Diljit Dosanjh starrer Punjab '95, based on the life of human rights activist Jaswant Singh Khalra, is all set to release in February 2025. However, the release date is yet to be announced. In 2023, Punjab '95 was set to have its world premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) but was removed from the line-up after the makers reportedly refused to agree on multiple cuts that were then demanded. There were several reports of the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) demanding 120 cuts in the Diljit Dosanjh-starrer.
Paramjit Kaur Khalra, the wife of Jaswant Singh Khalra had condemned the censor board’s demand, stating that the biopic on her late husband’s life was made with the family’s consent, and should be released without changes.
As per a report in Mid-Day, the film is likely to release without any cuts, after measures taken by the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC).
In December 2024, the SGPC brought several historians to study Punjab '95 for accuracy. After a month now, the committee's General Secretary, Gurucharan Singh Grewal said that he has watched the film, and it doesn’t target anyone at all. He also added that the film shows the truth of Punjab in an ''unadulterated fashion''. Grewal called it a heart-wrenching movie and he had tears in his eyes after watching it.
Khalra's daughter, Navkiran, told the portal that she is thrilled that the film is finally hitting the screens.
She said it's a story that needs to be told, and they are grateful. ''We are keeping our fingers crossed that the film releases this time," she added.
Navkiran further said, "The makers are seeing some hope after the Akal Takht and SGPC have decided to watch the film. It has now reached a point that the makers are contemplating not making any cuts to the film at all, including the original 22 cuts suggested by the CBFC''.
Who was Jaswant Singh Khalra?
Jaswant Singh Khalra investigated the cremation of thousands of unidentified bodies in Punjab during a decade-long period from 1984 to 1994. In September 1995, Khalra went missing, and after 10 years, six Punjab police officers were convicted and sentenced to imprisonment for kidnap and murder of Khalra.
Recently, Diljit Dosanjh shared his first look from Punjab '95, with the caption, ''Challenge the Darkness''.
Directed by Honey Trehan and produced by Ronnie Screwvala's RSVP Movies, the film also stars Arjun Rampal, Saurabh Sachdeva, Kanwaljit Singh, Suvinder Pal Vicky, and Geetika Vidya among others.
