Amid Satluj Row, Gul Panag Recalls Growing Up During Punjab’s ‘Brutal’ Militancy: ‘Shouldn’t Stop Telling Stories’

Actor Gul Panag has shared her views on the controversy surrounding the removal of Satluj from ZEE5, saying that India should not stop telling stories about painful moments from its past. 

Gul Panag Recalls Growing Up During Punjab Militancy

Sharing her perspective on X, Panag wrote, “I grew up in Punjab during the brutal years of militancy. I remember reading newspaper headlines about buses being stopped and innocent passengers being pulled out and killed. I also remember accounts of young men being picked up, detained and tortured, despite having nothing to do with the movement. Including from my village.”

Panag said these experiences are the very reason she believes such stories should continue to be told rather than erased from public discourse.

She added, “Those memories are precisely why I don’t believe we should become so uncomfortable with difficult chapters of our history that we stop telling stories about them.”

I grew up in Punjab during the brutal years of militancy. I remember reading newspaper headlines about buses being stopped and innocent passengers being pulled out and killed. I also remember accounts of young men being picked up, detained and tortured, despite having nothing to…

— Gul Panag (@GulPanag) July 7, 2026

Why Did The Film Not Release In Cinemas? 

The reason behind skipping an Indian theatrical release comes down to censorship. Production house RSVP submitted the film for certification to India’s Central Board of Film Certification in late 2022. The six-month process concluded with 21 cuts and a directive to change the title from Ghallughara to Punjab ’95. 

RSVP challenged the decision in the Bombay High Court. Around the same time, the film was pulled from its planned gala premiere at the 2023 Toronto International Film Festival. 

Following the High Court hearing, the film was sent back to a CBFC revising committee. This time, the number of demanded cuts rose from 21 to 127. The makers alleged that the board also asked that the name of the biographical drama’s protagonist be changed. When they declined to make those changes, the film continued to face delays for years. 

OTT Takedown

Satluj was finally released on ZEE5 on July 3 in an uncut version. However, the film didn’t survive long on the streaming platform either and was taken down within 48 hours of release. In a statement shared on Instagram, ZEE5 thanked the viewers for their response to the film. 

It read, “The response to Satluj since its release has been truly overwhelming. We are deeply grateful to every viewer who chose to subscribe, watch and champion the film. Your love and support have meant a great deal to us and to everyone who brought this story to life.

The OTT giant further said they hope to bring back the film to their platform. “In light of the current developments, Satluj will be unavailable in India until further notice. We remain committed to exploring every appropriate avenue through due process to bring the film back to our audiences at the earliest opportunity,” it said.

Satluj stars Arjun Rampal, Suvinder Vicky, and Geetika Vidya Ohlyan alongside Diljit.

ALSO READ: Satluj Review: Diljit Dosanjh Leads The Way In An Unmissable Film