Diljit Dosanjh rebukes critics for mocking his film Satluj at Delhi concert

At his Delhi concert on Friday, singer‑actor Diljit Dosanjh openly rebuked critics, including the Cockroach Janata Party, for mocking his recent film Satluj. Diljit opened the show on the opening day of his RuPay Aura India Tour 2026 with a sold‑out performance at Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium. He then addressed the crowd about the backlash to his "I'm just an artist" comment made months earlier when a fan asked his view on the NEET exam paper leak protests. Critics, led by CJP figure Abhijit Dipke, called his response hypocritical for not backing student protests while starring in politically charged movies. Diljit replied without naming the party, saying he loves his fans, supports them, and asks them not to teach Punjabis how to fight. He also defended Satluj, noting the film portrays human‑rights activist Jaswant Singh Khalra and had faced years of censorship before its brief Zee5 release on July 3, which was pulled after two days despite critical praise. Director Honey Trehan’s work was praised but removal sparked free‑speech concerns. The artist emphasized that the film’s subject had been fought for over a long time and that hate is acceptable, but his love for the audience remains. ## Context The episode highlights how Indian celebrities can become flashpoints in debates over free expression, film censorship, and political activism, especially when a film tackles sensitive historical issues.