The release of ‘Satluj’ on ZEE5 on July 3 briefly marked the end of a three-year battle with the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC), which kept the film off the screens. However, the OTT platform suddenly pulled the film in India on July 5. The biographical drama, previously titled Punjab 95, is based on the life of social activist Jaswant Singh Khalra, played by Diljit Dosanjhand features Suvinder Pal Vicky in a remarkable turn as trigger-happy SSP Surjit Singh Sugga.In a recent interview, the ‘Kohrra’ actor reflected on the sudden removal of the film from streaming, the challenge of portraying one of its darkest characters while simultaneously playing a very different police officer in ‘Kohrra’, and why he continues to choose roles that offer substantial screen time.
Suvinder Pal Vicky on ‘Sudden removal of Satluj’
Asked about his initial reaction to ‘Satluj’ being pulled from India’s OTT platform just two days after it started streaming, Vicky told Variety India, “My opinion is that if we still hold on to the belief that we are responsible for healing our old wounds, or if we think that our present or future or generations will not be able to digest the truth, then it is wrong. This film has been streamed, it has been removed from the OTT platform for some time. days It is a long, tiring journey everyone is happy, and things are good, but no one knows what will happen next.Reflecting on the years of waiting for the film’s release, Vicky said, “Honey TrehanRonnie Screwvala, we actors, the whole team did our work and moved on to our next project, but it was tiring for us because everyone kept asking about the release of the film. Finally, when it was streamed for two days, everyone was very gung-ho about it. But that didn’t last long.”
Suvinder Pal Vicky to play SSP Surjit Singh Sugga
Asked if it was difficult to say yes to playing someone as ruthless as SSP Surjit Singh Sugga, Vicky said it wasn’t a difficult decision, explaining how she grew into the role during research, “Not at all. Gradually, I began to find it more interesting.”The ‘Dhurandhar’ actor detailed the demanding schedule of playing two very different police officers at the same time, shooting Kohrra during the day and Satluj at night.“The shoot of ‘Kohraa,’ in which I play the role of a police inspector, Balbir Singh, is almost over when I 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 a scene for ‘Satluj.’ I faced a big challenge as an actor. Sugga and Balbir are both police officers and the uniform is the same khaki, but there is a radical difference between them. The Satluj police is a brutal man. It was a big challenge for me. I put my 100% and I think I succeeded. People tell me they hate this character, and I do too.Vicky also spoke about the responsibility she felt to portray the character honestly, given the real history it draws, “For me, it was very important to keep Suvinder away and play Sugga. The violence or injustice done by the police to the common people at that time should be mentioned. It was a dark time for Punjab. “
Suvinder Pal Vicky to choose the substance of the screen time
Asked why viewers see so little of her on screen despite the praise she receives, Vicky said, “I do my work with full sincerity, so I feel good. Like doing a little work, I do as much work as I can get. I have a hunger to work. I want to enjoy my work. It doesn’t matter if it’s a big or small role, but there should be something in it… So, if I get a lot of work, I will give my 100% and entertain people.“
More about ‘Satluj’
Directed by Honey Trehan and starring Diljit Dosanjh, ‘Satluj’ (originally titled ‘Punjab ’95’) is a hard-hitting biographical drama inspired by the life of respected human rights activist Jaswant Singh Khalra. Set against the turbulent backdrop of the late 1980s and early 1990s militancy era in Punjab, the film follows Khalra’s terrifying crusade to investigate and expose thousands of alleged illegal abductions, extrajudicial killings, and mass unidentified cremations by corrupt police personnel. The film became a lightning rod for censorship controversy, remaining locked in a bitter battle with the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) for years over more than 120 cut requests. Although the uncut version briefly made it to a digital premiere on ZEE5 in July 2026, it was suddenly pulled within 48 hours following a directive from the Union Ministry of Information and Broadcasting.