Archive · 7 Aug 2026
Sunny Deol's Damini role was originally written for Om Puri
A director named Rajkumar Santoshi told fun stories about his old movies.
He made a famous movie called Damini in 1993.
At first, he wanted actor Om Puri to play the lawyer, but the plan did not work out.
So he asked Sunny Deol instead, and Sunny said yes right away.
People loved his big courtroom speech.
The director also decided not to put songs in parts of the movie, even though people expected songs back then.
He wanted the story to stay strong.
Later, he made another movie called Ghatak with Sunny Deol.
Now, after many years, the two are making a new movie together called Batwara 1947, coming out on August 14.
Rajkumar Santoshi revealed that Om Puri was originally meant to play the lawyer in Damini opposite Amrish Puri, but the plan fell through over pricing disagreements.
Sunny Deol then took the role of advocate Govind without hesitation, despite knowing Damini was primarily Meenakshi Seshadri's film.
Santoshi deliberately kept songs out of key portions of Damini despite producer pressure, saying they would interrupt the narrative.
Kamal Haasan was first offered Ghatak, but pricing complications involving partner Bharat Shah led to Sunny Deol starring in it instead.
Sunny Deol and Rajkumar Santoshi reunite after nearly 30 years with Batwara 1947, a Partition-era drama backed by Aamir Khan Productions releasing on August 14.
- Who
- Filmmaker Rajkumar Santoshi and actor Sunny Deol shared behind-the-scenes stories about their 1990s hits Damini and Ghatak.
- What
- Revelations that Om Puri was originally cast for Sunny Deol's Damini role, songs were deliberately omitted, and Kamal Haasan was first offered Ghatak.
- When
- Shared in a recent Fever FM interview; Damini released in 1993, and the duo's next film Batwara 1947 arrives on August 14.
- Where
- The Hindi film industry (Bollywood); the interview aired on Fever FM.
- Why
- To reveal the untold casting and creative decisions behind the classic films and to promote the duo's long-awaited reunion.
- Film
- Damini (1993)
- Lawyer role originally written for
- Om Puri
- Role ultimately played by
- Sunny Deol (advocate Govind)
- Ghatak originally offered to
- Kamal Haasan
- Song policy
- No songs in key portions, against 1990s convention
- Upcoming film
- Batwara 1947
- Release date
- August 14
- Backed by
- Aamir Khan Productions