Actor-singer Diljit Dosanjh has strongly opposed the Central Board of Film Certification's (CBFC) demand for 127 cuts in his upcoming film Punjab 95, calling it an attack on artistic freedom and historical truth. The film, based on the life of human rights activist Jaswant Singh Khalra, delves into alleged extrajudicial killings during Punjab's insurgency period. Dosanjh and the filmmakers believe the CBFC’s proposed edits, including the removal of references to political figures and real events, compromise the film's core message and integrity.

Directed by Honey Trehan and produced by RSVP Movies, Punjab 95 aims to shed light on Khalra’s courageous fight to expose human rights violations. However, the film’s journey has been turbulent. It was unexpectedly pulled from the Toronto International Film Festival earlier this year, raising concerns over censorship and political pressure. Dosanjh has remained vocal about protecting the narrative’s authenticity, emphasizing that sanitizing the content would dilute its impact and dishonor Khalra’s legacy.

At the same time, Dosanjh is promoting his commercial entertainer Sardaar Ji 3, which has sparked its own controversy. The actor is being criticized for casting Pakistani actress Hania Aamir in a lead role amid ongoing tensions between India and Pakistan. Despite the backlash, Dosanjh has not backed down, continuing promotional activities while focusing on the importance of cross-border artistic collaboration. These dual controversies place him at the center of a wider discourse in Indian cinema, one that grapples with the limits of expression, the role of history in storytelling, and the impact of geopolitical sensitivities on creative choices.