The release of ‘Satluj’ on ZEE5 on July 3 briefly marks the end of a three-year battle with the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC), which banned the film. However, the OTT platform suddenly pulled the film from India on July 5. The historical drama, which was earlier titled Punjab 95, is based on the life of Jaswant Singh Khalra, who worked in development. Diljit Dosanjhand portrays Suvinder Pal Vicky in a great turn as the delightful SSP Surjit Singh Sugga.In a recent interview, the ‘Kohrra’ actor revealed about the sudden cancellation of the film, the challenges of portraying one of the darkest characters while playing a very different police officer in ‘Kohrra’, and why he continues to choose roles that offer content on screen.
Suvinder Pal Vicky on the sudden withdrawal of ‘Satluj
When asked about his initial reaction to ‘Satluj’ being removed from the OTT platform in India just two days after it premiered, Vicky told Variety India, “My opinion is that if we still believe that we can heal our past wounds, or if we think that today or the future or our generations cannot dig the truth, then the film is not wrong. the film was shown, it was removed from the OTT platform within a few days.Reflecting on the long wait for the film’s release, Vicky said, “Honey TrehanRonnie Screwvala, we actors, the whole team did our work and moved on to our next work, but it was boring for us because everyone kept asking about the release of the film. Finally, when it was released for two days, everyone was very happy with it. But it didn’t take long.
Suvinder Pal Vicky plays SSP Surjit Singh Sugga
When asked if it was difficult to say yes to playing a villain like SSP Surjit Singh Sugga, Vicky said it wasn’t a difficult decision, explaining how the role grew during the audition process, “No. When Honey Trehan explained the role, I did research about the character. What kind of person was he and what was he like.” Little by little, I started to find it very interesting.”The ‘Dhurandhar’ actor also explained the schedule required to play two different cops at the same time, shooting Kohrra during the day and Satluj at night:“The shooting of ‘Kohraa,’ in which I played the role of a police inspector, Balbir Singh, was almost over when I was about to start shooting for ‘Satluj.’ I was shooting for ‘Kohrra’ in Ludhiana during the day, and at night I was in a village near Tarn Taran to shoot for ‘Satluj.’ I faced a great challenge as an actor. Sugga and Balbir were both police officers and the uniform was of the same khaki, but there was a big difference between them. The police officer in Satluj was a brutal man. It was very difficult for me. I put my 100% and I think I have been successful. People have told me they hate this behavior, and I hate it too.”Vicky also spoke about the responsibility he had in portraying the character honestly, considering the real story behind it, “For me, it was very important that Suvinder not be on the sidelines and play Sugga. The violence or injustice that the police did to civilians at that time had to be reported. It was a very dark time in Punjab. “
Suvinder Pal Vicky for selecting items during the show
When asked why the audience sees little of her on screen despite being praised, Vicky said, “I do my work with complete sincerity, so I feel good. As for doing small work, I do as much work as I get. I am hungry to work. I want to enjoy my work. It doesn’t matter if it is a big role or a small one, but there has to be something… So, when I get more jobs, I will give my 100% and make people happy.“
More about ‘Satluj’
Directed by Honey Trehan and starring Diljit Dosanjh, ‘Satluj’ (originally titled ‘Punjab ’95’) is a hard-hitting drama about the life of human rights activist Jaswant Singh Khalra. Set in the turmoil of the late 1980s and early 1990s in Punjab, the film follows Khalra’s desperate struggle to investigate and expose thousands of people who are being abducted, murdered, and cremated indiscriminately by corrupt police. The film served as a lightning rod for censorship disputes, enduring a grueling battle with the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) for more than 120 years demanding its cut. Although the uncut version appeared briefly on ZEE5 in July 2026, it was abruptly taken down within 48 hours following instructions from the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting.