Satluj's Diljit Dosanjh: Drew Strength From Jaswant Khalra, Torture That He Endured Kept Me Going - EXCL

Honey

Trehan did not lose hope despite the 3-year-long delay of his much-anticipated film, Panjab 95. After years of censorship battles, the movie was released on ZEE5 on July 3 without prior announcement. While the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) suggested over 120 cuts, Honey and the team stood their ground and refused to make any modifications. Before its ZEE5 release, Panjab 95’s title was changed to Satluj. The film is based on Jaswant Singh Khalra, who opened an investigation into the mass killings and cremations in Punjab. Diljit Dosanjh plays the lead role along with Arjun Rampal and Suvinder Vicky.

Diljit Dosanjh talks about physically and emotionally exhausting scenes in Satluj

After the release of Satluj, Diljit Dosanjh opened up about his experience of working on the film and preparing for an emotional and physically challenging role. Talking to Zoom about the scenes that affected him the most, Dosanjh mentioned that the abduction and police custody sequences were the toughest to perform. “They were physically and emotionally draining to perform,” he said, before adding, “But throughout, I reminded myself that what I was doing was just a simulation of what someone actually went through.”

He further shared that the important scenes were shot in peak summer and required long and demanding schedules. Despite feeling exhausted and tired, Diljit found the strength to endure the challenges through Jaswant Singh Khalra’s story. The actor said he was reminded of the torture he endured, which kept him going.The lead actor of Satluj also shared, “I drew strength not from the scenes themselves but from the strength Jaswant Singh Khalra lived his life with. The more I read about him, the more I felt a responsibility to portray him with sincerity. These moments are not just cinematic highlights—they are a tribute to a man who never gave up. I hope the audience feels that too."

Diljit Dosanjh on shooting with ensemble cast

Sharing his experience working with actors Yashpal Sharma, Jagjeet Sandhu, and the rest of the ensemble, Diljit said, “Everyone in the cast was a joy to work with. There was a sense of sincerity on set that made us feel like a family. With such an emotionally intense subject, you naturally form deep bonds. I had already worked extensively with Jagjeet in Punjabi cinema, so there was an immediate comfort level. That made the experience even more special. I also have immense respect for Gurpreet ji. She is incredibly dedicated. There was a particular sequence we shot together that required many takes. No matter how many times we repeated it, she brought the same intensity every time. It was remarkable to witness."

Diljit Dosanjh's favourite scene from Satluj

Recalling his favourite scene from Satluj, Diljit shared, “It’s very difficult to choose just one. Many scenes carry emotional weight, and each reveals a different aspect of Jaswant Singh Khalra’s journey.” Though he mentioned the scene where Jassi returns and has a conversation with. It was filmed at night. “What is conveyed in that scene comes through emotion rather than words. For me, it is one of the most powerful moments, and I’m curious to see how audiences respond to it,” he said, signing off.Satluj also stars Saurabh Sachdeva, Kanwaljit Singh, and Geetika Vidya Ohlyan. The film is produced by RSVP Movies and MacGuffin Pictures.