Filmmaker Onir has questioned the selective treatment by Indian regulatory bodies like the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) after Honey Trehan. SatlujThe film, starring Diljit Dosanjh, was pulled from ZEE5 two days after its premiere. The action was taken following the intervention of the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting over the film’s lack of compliance with the CBFC.

In a post on X on Tuesday, Onir called the move against Satluj Recently released teaser of Neeraj Yadav’s action thriller ChauhanStarring Ajay Devgan. Referring to the film’s apparent focus on stone pelting in Kashmir, he wrote, ‘It will definitely not face any issues with the CBFC board, nor will it be refused release as hurting the sentiments of the entire state, nor will it be removed from any OTT. But a beautiful, important film based on real facts, told in a way that doesn’t incite hatred, will suffer.

Satlujwas previously titled Punjab ’95It has been facing a censorship battle for the last three years. The CBFC had demanded 127 cuts for the theatrical release and also asked the makers to change the title and remove references to Punjab, saying it could hurt the sentiments of the people of the state. Meanwhile, the teaser of ChauhanWhich appears to focus on stone pelting incidents in Kashmir, was released on YouTube and social media.

Here is Chauhan’s title announcement video:

Onir is known for films like I amAlso compared its recent experience with CBFC. “Recently I was told by the CBFC review committee, “You cannot show stone throwing in Kashmir,” he wrote on

He added to the broader discussion saying it was too early to say Chauhan will be cleared without any major cuts, adding that teasers of several films have been removed in recent times following allegations that they defamed a community.

he cited Infiltrator PanditNeeraj Pandey’s upcoming Netflix India crime thriller, starring Manoj Bajpayee, was pulled days after its release following protests from the Brahmin community. The report also said that, apart from the Kashmiri community, Rajput group Kshatriya Prasad has disowned their community over their involvement in stone pelting incidents.

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Onir has also been vocal in support Satluj Since it was removed from ZEE5 last week. Sharing the streamer’s statement that the film is no longer available in India, he wrote, “Infuriating and very, very sad.” Responding to a report that said the film was removed because ‘it could be misused by anti-India forces’, he posted, “Or maybe it encourages people to demand accountability. There will always be people who misuse good things, that doesn’t mean you ban good things. People who misuse will find other reasons.”

He also criticized the film industry for not speaking in one voice on this issue.

Satluj Diljit Dosanjh plays human rights activist Jaswant Singh Khalra, who was kidnapped and murdered in Punjab after exposing the extrajudicial deaths and cremations of over 2,500 people due to the involvement of the state police. The removal of the film from ZEE5 and Onir’s response have brought the debate over censorship, political sensitivity and selective treatment of films back into focus.