Diljit Dosanjh's Satluj loses IMDb rating, Sanjay Gupta calls platform 'bogus'

Diljit Dosanjh's film Satluj has found itself at the centre of another controversy after its user rating disappeared from IMDb. The development comes shortly after the film was removed from ZEE5 in India, triggering fresh discussions online. Before the rating vanished, Satluj had briefly been listed with a user score of 9.5, making it the highest rated Indian title on the platform at the time.

Filmmaker Sanjay Gupta reacted strongly to the change and questioned the credibility of IMDb's rating system. Taking to X, he wrote, "Rated 9.5 till yesterday. Gone today. Not that I ever trusted or believed in IMDB ratings. But this proves how bogus they are." His post quickly gained attention as users debated the sudden disappearance of the film's rating.

Satluj co writer Niren Bhatt also said the team had received no explanation regarding the removal of the rating. Speaking to Hindustan Times, he said, "We didn't know when the film was going to be released, and we didn't even know when it was taken down. And now this IMDb rating… we don't know who had a problem with it, what the problem was, or why. There was simply no communication."

The latest development follows the film's brief digital release on ZEE5. After spending several years facing certification issues, Satluj, previously titled Punjab 95, was released on the streaming platform. However, it was taken down within 48 hours.

According to reports, the platform was directed to remove the film due to security concerns and in accordance with the Information Technology Rules, 2021. PTI reported that the film had originally been submitted to the Central Board of Film Certification in 2022. The certification process reportedly remained unresolved after the makers did not implement the 127 cuts said to have been suggested by the board.

A government official quoted by PTI said, "They kept sitting on the suggested cuts and eventually released the movie quietly on OTT with a new title." The official added that OTT platforms are not under the CBFC's jurisdiction but were asked to comply with intermediary guidelines. As of now, neither IMDb nor ZEE5 has publicly commented on the disappearance of the film's rating from the platform.