Diljit Dosanjh’s controversial Jaswant Singh Khalra biopic Satluj is actively circulating across piracy networks just hours after streaming platform ZEE5 abruptly pulled the film from its Indian catalog. And the takedown seems to have completely backfired. The high-definition file began popping up on X, Telegram, WhatsApp, and Google Drive almost immediately after the platform went dark on the title.
The leak isn’t just a rogue operation. Dosanjh went on Instagram Live Monday to actively encourage fans to download and distribute the unauthorized copies. “Once something is online, it can’t be erased,” the actor told his followers, expecting the platform removal and urging audiences to share the 1 GB file, according to The Statesman.
The Honey Trehan-directed film officially premiered on July 3. It chronicles Khalra’s real-life investigation into the secret cremations of thousands of unidentified bodies by Punjab police during the 1984-1994 militancy years. Getting the story to screens required clearing intense censorship hurdles. The Central Board of Film Certification initially demanded 127 mandated cuts, forcing the production through multiple title changes from Ghallughara to Punjab ’95 before finally landing on Satluj. ZEE5 later confirmed the sudden removal, stating the film was taken down “in light of the current developments” and will remain unavailable in India “until further notice.”
Support for the banned project is now flooding social media. Former Indian cricketer Harbhajan Singh publicly backed Dosanjh and Trehan on X, condemning the state’s historical abuse of power. Singh praised the filmmakers for their courage and stated that state violence leaves “wounds that last for generations.” He finished his post with a clear message. “Truth cannot remain buried forever.”