ZEE5 removes Satluj film on activist after two days

A film based on the life of human rights activist Jaswant Singh Khalra was removed from the Indian streaming platform ZEE5 just two days after its release, reigniting a long-running debate over censorship and historical narratives. The film, titled "Satluj" and starring Diljit Dosanjh, was launched on July 3 and taken down on July 5, 2026, making it unavailable to viewers in India.

ZEE5 stated the removal was due to "current developments" but did not provide specific details. The platform said it stands by the film and is exploring legal avenues to restore it in India, while noting it remains available outside the country. The removal triggered significant online discussion, with many social media users expressing support for the film and disappointment over its unavailability.

The film chronicles the work of Jaswant Singh Khalra, a banker-turned-activist who in the 1990s investigated claims that thousands of people were unlawfully killed and cremated by Punjab police between 1984 and 1994, during a period of insurgency. Khalra himself disappeared in September 1995. In 2005, several Punjab Police personnel were convicted for his abduction and murder, with their sentences later...