Punjabi singer & actor Diljit Dosanjh on Tuesday issued an apology to his millions of fans around the world eagerly waiting for his upcoming movie Panjab '95. Diljit Dosanjh officially confirmed that Panjab '95 will no longer be released globally on February 7, 2025. A few days back, Diljit shared the official teaser of Panjab '95 with the caption that the movie will only be released internationally for the time being. After dropping its trailer on all social media platforms, the makers withheld Panjab '95 teaser on YouTube in India. Now, why has the Panjab '95 release date been postponed? Below is all you need to know-
Why is Panjab '95 'international only' release date postponed?
Diljit took to his Instagram handle and shared an apology that reads, "We are very sorry and it pains us to inform you that the movie Punjab '95 will not release on 7th February due to circumstances beyond our control."
Following Diljit's apology, his social media comment section was bombarded with suggestions. Many fans requested and advised Diljit to release the movie on OTT platforms like Netflix. Notably, Diljit's Amar Singh Chamkila was also released on Netflix and it became a massive success.
It is pertinent to mention that Panjab '95 release date postponement is linked to the makers' battle with India's Censor Board CBFC. It has been alleged that the CBFC has proposed 120 cuts in the movie which the makers are uncomfortable to do that.
This is why the makers of Panjab '95 initially decided to release the movie globally rather than in India. However, now, Panjab '95 will not be released for international audience as well.
Controversy around Panjab '95
Panjab '95 is based on a true story based on the life of Sikh human rights activist Jaswant Singh Khalra. Jaswant Singh Khalra was the director of a bank in the city of Amritsar in Punjab during the militancy period in Punjab. Following Operation Blue Star, the assassination of Indira Gandhi, and the 1984 Anti-Sikh Riots, the police were empowered to detain suspects for any reason, ostensibly as suspected terrorists.
The police were accused of killing unarmed suspects in staged shootouts and burning thousands of dead bodies to cover up the murders. Khalra was investigating four major cases at one time and continued to collect evidence and witnesses.
In September 1995, Khalra was last seen in front of his house washing his car in Amritsar when he was reportedly abducted. As per official reports, Khalra was tortured at Jhabal police station and shot dead there and his body was disposed of near the Harike Bridge on the Sutlej River. He had disappeared under mysterious circumstances in 1995.
In the Jaswant Singh Khalra murder case, four policemen were given life imprisonment.