Director Honey Trehan has revealed that actor and singer Diljit Dosanjh did not charge his usual fee to play the lead role in Sutlej, saying the actor viewed the film as a responsibility rather than a commercial project.

The revelation comes from an earlier interview that has resurfaced on social media following renewed discussion about the film. According to Trehan, Dosanjh was deeply committed to portraying Sikh human rights activist Jaswant Singh Khalra, whose life inspired the movie.

Trehan said the film’s limited budget would not have allowed the production to cast Dosanjh if he had demanded his standard remuneration. Instead, the actor reportedly agreed to join the project without asking for his regular fee.

According to the director, Dosanjh simply asked when and where filming would begin and expressed his willingness to participate. Trehan added that a nominal payment was made only to meet contractual and legal requirements, not because the actor requested compensation.

Shared Interest in Jaswant Singh Khalra’s Story

Trehan said the project began when he discussed making a film about events following 1984 with Dosanjh. The actor suggested that Jaswant Singh Khalra’s life would make a compelling subject, while noting that obtaining the family’s permission might be difficult.

The director said he had already completed extensive research and secured the film rights from Khalra’s family. When he showed Dosanjh the research material, the actor was surprised because he had also wanted to tell Khalra’s story.

Trehan said Dosanjh agreed to take on the role immediately after learning the project was already in development.

Sutlej was released on July 3, 2026, and is based on the reported abduction of Jaswant Singh Khalra in 1995. The film was removed from the OTT platform ZEE5 on July 5, two days after its release, leading to renewed public interest and discussion online.

Also Read: India Removes Diljit Dosanjh’s ‘Sutlej’ From ZEE5 Within Two Days of Release