MUMBAI: Indian singer and actor Diljit Dosanjh did not charge his usual acting fee for the historical drama Sutlej, according to the film’s director, who said the star accepted only a nominal payment to fulfill contractual requirements.
In a previously recorded interview that has resurfaced on social media, director Honey Trehan said Dosanjh was deeply committed to portraying Sikh human rights activist Jaswant Singh Khalra and viewed the role as a responsibility rather than a commercial project.
Trehan said the film’s limited budget would not have allowed the production to hire Dosanjh at his standard market rate. According to the director, the actor never asked for payment and accepted only a token amount because a formal contract required compensation.
The director also said Dosanjh had long wanted to make a film about Khalra’s life. Trehan told him he had already completed research on the subject and secured the rights from Khalra’s family, after which the actor immediately agreed to take on the role.
Sutlej, released on July 3, is based on the alleged 1995 abduction and subsequent events involving Khalra. The film was removed from the streaming platform ZEE5 two days after its release, prompting discussion online, though no official explanation for its removal has been announced.