Punjab’95, starring Diljit Dosanjh as Jaswant Singh Khalra, is still stuck awaiting release after heavy objections from the Censor Board. The film was originally titled Ghalughara, but after demands for change, it was renamed and faced a reported 120 scene cuts. Amid this uncertainty, director Honey Trehan recently spoke with journalist Sucharita Tyagi and revealed how much Diljit was paid to play the lead.
Trehan said, “We have paid him because of the contract but he never asked.” He added, “Maine bola bhi, unhone kaha paaji kuch nahi. Maine kaha Diljit Paaji contracts are not valid because it will not tell the remuneration.” Diljit’s reply, according to Trehan, was: “Paaji paagha wali gall ae ke zindagi me je tuhanu kabhi aisi opportunity mile to play this kind of a person. Asi te ohna de bohot abhari hain Matlab jo ohna ne kaum vaste Kitta.” He also added, “Jaswant Singh Khalra Karan da jedha mauka hai, oh mile kise nu te oh paise pange, eh ta laanat hai.”
Both Diljit and Trehan have refused to accept the demanded cuts, saying it would be an injustice to Jaswant Singh Khalra’s real story. The film highlights Khalra’s investigation into illegal cremations and extrajudicial killings of Sikhs in Punjab. While public anger grows over the halted release, the final decision now rests with the governing body to pass it without altering its truth.
