Rajkumar Santoshi says casting Sunny Deol as a Muslim in Batwara 1947 was 'shocker'

Batwara 1947 has received mixed reviews across the board, and apart from the screenplay, Sunny Deol playing an Indian Muslim hero has also become a topic of discussion. Now, director Rajkumar Santoshi has revealed that casting him as a Muslim protagonist was considered a risky proposition. In an exclusive chat with India Today, he recalled how the industry was reluctant to back a film centred on Pakistan and featuring an Indian Muslim hero.Santoshi said the hesitation was rooted in an industry that preferred safe, mainstream formulas and questioned whether audiences would accept Deol in a role so far removed from his established image. “Everybody wanted to make mainstream cinema. Be it commercial, fighting, songs, item songs. They all wanted to be very safe and stick to the success formula,” he said.The concern was not unfounded, as Deol has spent decades being identified with some of Hindi cinema’s most muscular, patriotic and action-oriented roles, making his portrayal of Sikandar Mirza, an Indian Muslim caught in the turmoil of partition, an unusual casting choice. Santoshi admitted that the contradiction was precisely why he wanted Deol in the role. He was speaking about the period when the film was first conceived around 15 years back, when, according to him, even before the current climate of heightened religious polarisation, people were wary of stories dealing with Pakistan and Muslim characters.“Nobody wants to hear the word Pakistan or a Muslim, and a Muslim protagonist, tauba tauba. And on top of that, Sunny playing the part was a shocker for most. He is a champion of Hindus; how can he play a Muslim? It will never work. He should go to Pakistan, beat them up; that was their idea. But we believed Sunny was the right person to get the message across," Santoshi said. He added, "He is a very popular star, and I was confident that if they came to the theatre and watched the film, the audience wouldn't be disappointed. Because Sunny is playing a brave man; he is the most courageous character I have written. One can fight with a single army, or a group of people, but to fight and take a stand against fanaticism in today’s time, impossible. Nobody will dare to do that."The filmmaker also praised Deol for embracing the film’s religiously sensitive material, including dialogues that draw directly from the Quran. “Most of the stars, nobody wants to get into that; they are all scared. He came forward to do it, mouthing direct verses from the Quran. At least one should support and encourage that conviction. I really salute Sunny Deol for doing this role,” he said, adding that having previously collaborated on successful films like Ghayal, Ghatak and Damini, they share a wonderful trust and tuning between them. The film’s message was also taken beyond the traditional film audience. Santoshi invited religious leaders from across the country to watch Batwara 1947 on Thursday, following which several of them spoke about the film’s emphasis on brotherhood, coexistence and respecting another person’s faith while remaining rooted in one’s own.The filmmaker also revealed that Asghar Wajahat, whose play Jis Lahore Nai Vekhya, O Jamya Nai forms the source material for the film, was involved from the very beginning. Santoshi said Wajahat was present as the screenplay was being developed and was extremely satisfied with the way his story was transformed for the screen. As for how the film was received in Pakistan, Santoshi admitted that he does not know. But he was clear about where his priority lies. “I am more concerned about my brothers in Hindustan. The film is made here, for Hindustanis,” he said.For Santoshi, that is also why the response from Indian audiences matters more than the reaction across the border. Despite his disappointment with the box office, he said the people walking out of theatres and praising the film had convinced him that the story had found its audience.“I was initially upset about the lukewarm response. But when people come out of the theatre and the way they are praising the film, I really feel I have achieved something. I have done something good. And today, hearing these religious leaders talk so beautifully about my film, I feel my job is done,” he concluded.Santoshi’s comments come as Batwara 1947 struggles to match expectations at the box office. The film, which was released on August 14, collected around Rs 33.60 crore net in India in its first week, trailing Emraan Hashmi’s Awarapan 2, which has dominated the Independence Day box-office race.- EndsPublished By: Vineeta KumarPublished On: Aug 21, 2026 11:20 IST