Satluj, the drama directed by Honey Trehan, began streaming worldwide on ZEE5 Global on July 3, 2026. The film draws from the life of human rights activist Jaswant Singh Khalra. It was released in its entirety without any edits. This marks three years after the project faced major obstacles with censors. India’s certification board had earlier prevented its theatrical release domestically. Produced by RSVP and MacGuffin Pictures, the social drama stars Diljit Dosanjh along with Arjun Rampal, Kanwaljit Singh, Suvinder Vicky and Geetika Vidya Ohlyan. The story follows Khalra’s long campaign seeking justice for those who vanished. Historical accounts indicate over 25,000 people disappeared amid Punjab’s insurgency period crackdowns. The narrative examines the personal toll of challenging a system intent on hiding facts. The project has used three titles during its path to release. It was first called Ghallughara, referencing historical Sikh massacres. RSVP sought certification from India’s board in late 2022. After six months the board approved the film only with 21 required cuts and ordered a title change to Punjab ’95. RSVP challenged the decision in Bombay High Court. Around that period the film was pulled from its scheduled gala screening at the 2023 Toronto International Film Festival. Reports indicated political considerations influenced the withdrawal. Trehan told media the earlier title could not be retained and the current name is Satluj. He added this is the full film without cuts or changes, exactly as planned. He credited Diljit and the producers for upholding its integrity and stated neither he nor Diljit would support a modified version. Diljit, who portrays Khalra, explained his decision to join the project stemmed from the activist’s sacrifice and service to humanity. He felt responsible for depicting the character truthfully and respectfully. The film’s release highlights ongoing challenges with censorship in Indian cinema. Its availability on ZEE5 Global makes it accessible to viewers across many regions.
