Satluj Director Honey Trehan Declines Gurudwara Donations After ZEE5 Takedown

Filmmaker Honey Trehan has announced that the team behind the film Satluj will not accept any financial donations, gifts, or money collected through traditional piggy banks, known as gullaks, placed in Gurudwaras. The public gesture of fundraising began in India and abroad to help the film's producers recover financial losses after the movie was abruptly removed from the streaming platform ZEE5.

In a detailed Instagram post shared on Friday, the 47-year-old director expressed his gratitude to well-wishers and supporters who sought to offer financial assistance. However, Trehan clarified that the production team cannot accept any monetary contributions or gifts in connection with the film.

Public Support and Gurudwara Gullaks

The fundraising efforts began after Satluj, a film based on the life of human rights activist Jaswant Singh Khalra, was released on ZEE5 on July 3 and subsequently taken down by July 5. Following its global removal from the platform, Trehan received numerous messages, phone calls, direct messages, and tweets from individuals wanting to support the filmmakers, the Khalra family, and lead actor Diljit Dosanjh.

Trehan noted that supporters had placed gullaks in Gurudwaras both in India and overseas to collect money for the film's producers. "This is happening in India as well as abroad. We thank you deeply for this gesture," Trehan wrote. "It is truly special, and we respect your emotions. Having said that, your love and support is more than enough, and with all due respect, we cannot accept any money, gifts or donations for our film."

The director added that any money being collected by individuals in the name of the film has no connection to the Satluj team. Trehan stated that he and production company RSVP have accepted that the film will carry a legacy despite the financial losses. He urged viewers to consider the film as a service to truth, human rights, and the memory of Khalra.

The Film's Release and Censorship History

Before its brief digital release, Satluj faced a long and difficult path to the public. Originally titled Punjab ’95, the film did not receive clearance from the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) after the filmmakers declined to implement 127 cuts demanded by the board. Consequently, the film missed its planned theatrical release.

Additionally, the film was scheduled to premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival in 2023, but the screening was cancelled following objections reportedly raised by Indian authorities. On July 3, the film was quietly released on ZEE5 without any promotional campaign, only to be taken down globally within 48 hours. Its IMDb user rating was also removed from the platform.

Following the takedown, a public interest litigation (PIL) was filed in the Punjab and Haryana High Court. The petition seeks the restoration of Satluj on ZEE5 and demands that the reasons for its removal be disclosed, pointing out that the film was taken down without any public statutory, judicial, or governmental order.

Diljit Dosanjh’s Casting and Commitment

In an earlier interview, Trehan revealed that Diljit Dosanjh was his first choice to portray Jaswant Singh Khalra, stating that the film would not have existed without him. Trehan recalled meeting Dosanjh in 2021, where the actor was deeply moved after seeing Khalra's photograph and reviewing the research documents.

According to Trehan, Dosanjh touched the script to his forehead, said "Waheguru," and refused to charge his standard acting fee, asking, "How can I charge to play someone like Khalra? It will be shameful." When Trehan insisted on a payment for contractual reasons, Dosanjh agreed to be paid a token amount of Re 1. Trehan explained that he specifically wanted a Sikh actor for the role to maintain focus on Khalra's journey and the pain of the story, rather than casting a mainstream Bollywood actor.

Following the film's removal from ZEE5, Dosanjh addressed his followers during an Instagram Live session, stating he knew the film would eventually be pulled down. He urged those who had watched it to share the story with others and stated that he would stand with Punjab until the day he dies. Alongside Dosanjh, Satluj stars Kanwaljeet Singh, Arjun Rampal, Suvinder Vicky, and Geetika Vidya Ohlyan.