Batwara 1947: Rajkumar Santoshi reveals why investors hesitated to back Sunny film

Bollywood actor Sunny Deol’s Batwara 1947 may have received appreciation for his performance, but filmmaker Rajkumar Santoshi has revealed that the film faced apprehension from potential investors and distributors because of its subject and Sunny’s character.In an interview with Galatta India, Santoshi opened up about the difficulties he faced while finding financial backing for the Partition drama. He said several investors and distributors were hesitant to associate with the film after learning that Sunny would be playing a Muslim character rather than the action-heavy roles audiences typically associate with him.“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,” he said.Santoshi further explained that some reviews had mistakenly described Sunny’s character as Pakistani. He clarified that the actor plays a Muslim man from India who is forced to migrate to Pakistan during Partition to protect his family and save his life. According to the filmmaker, the Partition backdrop itself became a concern for potential backers, who considered the subject risky.“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. They wanted us to make a film like Ghayal or Ghatak where Sunny is beating everyone. 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,” Santoshi said. Batwara 1947 marks Rajkumar Santoshi’s reunion with Sunny Deol nearly three decades after their last collaboration. The filmmaker and actor have previously worked together on films such as Ghayal (1990), Damini (1993) and Ghatak (1996), all of which went on to become memorable titles in their filmographies.Based on Asghar Wajahat’s 1989 play Jis Lahore Nai Vekhya, O Jamya E Nai, the period drama is set against the backdrop of Partition. The story follows a married couple, played by Sunny Deol and Preity Zinta, who are forced to migrate to Pakistan after Partition. Once there, they are allotted a house occupied by a Hindu woman. Sunny’s character then takes it upon himself to protect her while ensuring the safety of his own family.While Sunny Deol and Shabana Azmi have earned praise for their performances, the film appears to have had a tougher journey with audiences. Batwara 1947 hit theatres on August 14 and received mixed reviews from critics and viewers. Despite its ensemble cast, which also includes Karan Deol and Ali Fazal, the film has struggled at the box office, facing stiff competition from Emraan Hashmi’s Awarapan 2.- EndsPublished By: Prachi aryaPublished On: Aug 20, 2026 17:21 IST