Diljit Dosanjh and Arjun Rampal starrer Satluj has finally arrived on ZEE5 after a three-year censorship battle. The film, previously titled Punjab ’95, premiered on July 3, 2026, and is now streaming worldwide in its complete, uncut version. Directed by Honey Trehan, the biographical crime drama recounts the harrowing true story of human rights activist Jaswant Singh Khalra, who exposed thousands of illegal disappearances and secret cremations during Punjab’s militancy era in the 1990s.
The film’s journey to the screen has been as turbulent as the story it tells. Originally titled Ghallughara, then changed to Punjab ’95 during certification, it finally released as Satluj. The Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) reportedly demanded 127 cuts, including removing references to Jaswant Singh Khalra, the Punjab Police, specific locations, and scenes depicting custodial violence. The makers fought these demands for years, even withdrawing the film from its scheduled gala premiere at the 2023 Toronto International Film Festival.
Diljit Dosanjh Vows Not to Promote a Compromised Version
Diljit Dosanjh made his stance clear during an Instagram Live session shortly after the film’s release. He confirmed that Satluj has been released in its original, unaltered form.
“Our film has finally been released on Zee5. Unfortunately, we couldn’t keep the original title Punjab 95 for certain reasons, so it is now called Satluj. But there are absolutely no cuts in the film. The version I watched in theatres two years ago is exactly the same one I watched at home last week. If even a single cut had been made, I would not have promoted the film.”
Director Honey Trehan echoed the actor’s statement during the same session.
“Paramjit aunty also shared a post about the film and said this is the very same version she had watched earlier. Only the title has changed. Everything I objected to, every word I refused to cut or mute, is still there in the film.”
Jaswant Singh Khalra’s Wife Endorses the Film
Paramjit Kaur Khalra, widow of the slain human rights activist, publicly endorsed the released version of Satluj. She confirmed that it is the same original cut first shown to the family.
“As the Khalra family, we wish to clarify that we have approved the version of the film that is now being released on OTT. This is the same original version that was first screened for our family. We are reassured that, despite immense pressure and repeated attempts to make changes, the film’s original spirit and truth have been preserved.”
Her statement put to rest months of speculation about whether the film had undergone substantial edits before its release. She also praised Trehan for refusing to compromise on what she called the film’s artistic and historical integrity.
What Satluj Is Really About
Set in Punjab in 1995, Satluj follows Jaswant Singh Khalra (played by Diljit Dosanjh), a bank employee from Tarn Taran leading an ordinary life. When his friend Kirpal is killed in a police encounter and his mother goes missing, Khalra approaches the police for help, only to face indifference and hostility. His search gradually uncovers a horrifying truth—thousands of unidentified bodies were secretly cremated under the guise of eliminating terrorism.
As Khalra digs deeper, the police machinery begins closing ranks to protect itself, forcing him into a dangerous battle against a system determined to erase every trace of its crimes. The film claims that over 25,000 people lost their lives during this period.
Performances That Leave a Lasting Impact
Diljit Dosanjh delivers what many critics are calling the finest performance of his career. There is remarkable restraint in his portrayal of Jaswant Singh Khalra.
Diljit Dosanjh delivers one of the finest performances of his career. There is remarkable restraint in his portrayal of Jaswant Singh Khalra. He does not attempt to create a larger-than-life hero. Instead, he plays an ordinary man driven by an extraordinary sense of duty.
Suvinder Vicky is outstanding as police officer Surjit Singh Sugga, delivering a convincingly ruthless performance. Arjun Rampal makes a late entry, but it is worth the wait. He plays Additional Director of the CBI Samudra Singh, arriving to investigate Jaswant’s disappearance. Geetika Vidya Ohlyan delivers a quietly effective performance as Khalra’s wife, Paramjit.
A Film That Refuses to Look Away
Satluj is not an easy watch. Critics describe it as a haunting, deeply affecting account of one of Punjab’s darkest chapters. The film runs for 2 hours and 43 minutes, yet it never feels stretched.
Satluj is heartbreaking from start to finish. It is the kind of film that leaves you emotionally exhausted. For audiences from Punjab, the experience is likely to be even more personal and painful.
Director Honey Trehan wisely avoids melodrama. There are no exaggerated speeches or crowd-pleasing moments. Instead, the film relies on quiet observation and patient storytelling, allowing the horror of the events to emerge gradually.
The film never allows the audience the comfort of emotional distance. The themes running through Satluj remain painfully relevant. It explores human rights, state power, institutional accountability, enforced disappearances and the enormous personal cost of standing up against abuse.
The Long Road to Release
Satluj was completed in 2022 with a runtime of about 163 minutes. When RSVP applied for certification from the CBFC in late 2022, the six-month process ended with the film cleared for 21 cuts and a mandated title change to Punjab ’95. RSVP appealed that ruling in the Bombay High Court. The film was withdrawn from its planned gala premiere at the 2023 Toronto International Film Festival. It was then scheduled for a theatrical release on February 7, 2025, but those plans never materialized.
Producer Ronnie Screwvala’s RSVP Movies and MacGuffin Pictures produced the film. The writing is credited to Honey Trehan, Niren Bhatt, and Ustav Maitra.
Audience and Critic Reactions
Viewers have taken to social media to express their emotional responses to the film.
Many viewers praised Diljit Dosanjh’s performance and described the film as emotionally powerful. I don’t know how many days I might take to recover. It’s honest.
Filmmaker Anurag Kashyap also urged audiences to watch the film.
“Punjab 95 is one of the strongest and best films I have seen in recent times. It’s finally out, uncut, on Zee5. The name has changed to Satluj, but the film remains the same. Make it a priority to watch it today.”
Satluj is now streaming exclusively on ZEE5 in Hindi, available for audiences across 240 countries and territories. The film carries a ‘R’ rating and is recommended for mature audiences due to its intense and disturbing content.
Also Read: Ajay Devgn’s Dhamaal 4 Cleared by CBFC: Obscene Gestures and Words Modified Before July 10 Release
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