After a long licensing journey, ‘Satluj’, which was earlier titled ‘Punjab ’95’, has made it to OTT. Inspired by the life of human rights activist Jaswant Singh Khalra, the film shows a certain bond between them Diljit Dosanjh and the director Honey Trehan. Looking back on the experience, the actor spoke of the deep trust he shared with the filmmaker and the influence Trehan had on his work.Praising the director, Diljit shared with Variety India, “It was amazing to work with Honey Trehan. The first thing I can say about him is his energy. I haven’t met many people with so much passion and zest, especially from the beginning to the end of the day. His energy never died even when he was carrying loads.”He also recalled that it was Honey Trehan who encouraged him to try “Udta Punjab”, his first Hindi film.“Working with Honey sir has been inspiring, and my relationship with him has grown over the years. In fact, when I started my career in Hindi cinema with ‘Udta Punjab’, it was Honey Trehan who called me and gave me an audition. I look at him as an older brother, and he was one of the first people who encouraged me and showed faith in my talent, so I have learned a lot from him. This film or more over the years.”Diljit explained that working with Trehan did not feel like a normal film. Instead, every day of preparation became an opportunity to hone his skills.“He has shaped me in several ways, which I still love, even if I can’t say it directly to him. One of the many things that makes working with him so fun and special is that it doesn’t feel like we’re working on a movie. Every day on the set I feel like I’m learning. It’s like we’re in a workshop or an acting class, and each scene has a lesson for you. “
Jaswant Singh Khalra’s photography was very emotional
Although the collaboration was executed brilliantly, Diljit admitted that stepping into the shoes of Jaswant Singh Khalra was one of the biggest challenges in his acting career.“It’s definitely one of the most difficult films I’ve ever made in my career. Mentally and physically, it took everything out of all of us. There were long days, difficult situations and scary scenes. But in the end, it was the nature of the story that stuck with me the most. I think this is probably the first film in my career that asked me to recover after shooting. “Contrary to his habit of jumping into another project, the actor revealed that he needed time to part ways.“After the film is wrapped, I move fast because I don’t like to rest. However, after the film, I had to take a week to process everything I went through and portray Jaswant Singh Khalra. The character’s visuals, emotions, and expressions persisted, so it took me a while to get over it. “
The job search changed his mind
Diljit also said that he spent a lot of time reading articles and references related to the life of Jaswant Singh Khalra before starting the shoot. He explained that the research is very interesting.“There are many documents, real accounts, and testimonies that were difficult to even read. Most of these real events were very painful. I couldn’t fix it all. There were times in my research that I failed because the truth was so strong and overwhelming. “He added that the film only captures a small part of Khalra’s journey and hopes that the audience will understand the incredible courage of his story.“What we have shown in this film is only a small part of what happened because you cannot repeat everything that happened. The truth is much more painful than the above. I was carrying it with me the whole time. It is not the story of one man but of incredible courage in unimaginable circumstances. Jaswant Singh Khalra knew all the dangers. He knew that he and his family were in danger, and he continued to believe in his beliefs and truth. That kind of bravery is rare, and you can’t achieve it with anything but responsibility.”Calling ‘Satluj’ more than any other film, Diljit concluded, “Beyond being a film, this has been an experience in my mind. It has been very educational and humbling. This story has left a lasting impact on me and my outlook on life. I hope people leave the theater feeling emotional and inspired.”‘Satluj’ airs on Zee5.