Diljit Dosanjh, Arjun Rampal's Punjab 95 Withdrawn From Toronto International Film Festival Lineup

Mumbai: Honey Trehan's feature 'Punjab 95', based on the life of human rights activist Jaswant Singh Khalra, has been removed from the world premiere line-up of the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) that begins next month.

Starring Diljit Dosanjh as Kalra, the film was scheduled to premiere in the Gala Presentations section on September 11, but TIFF's website does not mention the biographical drama in its line-up any more. UK-based publication Screen quoted a TIFF spokesperson as saying that "Punjab 65" is no longer part of the programme.

While the festival has not issued any official statement regarding the decision, Trehan declined to comment when contacted by PTI. Produced by Ronnie Screwvala's banner RSVP Movies, the film also stars Arjun Rampal and 'Kohraa' actor Suvinder Vicky.

Khalra investigated the cremation of thousands of unidentified bodies in Punjab during a 10-year period from 1984 to 1994. In 1995, Khalra apparently disappeared and four police officers were arrested for his alleged kidnap and murder in 2005. The Punjab and Haryana High Court extended the seven-year jail term of the four policemen to life imprisonment in 2007.

'Punjab 95' marks the second feature film by Trehan after the 2020 Netflix movie 'Raat Akeli Hai'. The filmmaker was previously at TIFF in 2016 as a producer on 'A Death In The Gunj'. TIFF is scheduled to take place September 7 to 17.