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Controversy Surrounds Removal of *Satluj* from ZEE5 in India

Monday, July 6, 2026
5 min read
Controversy Surrounds Removal of *Satluj* from ZEE5 in India

The decision came down about taking Diljit Dosanjh’s Satluj off ZEE5 in India. It followed a deep dive review, apparently. Authorities flagged things concerns that certain parts of the film could be used by anti-India groups. Sources are whispering about it.

It turns out Satluj never even got a proper theatrical run. It applied for cinema release first, but they didn't clear it in the way they submitted it. So, what happened? The film just jumped straight to an OTT platform instead of hitting the cinemas.

This digital release is where the trouble really started. After it went live online, those parts were flagged again. People suggested those segments could potentially be misused by anti-India elements. That’s why the authorities stepped in and asked for its removal from the platform.

The whole situation just blew up the controversy around the movie. It's based on the life of human rights activist Jaswant Singh Khalra. You see, it was originally Ghallughara , then Punjab ’95 , finally settling on Satluj . Years went by limbo amid certification headaches and title changes before it ever made it to a theater.

Then this removal hit the political scene in Punjab hard. Sukhbir Singh Badal, the Shiromani Akali Dal president, criticized the move outright. The SGPC also questioned why they were pulling down something connected to Khalra’s story. It’s snowballing now. Leaders from different parties are weighing in on it.

Diljit Dosanjh finally spoke up about the takedown. He said Satluj suffered the same fate as Jaswant Singh Khalra. He brought up how that activist’s voice got silenced back then, and now the film is gone. Director Honey Trehan also sounded pretty disappointed. Apparently, the film had finally reached an audience after all those delays, only to be yanked down right after it released.

The regulatory side of things is tricky here. Usually, content on OTT platforms doesn't need pre-certification under the existing rules. But streaming services still have to operate within some self-regulatory space. And naturally, the government remains involved when sensitive stuff comes into play.

ZEE5 confirmed that Satluj is currently off the air in India, pending whatever process happens next. They insist they stand by the film and the people who made it. They're just waiting for due process to sort things out, hoping to get the title back for Indian viewers eventually.

Written by Gree News Team — Senior Editorial Board

Gree News Team covers international news and global affairs at Gree News. Our collective of senior editors is dedicated to providing independent, accurate, and responsible journalism for a global audience.

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