Bollywood star Diljit Dosanjh saw his film Satluj launched on ZEE5 on July 3, only for the streaming service to pull it down less than two days later. In the wake of the takedown, Dosanjh remarked that “everyone has the film downloaded with them,” a comment that was quickly interpreted as an endorsement of piracy.

Varun Badola’s Firm Stance

Actor Varun Badola, who portrays Advocate Ravinder Jais in the movie, responded in a News18 interview, emphasizing his zero‑tolerance approach toward piracy. “We keep fighting against piracy. I can’t advocate piracy, and I won’t watch a pirated version. That’s a rule I’ve always followed,” Badola said, adding that he has yet to see the film in its entirety.

“Robbery in Broad Daylight”

Badola described the removal of Satluj from the platform as “a robbery under broad daylight,” suggesting that the decision was more political than technical. He referenced historic bans on Indian movies, noting that “many Indian films have been banned before,” and implied that the current ban might be a “course correction” decided by unseen authorities.

Legal and Cultural Context

A petition has been filed in the Punjab and Haryana High Court contesting the alleged “illegal” public screenings of Satluj in Punjab, while the film remains blocked across India. Badola argued, “The film that the public has touched cannot be stopped,” highlighting the disconnect between governmental directives and audience demand.

Uncertainty Over Re‑release

Badola recounted a conversation with director Honey Trehan, noting that Trehan was left out of the loop regarding the takedown. He suggested that the ongoing dispute is primarily between the streaming platform and government regulators, and that any future release will depend on their negotiations. Meanwhile, Badola remains patient, stating, “All we can do now is wait,” while urging the industry to respect both artistic freedom and legal boundaries.