Archive · 31 Aug 2026
Sunny Deol, Rajkumar Santoshi Plan Non-Sequel Ghatak Follow-Up
Rajkumar Santoshi and Sunny Deol want to make more films together.
One new movie will be an action story about a Sardar living in the United States.
Another is called Ghatak Ghus Ke Marega.
Santoshi says it is not officially a sequel to Ghatak, but Sunny will play the same kind of Varanasi-based character.
The filmmaker says the movie will have action, strong dialogue and emotion.
Santoshi does not usually like making sequels.
That is why he will not direct Jaat 2 or continue Andaz Apna Apna directly.
Their plans come after Batwara 1947 performed poorly at the domestic box office.
Shabana Azmi and Santoshi gave different explanations for why that film failed.
Rajkumar Santoshi says he and Sunny Deol are developing several films together.
One planned action thriller features Sunny Deol as a Sardar based in the United States.
Ghatak Ghus Ke Marega will use the same Varanasi-based character as Ghatak, but is not a sequel.
Santoshi says he does not favor sequels and declined to direct Jaat 2.
Their reunion follows Batwara 1947 failing to reach Rs 40 crore domestically, amid disagreement over the film’s reception.
- Who
- Filmmaker Rajkumar Santoshi and actor Sunny Deol are planning several films together; Shabana Azmi and Santoshi disagreed over Batwara 1947’s failure.
- What
- The pair is developing an action thriller and Ghatak Ghus Ke Marega, a non-sequel featuring the same Varanasi-based character as Ghatak.
- When
- The plans were announced after the recent release and box-office failure of Batwara 1947.
- Where
- One planned character is based in the United States, while the Ghatak-related character is from Varanasi.
- Why
- Santoshi and Deol are reviving their collaboration with new action-driven stories, while Santoshi says he prefers not to make direct sequels.
Shabana Azmi’s view
Rajkumar Santoshi’s view
Why Batwara 1947 failed
Shabana Azmi’s view
Azmi suggested audiences may not have accepted Sunny Deol playing a Muslim character and questioned whether social divisions were being encouraged.
Rajkumar Santoshi’s view
Santoshi rejected that explanation, pointing to Amitabh Bachchan’s successful portrayals of Muslim characters, including in Coolie.
Audience response
Shabana Azmi’s view
Azmi argued that the film’s reception raised concerns about whether audiences could accept a hero from another community in the role.
Rajkumar Santoshi’s view
Santoshi said viewers are sensible, educated people and questioned the claim that the casting represented a major mistake.
- Planned Ghatak-related film
- Ghatak Ghus Ke Marega
- Sequel status
- Santoshi says it is not a sequel to Ghatak, though it uses the same character.
- Character setting
- The Ghatak-related character is from Varanasi.
- Other planned project
- An action thriller featuring Sunny Deol as a Sardar based in the United States.
- Batwara 1947 domestic gross
- The film did not reach Rs 40 crore at the domestic box office.
- Santoshi’s sequel position
- He declined to direct Jaat 2 and is not directly continuing Andaz Apna Apna.
- Earlier collaboration
- Santoshi and Deol previously worked together on Ghayal, Damini and Ghatak.