Actor Geetika Vidya Ohlyan shared an emotional note after ‘Satluj’ was removed from streaming shortly after its release. The actress, who plays Paramjit Kaur Khalra in the film, looked back on the years of dedication that went into the project. She also expressed mixed emotions about finally seeing the film reach audiences, even if its availability was short-lived.Posting on Instagram, Geetika opened up about the team’s long wait to bring the film before viewers. She acknowledged that while the film had finally been seen by some audiences, its journey still felt incomplete because it was no longer available in several places.She wrote, “For four years, we carried this film quietly in our hearts, hoping for the day we could finally share it with you. Today, that hope feels both fulfilled and unfinished, as Satluj finds its voice in some places while remaining silenced in others (sic).”
Actress speaks about portraying Bibi Paramjit
Geetika also opened up about essaying the role of Bibi Paramjit, the wife of Jaswant Singh Khalra, portrayed by Diljit Dosanjh. She described the opportunity as a meaningful experience and expressed gratitude for being part of the film.In her post, she praised the story and the family whose journey inspired the project. She wrote, “It was an honour to step into the world of Bibi Paramjit and to stand beside @diljitdosanjh in telling the story of Jaswant Singh Khalra ji and the family whose love endured what words never fully can describe.”The actress concluded her message by acknowledging director Honey Trehan and his vision for the film.She added, “In admiration of @honeytrehan for his decision. As he always says: #Nirbhau #Nirvair. And as Jaswant Singh Khalra ji always said: #challengethedarkness (sic).”
Film faced a long road before release
Directed by Honey Trehan, ‘Satluj’ draws inspiration from the life of human rights activist Jaswant Singh Khalra. The film centres on allegations surrounding the disappearance and illegal cremation of thousands of unidentified bodies during Punjab’s militancy period in the 1980s and 1990s.The project encountered several hurdles before its release. During the certification process, reports stated that the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) suggested multiple edits. It also reportedly asked the makers to change the film’s original title. The matter later reached the Bombay High Court, where the certification process continued.After years of uncertainty, ‘Satluj’ premiered on ZEE5 on July 3. The film was released with minimal publicity. However, it remained available for only a brief period before it disappeared from the platform.The streaming service later stated that the film would remain unavailable in India until further notice. It also said efforts were continuing through the appropriate legal process to restore the film.Reports claimed the takedown followed directions issued over security concerns under the Information Technology Rules. The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting also reportedly constituted a high-level committee to examine the film’s content. The decision drew reactions from the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee as well as several Punjab-based political parties.
Diljit Dosanjh had hinted at the film’s removal
Before the film was taken down, Diljit Dosanjh addressed the issue during an Instagram Live session. He revealed that he already knew the film would not remain available for long. The actor urged viewers who had watched it to recommend it to others before it disappeared.Apart from Diljit Dosanjh and Geetika Vidya Ohlyan, the film also features Kanwaljeet Singh, Arjun Rampal, and Suvinder Vicky in key roles. Recently Harbhajan Singh shared his praise for the film.
