NEW DELHI (Showbiz Desk) – Bollywood actor Sunny Deol has sparked a heated debate on social media after speaking about Pakistan during a promotional press conference for his upcoming film Batwara 1947, which is set against the backdrop of the Partition of British India.
At the #Batwara1947 event, #SunnyDeol recalled his father #Dharmendra‘s perspective on the shared roots between India and Pakistan.
He said, “Hum feel ki baatein nahi karte because pura mulk ek hi tha. Jaise papa ne kaha ki yeh meri maa hai aur woh meri mausi hai, jo aap log sab… pic.twitter.com/Pc2jMIAz92
— Filmfare (@filmfare) August 4, 2026
Deol, who appeared at the event alongside his son and co-star Karan Deol, was asked by an Indian journalist about his views on Pakistan as a country and its current atmosphere.
Rather than directly commenting on Pakistan’s political situation, the veteran actor referred to the words of his late father, legendary actor Dharmendra, who died last November.
“We can’t talk about how we feel about it because both countries were once one,” Deol said, recalling his father’s description of the relationship between the two countries.
According to Deol, Dharmendra used to say, “This is my mother and that Pakistan is my maternal aunt.” The actor added that people on both sides remained connected in one way or another.
Sunny Deol avoids political discussion
Deol subsequently declined to elaborate on the political dimensions of India-Pakistan relations, saying that his primary responsibility was to work as an actor and filmmaker.
“I don’t wish to get into all that. We are actors. We are makers. We choose stories and make stories,” he said, adding that he did not want to take the film in a political direction.
His comments nevertheless triggered significant discussion on social media.
Some users criticised Deol for what they described as a softer position towards Pakistan, while others accused him of being opportunistic. One social media user also referred to his previous political career and alleged that he had used nationalist rhetoric during elections.
Others criticised what they perceived as support for Pakistan, reflecting the highly sensitive nature of India-Pakistan relations.
India-Pakistan tensions add to film controversy
The reaction comes amid continued tensions between India and Pakistan, particularly following the four-day military conflict between the two countries in May 2025.
Relations between the two nuclear-armed neighbours have remained strained for decades, with political tensions frequently affecting cultural exchanges and entertainment industries.
Against this backdrop, the subject matter of Batwara 1947 has further intensified interest in Deol’s comments.
Directed by Rajkumar Santoshi, the film is set during the Partition of British India and follows a Muslim family forced to migrate to Pakistan amid the violence surrounding Partition.
The story takes another dramatic turn when the family discovers that a Hindu woman, played by Shabana Azmi, is occupying the house they have been allotted in Lahore.
The film also features Preity Zinta, Ali Fazal and Abhimanyu Singh in key roles.
With Partition remaining one of the most sensitive chapters in the shared history of India and Pakistan, the film is expected to attract considerable attention on both sides of the border.
Batwara 1947 is scheduled to be released on August 14, making Deol’s comments particularly significant as the film’s promotional campaign gathers momentum.
25-word summary
Sunny Deol sparks an India-Pakistan debate by recalling his father Dharmendra’s softer view of Pakistan while promoting Partition-era film Batwara 1947.
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