Satluj makers urge fans to reject piracy as ZEE5 works to restore film
Synopsis
'Satluj', Diljit Dosanjh's biopic on human rights activist Jaswant Singh Khalra, was pulled from ZEE5 India just 48 hours after its digital premiere. ZEE5 is now publicly appealing against piracy while working to restore the film — even as Diljit himself told fans who had downloaded it to share it freely, setting up a striking contradiction at the centre of the controversy.
Key Takeaways
'Satluj' , starring Diljit Dosanjh , premiered on ZEE5 India on 4 July and was taken down on 6 July .
ZEE5 posted an anti-piracy appeal on X , stating it is doing 'everything we can' to bring the film back.
The film is based on the life of human rights activist Jaswant Singh Khalra , who documented enforced disappearances in Punjab .
Diljit Dosanjh said during an Instagram live on 7 July that he had anticipated the ban and deliberately skipped promotion.
Diljit encouraged fans who had downloaded the film to share it — remarks that appear to contradict ZEE5's anti-piracy stance.
No official timeline for the film's restoration on ZEE5 has been announced.
The makers of Diljit Dosanjh's film 'Satluj' have issued a heartfelt appeal to viewers, urging them not to support piracy as ZEE5 works to restore the film on its platform. The appeal comes days after the biographical drama — inspired by the life of human rights activist Jaswant Singh Khalra — was pulled from the streaming platform in India on Sunday, 6 July, just two days after its digital premiere.
ZEE5's Anti-Piracy Appeal
ZEE5 posted a statement on its official X handle accompanied by a poster that read: 'We are doing our bit to bring Satluj back. Please do yours — don't support piracy.' The caption elaborated: 'We are hopeful and doing everything we can. Please do not support piracy. We remain committed to exploring every possible avenue to bring Satluj back to you.'
The platform's public stance signals that efforts are ongoing to navigate the regulatory and legal hurdles that led to the film's removal, though no specific timeline for restoration has been announced.
How the Film Got Here
'Satluj' had a turbulent journey to screens. The film, which chronicles the story of Jaswant Singh Khalra — a Sikh human rights activist who documented enforced disappearances in Punjab during the 1980s and 1990s — faced a prolonged battle with the censorship board before finally premiering on ZEE5 India on Friday, 4 July. It was taken down just two days later on Sunday, 6 July, reportedly following regulatory intervention, though the precise grounds have not been officially confirmed.
This is not the first time a film dealing with Punjab's turbulent history has run into certification and distribution hurdles in India, but the speed of the takedown — within 48 hours of release — drew significant public attention.
Diljit Dosanjh Breaks His Silence
Diljit Dosanjh addressed the controversy during a live session on Instagram on Monday, 7 July, expressing gratitude to fans for their overwhelming support. He acknowledged that he had anticipated the film would face restrictions and said the team had deliberately chosen not to promote it ahead of release.
'What I had feared actually happened. I thought the film would be taken down by Monday when the offices would be opened, but I had no idea that it would be banned on Sunday only. But I was sure that it would be banned. That's why we didn't promote the film. It was best to release the film without any promotion,' Diljit said.
He added: 'But now I am satisfied and grateful that today's youth is talking about Jaswant Singh Khalra. The film has reached every home... I am now tension free. People have already downloaded the movie so now I am tension-free. No one can stop the film now.'
The Controversy Around Diljit's Remarks
Notably, while ZEE5 urged viewers not to support piracy, Diljit's remarks during the Instagram live — in which he encouraged those who had downloaded the film to share it with others who had not yet watched it — appeared to run contrary to that appeal. His comments have sparked debate online, with some viewing them as an endorsement of unauthorised distribution, while supporters argue he was expressing relief that the film's message had reached audiences despite the takedown.
What Happens Next
ZEE5 has not disclosed the specific regulatory or legal process it is pursuing to restore the film. The platform's public commitment to 'every possible avenue' suggests ongoing negotiations with authorities. The film's fate on Indian OTT platforms remains uncertain, and the episode has reignited broader conversations about censorship, content regulation, and the limits of digital distribution in India.
Point of View
But it sits uneasily alongside Diljit's live endorsement of sharing downloaded copies — a contradiction that the platform has chosen not to publicly address. More broadly, a film about enforced disappearances being itself made to disappear from a major streaming service within 48 hours is a story that goes well beyond one biopic. It raises uncomfortable questions about where the line between certification, censorship, and content suppression now sits in India's digital media landscape — questions that neither the platform nor the government has yet answered on record.
NationPress
6 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why was 'Satluj' removed from ZEE5?
'Satluj' was taken down from ZEE5 India on 6 July, just two days after its digital premiere on 4 July. The precise grounds for the removal have not been officially confirmed, though it followed a prolonged battle with the censorship board prior to release.
Who is Jaswant Singh Khalra and why is he significant?
Jaswant Singh Khalra was a Sikh human rights activist who documented cases of enforced disappearances in Punjab during the 1980s and 1990s. His investigations exposed alleged extrajudicial killings by security forces, making him a controversial and historically significant figure.
What is ZEE5 doing to bring 'Satluj' back?
ZEE5 has stated publicly that it is 'committed to exploring every possible avenue' to restore the film on its platform. No specific timeline or legal mechanism has been disclosed.
What did Diljit Dosanjh say about the film's removal?
Diljit said during an Instagram live on 7 July that he had anticipated the ban and chose not to promote the film for this reason. He expressed satisfaction that the film had reached audiences and told fans who had downloaded it to share it with those who had not yet seen it.
Does Diljit's statement contradict ZEE5's anti-piracy appeal?
Yes, notably. While ZEE5 urged viewers not to support piracy, Diljit appeared to encourage the sharing of downloaded copies during his Instagram live. The platform has not publicly responded to the contradiction.
