicted in connection with the crime and sentenced to seven years in prison. Two years later, the Punjab and Haryana High Court enhanced their punishment to life imprisonment.

Directed by Honey Trehan, the biographical drama is produced by Honey Trehan, Abhishek Chaubey, and Ronnie Screwvala under the banners of MacGuffin Pictures and RSVP. Besides Diljit Dosanjh in the lead role, the film also features Arjun Rampal, Kanwaljit Singh, Suvinder Vicky, and Geetika Vidya Ohlyan in pivotal roles.