Filmmaker Rajkumar Santoshi recently opened up about the struggle he faced while trying to get funding for his latest movie ‘Batwara 1947’. The director revealed that most investors in Mumbai refused to back the project after learning that Sunny Deol would be playing a Muslim character. Santoshi also clarified that Deol’s role is not that of a Pakistani, as some reviews have claimed, but an Indian Muslim who is forced to migrate during the Partition.
The period drama, which marks Santoshi’s reunion with Deol after nearly 30 years, hit theatres on August 14, 2026. Despite positive reviews for Deol’s performance, the film has been struggling at the box office, collecting around ₹32 crore in India against a reported budget of ₹120-140 crore.
Investors Wanted a Regular Action Film from Sunny Deol
In an interview with Galatta India, Rajkumar Santoshi shared how potential financiers reacted when they heard about the project. He said that investors were excited about him working with Sunny Deol again but had very different expectations for the kind of film they wanted.
“Most of the investors here in Mumbai came to know that Sunny Deol and I were doing a film. They wanted me to do a regular action film, a vigilante film. They were not ready to take this film, where Sunny is playing a Muslim character.”
Santoshi explained that investors wanted him to make a movie like ‘Ghayal’ or ‘Ghatak’ , where Deol is seen beating up everyone. The director said that the subject of Partition and the character’s religion made financiers uncomfortable. He added that the current political climate made things even harder.
“That became a major problem for us. Investors didn’t want to take such a risky subject. Now, the trend has become that even if you say Pakistan, you are considered anti-national.”
Aamir Khan Stepped in to Produce the Film
When no one else was willing to fund the movie, Aamir Khan came to the rescue. Santoshi revealed that Khan was aware of the difficulties and offered to produce the film if nobody else would.
“Aamir was aware of it, and he knew about it. He was very supportive, and he mentioned that he would produce it if nobody did.”
This support from Aamir Khan finally made the project possible. The film is produced under Aamir Khan’s banner, giving it the backing it needed to reach the big screen.
Santoshi Clarifies Sunny Deol’s Character Is Not Pakistani
Several reviews and reports had described Sunny Deol’s character in ‘Batwara 1947’ as Pakistani. Rajkumar Santoshi took the opportunity to clear up this misunderstanding. He explained that Deol plays Sikandar Mirza, an Indian Muslim who is uprooted from his home during Partition.
“Now, I have been reading reviews where it is mentioned that he is playing a Pakistani. I would like to clarify, he is not playing a Pakistani. He is playing a Muslim from India. He is uprooted and to save his life and save his family, he migrated to Pakistan.”
The director further explained that the character is born and raised in India but forced to leave due to the violence and chaos of Partition. He said it is easy to label someone, but the character’s journey is more complex than that.
About ‘Batwara 1947’ and Its Story
‘Batwara 1947’ is based on Asghar Wajahat’s 1989 play ‘Jis Lahore Nai Vekhya, O Jamya E Nai’ . The film is set against the backdrop of the Partition of India and follows a married couple, played by Sunny Deol and Preity Zinta, who are forced to migrate to Pakistan. After arriving there, they are allotted a house where they discover a Hindu woman living there. Deol’s character vows to protect her while also keeping his own family safe.
The film features an ensemble cast including Shabana Azmi, Karan Deol (Sunny Deol’s son), Ali Fazal, and Abhimanyu Singh. This movie marks the reunion of Rajkumar Santoshi and Sunny Deol after their successful collaborations in the 1990s, including ‘Ghayal’ (1990), ‘Damini’ (1993), and ‘Ghatak’ (1996).
Box Office Performance and Competition
‘Batwara 1947’ has not performed well at the box office since its release. The film faced tough competition from Emraan Hashmi’s ‘Awarapan 2’, which has crossed the ₹100 crore mark domestically. On the other hand, ‘Batwara 1947’ has collected only around ₹32 crore so far. The film saw a major drop in collections on its first Monday, with a 72% decline. Despite a slight improvement on Tuesday, it continued to struggle on subsequent days.
The film received mixed reviews from critics and audiences. While Sunny Deol and Shabana Azmi’s performances have been praised, the movie has failed to connect with a wider audience.
Related:
Sunny Deol’s Comeback After ‘Gadar 2’
‘Batwara 1947’ was expected to be another big hit for Sunny Deol, who made a massive comeback with ‘Gadar 2’ in 2023. However, the film has turned out to be a box office failure, marking a setback for the actor. The movie’s performance has raised questions about whether audiences are ready for serious, historical dramas from actors known for action-heavy roles.
Despite the film’s box office struggles, Rajkumar Santoshi has stood by his vision. He recently held a special screening of the film for spiritual leaders from diverse faiths. The Islamic Council of India’s chairman also praised the film for its message of love and humanity.
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