Monday, July 6, 2026: Diljit Dosanjh’s much-awaited film Satluj has run into fresh trouble, disappearing from ZEE5 in India just two days after making its streaming debut.
The human rights drama, directed by Honey Trehan, premiered on July 3 but was removed from the platform on July 5. Announcing the decision, ZEE5 said on social media, “In light of current developments, Satluj will be unavailable in India until further notice.”
The streaming platform did not explain what those “current developments” were, but maintained its support for the film. It also said it is exploring all possible legal and procedural options to restore the title for Indian viewers.
In a separate Instagram post, ZEE5 acknowledged the overwhelming response the film received, writing, “Satluj may have paused. But the conversation it started hasn’t. Thank you for the incredible love. We hope to bring it back soon.”
Despite its removal in India, the film continues to stream internationally.
Satluj tells the story of Jaswant Singh Khalra, the human rights activist who exposed the alleged illegal killings and disappearances of thousands of Sikhs in Punjab between 1984 and 1994. Khalra himself disappeared in 1995, and years later, six Punjab Police personnel were convicted in connection with his abduction and murder.
Produced by Ronnie Screwvala’s RSVP Movies along with MacGuffin Pictures, the film has had a long and difficult journey to release. It was first titled Ghallughara, before being renamed Punjab ’95, and eventually released as Satluj.
The project had already become a talking point because of its prolonged battle with India’s Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC). Director Honey Trehan previously revealed that after the film was submitted for certification in late 2022, the CBFC sought multiple edits and also asked the makers to change its original title. The filmmakers resisted the changes, resulting in years of delay.
‘We Hope to Bring It Back Soon’: ZEE5 on Diljit Dosanjh’s Satluj
The film was even pulled from its planned world premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival in 2023 as the certification issue remained unresolved. By 2025, it was still awaiting clearance. During a private screening at the Cannes Film Festival that year, Trehan claimed there was pressure from government officials on the producers to abandon the project altogether.
Reacting to the latest development, Trehan told The Indian Express that he was caught off guard by the film’s removal.
“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,” he said.
For now, Indian audiences will have to wait to see if Satluj returns to ZEE5, while viewers outside the country can continue streaming the film.