Jalandhar-based advocate and theatre artist Neeraj Kaushik plays a human rights activist who accompanies the protagonist, Jaswant Singh Khalra (portrayed by Diljit Dosanjh), in the film Satluj. The film has sparked controversy, leading to its ban on streaming platform ZEE5, but has also drawn attention for the significant cameo appearances of two actors from Jalandhar.
Film’s Conception and Controversy
According to Kaushik, Satluj was conceived in 2019, with shooting beginning in late 2020. The makers, including Honey Trehan, anticipated some debate due to the sensitive subject matter but were taken aback by the scale of the backlash. Kaushik noted, “The film neither criticises any current political dispensation nor endorses separatist ideology. Therefore, such a large-scale controversy was unexpected, especially since approvals had been obtained from Jaswant Singh Khalra’s family as well as the SGPC.”
Kaushik’s Role and Inspiration
Kaushik’s character was inspired by the network of human rights activists who worked alongside Khalra. He cited the work of Ram Narayan Kumar, author of Reduced to Ashes, and other activists. Kaushik was selected after an audition by casting director Varun Bajaj, and Honey Trehan approved his performance. The cast shot for eight days across Amritsar, Tarn Taran, Chandigarh, and Patiala, including villages where actual disappearances occurred during the 1990s. Kaushik shared screen space with both Diljit Dosanjh and Arjun Rampal.
Working with Diljit Dosanjh and Arjun Rampal
Kaushik described Diljit Dosanjh as reserved on set but deeply spiritual and protective of junior artistes. He recalled a conversation where Dosanjh downplayed his stardom, saying, “Kuch nahi haiga yaar, sab ainwai dooron lagda, asi vi onne ku hi khush ya pareshan haan jinna aam banda” (Stardom seems big from afar; we are as happy or troubled as any ordinary person). Regarding Arjun Rampal, Kaushik praised his openness and lack of star tantrums, adding that his portrayal in the film is one of Kaushik’s favourites.
Santosh Basra’s Cameo
Santosh Basra, a Jalandhar-based actor and singer, also makes a cameo appearance in Satluj. She stated, “It was a beautiful and serious project. The controversy was anticipated, as people have not forgotten 1984 and its aftermath. It was long felt that a film on Khalra Sahib’s life needed to be made. This issue resonates across communities in Punjab, as children from both Hindu and Sikh families lost their lives.” Basra described the sets as feeling like one big family and expressed pride in being associated with the project.
Punjab’s Changing Realities in Cinema
Kaushik reflected on the growing number of OTT films centred on Punjab’s social and political issues, noting that the state’s complex realities have become fertile ground for filmmakers. He observed, “In Punjab, ‘Pehle pyaar mudda tha, ab takraar mudda hai’ (Earlier, love was the dominant theme; today, conflict is). Filmmakers increasingly look to Punjab for stories about drugs, militancy, policing, and conflict, reflecting both the state’s past and contemporary upheavals.”
Other Regional Actors in the Film
Besides Kaushik and Basra, several theatre artistes and actors from the region are part of the film, including Jalandhar-based theatre personality Gurwinder Singh, Haryana-based Rajindra Sharma (Nanu), and theatre actor Emmanuel Singh. Rajindra Sharma is a familiar presence in Jalandhar’s theatre circles and has appeared in several Bollywood films.
