Since its quiet release on OTT on July 3, followed by a global ban, ‘Satluj’, earlier titled ‘Panjab 95’, has created a lot of buzz on social media. The film, titled by: Diljit Dosanjhis a biopic on Jaswant Singh Khalra and has been watched by a large global audience. One person who has yet to watch it, however, is the ‘Satluj’ actor Varun Badola. In a recent interview, Varun, who essays the role of advocate Ravinder Jais in the film, said that he has no intention of watching a pirated version of it.
Varun Badola to remove Satluj’s OTT
Just 48 hours after its release, ‘Satluj’ was pulled from ZEE5, though it remains accessible internationally on the platform. However, the latest update shows that: Honey Trehan The directory is no longer available for viewing overseas. Meanwhile, the Diljit-led film is being screened in Jammu for local communities, and the Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee has announced plans to host more screenings at gurdwaras.
Varun Badola refuses to watch the pirated version
During a live session on Instagram, Diljit encouraged fans to share copies of the film on social media. Amidst this, Varun Badola, speaking to News18, spoke on Satluj’s removal from OTT and stated that he will never watch its pirated version. He mentioned that he found videos on Instagram and other platforms that showed the film being shown in villages, but he said that there are certain principles about watching cinema. He said, “We continue to fight against piracy. I understand that this situation is very different, but I still cannot promote piracy. I will not watch the pirated version. That is a rule I always follow.”
Varun Badola recalls that he did not know about the release of the film
Varun says he will wait and watch the movie later. Recalling how he had no idea about Satluj’s release, the actor said his friends first told him about his look and character in the film, which confused him, as he initially thought they were referring to a different project. It was when they specifically mentioned the title ‘Satluj’ that he realized, until then, he was unaware that he was working on a film with that name. He was with his family when the film dropped on ZEE5, and he and his wife Rajeshwari planned to watch it on time, but it was taken before they could. He clarified, “It’s not like I didn’t watch it because they wanted to do it and release it in complete secrecy. Every time Honey asked me to watch it, I never got it.”
Varun Badola calls ban ‘robbery under sunlight’
The actor reacted strongly to the film’s ban, calling the removal of ‘Satluj’ “robbery under the sun.” He pointed out that many films have faced bans in the past, saying, “Sometimes, the powers that be feel that course correction is important. Only they know why they decided to ban our film.” Varun also feels that the officials should have watched ‘Satluj’ before deciding to ban it. Significantly, a petition was filed in the Punjab and Haryana High Court challenging the “illegal” public screenings of the film in Punjab, after the Inter-Departmental Committee examined the Diljit starrer and ruled that it should continue to be blocked from public access in the country.
Varun Badola’s ‘Satluj’ also stars Arjun Rampal
The film also stars Arjun Rampal, Suvinder Vicky and Geetika Vidya in important roles. ‘Satluj’ was originally slated for a 2023 release but got delayed due to a hold-up on certification from the CBFC.