Kanwaljit Singh And Niren Bhatt Slam 'Satluj's' Zee5 Takedown, 'How Can You Silently Remove Our...'
'Satluj' was removed from Zee5 two days after its release; now the film's writer has commented on the same, questioning the intent and power behind the decision.
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Add BollywoodShaadis on GoogleDiljit Dosanjh's Satluj was removed from Zee5 just two days after its digital premiere. The news was confirmed by Diljit and the streaming platform on the night of July 5, 2026, and netizens have since been outraged. And now, the film's actor, Kanwaljit Singh and writer, Niren Bhatt, have expressed their frustration over the film's removal from the OTT platform.
Kanwaljit Singh expresses his dismay over Satluj being removed from Zee5
In an interview with the Free Press Journal, Kanwaljit Singh spoke about his character, which many believe is inspired by former Punjab DGP, KPS Gill. However, he clarified that there is no particular person his role was based on and rather he briefly "followed by studying clippings of different DGPs and police chiefs." He further spoke about the film being removed from Zee5 just two days after the film's OTT release.
Kanwaljit Singh revealed that he spoke to the film's director, Honey Tehran, after the film was removed. He shared that he doesn't understand why the decision was made. He explained that even people who were not going to watch the film have now grown curious about it. He stated:
"I spoke to Honey after the film was taken down, and he said they shall be taking the matter to court. But what I don't understand is why they had to take it off. Even people who weren't going to watch it will want to watch it now. It has also been downloaded by so many people, so even though lots of people will be watching it, the producers will lose out. But I want to ask, what is this freedom of speech? Tell me, I really want to know. That right is being strangled."
Niren Bhatt says there should have been a discussion before removing the film
Niren Bhatt also spoke to Free Press Journal and revealed that the film has faced 'pure stonewalling' for years, with the CBFC maintaining 'pin-drop silence' and refusing to explain its concerns. He added that if there was an issue with something in Satluj, the CBFC should have reached out to them rather than silently removing the film. He said:
"If there is a problem, let us have a dialogue. But how can you have a dialogue when they silently remove your work?"
Additionally, Niren Bhatt expressed his frustration over Satluj not being released in theatres. He also mentioned that the film had to be removed from the Toronto International Film Festival and expressed that bans or restrictions will only trigger immense curiosity. He was quoted as saying:
"If The Kashmir Files can exist, if The Kerala Story can exist, why can they exist without being labelled tools for international forces? Why is our film the chosen one that will suddenly be misused by extreme elements? You cannot jump to far-fetched, paranoid conclusions just to suppress a straightforward biography. It makes absolutely no sense."
Regarding the next steps, both Kanwaljit Singh and Niren Bhatt have said that the makers of Satluj will approach the court. Niren said the film has been 'wrongly stopped' and that anyone objecting to it must legally spell out their concerns so they can respond. As questions about Satluj's return grow, fans have been curious whether Jaswant Singh Khalra's story will be told again.
What are your thoughts on Satluj's cast and crew being frustrated about the film's ban?
Next Read: 'Satluj' No Longer On ZEE5 After Security Flag, Director Honey Trehan Says CBFC Did Not Contact Him
