IMDb Removes Satluj’s Rating, Leaving Niren Bhatt Clueless; Sanjay Gupta Reacts

Each day seems to bring a fresh twist in the journey of Satluj.

The biographical drama, based on the life of human rights activist Jaswant Singh Khalra and starring Diljit Dosanjh, Kanwaljit Singh, Arjun Rampal and Savinderpal Vicky, had emerged as one of the highest-rated Indian films on IMDb. However, that rating has now mysteriously disappeared from the platform.

IMDb Removes Satluj’s Rating

When we checked IMDb on Wednesday afternoon, ratings for other recent releases, including Alia Bhatt’s Alpha and Akshay Kumar’s Welcome To The Jungle, were still visible. However, the film’s previously displayed 9.5 rating was no longer available, raising fresh questions around the project, which was earlier titled Panjab ’95.

Satluj has remained mired in controversy ever since it briefly premiered on ZEE5 last week, only to be taken down from the platform within two days. Even before its release, the Honey Trehan directorial had faced a prolonged battle with the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC), which had reportedly sought 127 cuts. Both Trehan and lead actor Diljit Dosanjh had maintained that they did not want their names associated with the film if any cuts were implemented.

The latest development surrounding the film’s missing IMDb rating has also caught the attention of filmmaker Sanjay Gupta. Reacting to the issue, Gupta took to X on Wednesday to share his thoughts on the matter.

He wrote, “RATED 9.5 TILL YESTERDAY. GONE TODAY. Not that I ever trusted or believed in IMDB ratings. But this proves how bogus they are.”

Satluj’s writer Niren Bhatt admitted to HT that he was equally unaware of the latest development. Expressing his surprise over the film’s turbulent journey, Bhatt said, “Film kab aane wali thi, kab chali gayi humein pata nahi chala. Ab yeh IMDb rating ka… kisko problem tha, kya problem tha, koi communication hi nahi tha.”

Following Satluj’s removal from ZEE5 on Sunday, lead actor Diljit Dosanjh addressed the situation during an Instagram Live session. He urged viewers who had already downloaded the film to share its links, saying it was no longer possible to stop the film from reaching audiences.

Shortly afterwards, ZEE5 issued an official statement on social media, requesting viewers not to watch or circulate pirated versions of Satluj. The platform also assured audiences that the film would be restored to its library and asked them to wait for its official return.