Diljit Dosanjh has once again ignited anticipation among the audience for his long-delayed film, Punjab 95. The Punjabi singer-actor recently shared a new look from the film on his social media handle, and the black-and-white poster makes such a loud statement that its haunting image stays with you long after you see it. Diljit appears almost unrecognisable in the chilling visual, as he portrays the slain human rights activist, Jaswant Singh Khalra. 

Diljit Dosanjh creates a stir online with his latest Punjab 95 poster

Amid the ongoing controversy surrounding the release of Punjab 95, Diljit Dosanjh has dropped a chilling poster on his IG Stories that has left social media stunned. The image, Shot in stark black and white, shows Diljit in his ‘Jaswant’ avatar, hanging mid-air by bound wrists, a haunting visual of torture and injustice. His rugged, shadowed face reflects pain and quiet resistance. The raw intensity of the poster speaks to the grim reality the film tackles. It has once again drawn attention to the CBFC’s two-year hold on the politically sensitive project.

Diljit Dosanjh’s Punjab 95 release delayed

Punjab 95, directed by Honey Tehran and produced by Ronnie Screwvala’s RSVP Movies, narrates the heinous tale of the Punjabi human Rights activist, Jaswant Singh Khalra, who exposed illegal cremations and extrajudicial killings in Punjab during the 1980s and 90s. The film, which was originally slated for a premiere in 2023 at the Toronto International Film Festival, was withdrawn at the last minute due to unresolved certification issues.

Punjab 95 director Honey Tehran slams censorship demands of 127 cuts, questions their agenda

In his recent statement, Tehran revealed that the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) has demanded a total of 127 cuts, which he says would strip the film of its sole narrative. Speaking to NDTV, the filmmaker said that if he were to release the film after making those cuts, he no longer wants to add his name to it. Tehran slammed CBFC and remarked:

“After 127 cuts, only the trailer will be left. I don’t agree with those 127 cuts. Even if the film is released with all those cuts, I’ll remove my name from it… Everything gets changed, and it becomes something else. But it’s not directed by me… I think it’s better if they can get the credit. It’s probably coming from people with an agenda; these people at CBFC, when you speak to them, they can’t even talk straight.”

Trehan openly slammed the CBFC’s demands, calling many of them outright illogical. He revealed that the board asked him to remove ‘Punjab’ from the film’s title, despite it being set entirely in the state. Even more puzzling was the demand to omit Indira Gandhi’s name, which he compared to Kangana Ranaut’s Emergency. Trehan clarified that Punjab 95 is not a political but a historical story, meant to show the true story of Jaswant Singh Kalra. He exclaimed:

“Why would any sensible person remove ‘Punjab’ from the title itself? They are Punjabi cops wearing turbans, and they tell me to call them just ‘Police’ and not ‘Punjab Police’—where is the logic?… My film is not about any political party. It’s about history and Jaswant Singh Khalra’s fight for human rights. I have been very true to the film.”

What’s next for Diljit?

While the release of Punjab 95 remains suspended, Diljit is currently shooting for Border 2, a highly anticipated project also starring Varun Dhawan, Sunny Deol, and Ahaan Shetty. Despite the ongoing ban surrounding Sardaar Ji 3 with Pakistani actress Hania Aamir, he got special permission from FWICE to continue shooting for Border 2. 

What are your thoughts on Diljit Dosanjh’s latest poster from Punjab 95?

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