Director Honey Trehan has revealed that Diljit Dosanjh accepted only a token payment of Rs 1 to star in Satluj, saying the actor felt it would be inappropriate to earn money for portraying human rights activist Jaswant Singh Khalra.
In an interview with ThePrint, Trehan recalled that Diljit was his first choice for the role, as he wanted a Sikh actor who could authentically represent Khalra's life and the social context of Punjab. According to the filmmaker, casting a mainstream Bollywood star could have shifted attention away from Khalra's story and the people whose suffering the film seeks to document.
Trehan said he met Diljit in 2021, spending about half an hour discussing the project and sharing years of research material. The director remembered the actor being deeply moved after seeing Khalra's photograph. "He stood up from his chair, touched the script to his forehead and said, 'Waheguru'," Trehan recalled. Diljit then reportedly told him, "How can I charge to play someone like Khalra? It will be shameful." Although Trehan insisted on paying him, Diljit agreed only to a symbolic remuneration of Re 1 to fulfil contractual formalities.
Satluj chronicles the life of Jaswant Singh Khalra, a bank employee who became a prominent human rights activist after uncovering evidence related to the alleged secret cremation of around 25,000 people in Punjab between 1984 and 1994. Khalra was abducted in 1995 and later died in police custody, according to court records.
Trehan also spoke about Diljit's support during the production in a separate interview with Mid-day. The director said the actor remained patient even when filming schedules were repeatedly disrupted. He recalled apologising on days when Diljit reported to the set early in the morning but had to wait several hours before the cameras rolled. Trehan said the actor would reassure him each time, saying, "Paaji, no problem. Whatever you're doing, you're doing for the film. I'm here to support the film."
The revelations come after Satluj recently made headlines over its certification issues with the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) and its brief availability on Zee5, where it was removed within two days of its release.
