Singer-actor Diljit Dosanjh has opened up about the turbulent journey of his film Satluj, revealing that neither he nor his team sought support from Bollywood or the Punjabi film industry while fighting to secure the film’s release. His remarks come after the film was removed from ZEE5 India just two days after its digital premiere, sparking widespread discussions among fans.
During a recent live session, Diljit expressed relief that despite the film’s removal from the streaming platform, it had already reached audiences. The actor shared that he came across videos of people screening Satluj in different places, including inside a Gurdwara Sahib, which reassured him that the hard work of the cast and crew had not gone in vain.
Reflecting on the years-long struggle behind the project, Diljit said the team battled on its own to bring the film to viewers. “We’ve been fighting to get this film released for the last three to four years. We never went to anyone asking for support. I never asked anyone from my industry, nor did I ever ask anyone in Bollywood to help release our film, support us, or stand by us. We fought this battle ourselves,” he said during the interaction.
The actor added that everyone faces their own challenges in life and the entertainment industry, and his team chose to overcome theirs independently. According to Diljit, their primary goal was to ensure the film finally reached the audience after years of delays, regardless of the obstacles.
Diljit also suggested that once digital content is released online, it is nearly impossible to erase it completely. He said he now feels at peace because the film belongs to the audience and cannot truly be stopped. Calling it “the people’s film,” he remarked that those who believe online content can simply disappear after deletion misunderstand how the internet works.
Encouraging fans to help spread the film, Diljit requested those who had already downloaded Satluj to share it with others. He said seeing people watch the film across different parts of the country, including Rajasthan, brought him immense happiness. “Now you can share it among yourselves; it’s your film,” he told viewers during the live session.
Directed by Honey Trehan, Satluj is inspired by the life of renowned human rights activist Jaswant Singh Khalra. Previously titled Punjab ’95, the film remained unreleased for nearly four years due to certification issues before finally premiering on ZEE5. Diljit had earlier stated that the version released on the platform was uncut.
The film is produced by RSVP and MacGuffin Pictures and features an ensemble cast including Arjun Rampal, Kanwaljit Singh, Suvinder Vicky, and Geetika Vidya Ohlyan alongside Diljit Dosanjh. Despite its brief availability on the OTT platform, Satluj continues to generate significant buzz among audiences, with many praising both its subject matter and the perseverance behind its release.