Sunny Deol Faces Backlash Over Pakistan Remarks and Dharmendra Quote
Mumbai: Pakistan became a major topic of discussion when Bollywood actor Sunny Deol faced questions from Indian journalists during a promotional event for his upcoming film Batwara 1947.
Deol appeared at the press conference on Sunday with his son and co-star, Karan Deol.
A journalist asked the actor about Pakistan and its current atmosphere. Deol avoided giving a direct political response. Instead, he quoted his late father, veteran actor Dharmendra.
Sunny Deol Pakistan Remarks Spark Online Debate
Deol said India and Pakistan were once part of the same country.
He then recalled a phrase often used by his father.
We can’t talk about how [we] feel about it because both countries were once one,Deol said. He added that his father used to describe India as his mother and Pakistan as his maternal aunt.
Deol also stressed that people on both sides remain connected in some way.
Dharmendra, who died last November, had publicly supported stronger relations between India and Pakistan.
Sunny Deol Says Films Should Stay Away From Politics
Deol declined to discuss Pakistan further.
The actor said his responsibility was to tell stories rather than turn his work into a political debate.
We are actors. We are makers. We choose stories and make stories,he said.
He added that filmmakers did not want to take their stories in a political direction.
However, his comments quickly attracted attention online.
Social Media Users Criticise Sunny Deol
Despite Deol’s attempt to avoid a political discussion, his comments drew mixed reactions on social media.
The actor has previously been associated with strongly patriotic films such as Border and Gadar. He also served as a BJP politician.
Some users accused Deol of using nationalism during his political career and then taking a softer position on Pakistan.
Others described his latest comments as opportunistic.
Some social media users also criticised what they viewed as his support for Pakistan.
Sunny Deol’s Film Revisits India-Pakistan Partition
The debate comes as Deol promotes Batwara 1947, a film set during the Partition of British India.
The story follows a Muslim family forced to leave for Pakistan after violence erupts during Partition.
After arriving in Lahore, the family discovers that a Hindu woman, played by Shabana Azmi, is living in the house assigned to them.
The film explores the human cost of Partition and the tensions created by the division of British India.
India-Pakistan Tensions Add to Film’s Controversy
Relations between India and Pakistan have remained tense for decades.
The tensions intensified after the four-day military conflict between the two countries in May 2025.
India also introduced digital restrictions on Pakistani entertainment content. These measures affected YouTube channels, Instagram profiles and music content.
Against that backdrop, discussion around a Partition-era film was always likely to attract political attention.
Batwara 1947 is directed by Rajkumar Santoshi.
The cast includes Sunny Deol, Karan Deol, Preity Zinta, Ali Fazal, Shabana Azmi and Abhimanyu Singh.
The film is scheduled for release on August 14.
