New Delhi: Sunny Deol is returning to the India-Pakistan border yet again, this time in the Partition era. The motion poster of Batwara 1947 was released Tuesday, putting him back in the Pakistan-and-patriotism sweet spot that has powered some of his most high-decibel hits.
Set to release on 14 August, Batwara 1947 (earlier Lahore 1947) is directed by Rajkumar Santoshi and based on Asghar Wajahat’s celebrated play Jis Lahore Nai Vekhya, O Jamya E Nai (He Who Has Not Seen Lahore, Has Not Been Born). Produced by Aamir Khan Productions, it stars Sunny Deol, Preity Zinta, and Karan Deol, Sunny’s son. “In times of hatred and fear, he chose courage,” says the motion poster, which shows Deol running through flames.
The film follows a family forced to leave their beloved home in Lucknow during Partition and allotted a haveli in Lahore. Their lives take an unexpected turn when an elderly woman, abandoned by her family, returns to the haveli claiming she is its rightful owner.
Sunny Deol’s association with films revolving around India-Pakistan relations is not new, but these stories have proved especially rewarding for the actor in recent years.
Such films are especially effective now as they tap into today’s sentiments around nationalism and national identity, according to Naren Sahay, assistant professor of film studies at Delhi University and a former cinematographer.
“Whichever films stay in the zone of India-Pakistan conflicts become hits because the politics within the country, the nationalism, and the love for the nation are running on a different level,” he told ThePrint.
The template has worked repeatedly for Deol, from soldiers defending the border to spies tracking terror networks to Partition dramas. Here are seven Deol films—including sequels— that leveraged the formula.
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Border (1997)
Directed by JP Dutta, Border is based on the Battle of Longewala during the 1971 India-Pakistan War. Deol played Major Kuldeep Singh Chandpuri, who leads a small group of Indian soldiers defending their post against Pakistani forces. The cast included Jackie Shroff, Suniel Shetty, and Akshaye Khanna. Made on a budget of Rs 10 crore, the film earned around Rs 65 crore worldwide.
Gadar: Ek Prem Katha (2001)
Directed by Anil Sharma, Gadar: Ek Prem Katha starred Deol alongside Ameesha Patel and Amrish Puri. Set against the backdrop of Partition, the film follows a man who falls in love and marries the woman of his dreams, only to be separated from her in the chaos. Determined to bring her back, Deol’s character crosses the border illegally. Made on a budget of Rs 19 crore, the film collected nearly Rs 133 crore worldwide.
Sahay said that Gadar established Deol’s image as larger-than-life hero.
“He uproots handpumps, and there is a larger-than-life perspective, so this liberates the audience. They feel like they are going there themselves and doing all those things,” he added.
Indian (2001)
Directed by N Maharajan, Indian starred Deol alongside Shilpa Shetty and Danny Denzongpa. Deol played an honest police officer who arrests a terrorist sent from Pakistan to carry out bombings across India. The film was made on a budget of Rs 14 crore and collected over Rs 42 crore worldwide.
Maa Tujhhe Salaam (2002)
In Maa Tujhhe Salaam (2002), directed by Tinu Verma and co-starring Tabu and Arbaaz Khan, Deol played an Indian military officer who thwarts a terrorist attack planned by Pakistan with the help of civilians. The film also sees his character uncovering sleeper cells operating within India. Made on a budget of Rs 13 crore, it earned more than Rs 22 crore worldwide.
The Hero: Love Story of a Spy (2003)
Directed by Anil Sharma, The Hero: Love Story of a Spy followed an Indian intelligence officer deployed along the Indo-Pak border, where he is tasked with establishing a spy network to track Pakistan-backed terror activities. The film collected over Rs 45 crore against a budget of Rs 35 crore.
Gadar 2 (2023)
Directed by Anil Sharma, Gadar 2 reunited Deol with Ameesha Patel and returned to the characters of the 2001 blockbuster. The sequel followed Sunny Deol’s Tara Singh as he entered Pakistan again, this time to save his son. It went on to earn about Rs 686 crore worldwide.
Border 2 (2026)
The success of Border led to Border 2. Directed by Anurag Singh and starring Deol alongside Varun Dhawan, Diljit Dosanjh and Ahan Shetty, it was also set against the backdrop of the 1971 India-Pakistan War, but focused on different events from the conflict. The sequel collected over Rs 450 crore worldwide.
(Edited by Asavari Singh)