Archive · 20 Aug 2026
Why Investors Considered Sunny Deol’s Batwara 1947 Risky
Batwara 1947 is a movie about the time when India was divided during Partition.
Sunny Deol plays a Muslim man who is originally from India.
His character must move to Pakistan to save his life and protect his family.
The family is given a house where they find a Hindu woman living there.
Deol’s character promises to protect her while also looking after his family.
Director Rajkumar Santoshi said investors thought this story was risky.
Some investors wanted Sunny Deol to make a more familiar action movie instead.
Santoshi also said some people worry that films mentioning Pakistan may be called anti-national.
Aamir Khan supported the project and offered to produce it if necessary.
Director Rajkumar Santoshi said investors wanted Sunny Deol in a conventional action or vigilante film.
Financiers reportedly viewed Batwara 1947’s Partition-era subject and Muslim lead character as risky.
Santoshi said some investors feared that mentioning Pakistan could make a film seem anti-national.
He clarified that Deol plays an Indian Muslim forced to migrate to Pakistan to protect his family.
Aamir Khan supported the project and said he would produce it if no one else did.
- Who
- Director Rajkumar Santoshi, actor Sunny Deol, and supporters including Aamir Khan are central to the story.
- What
- Batwara 1947 is a Partition-era film featuring Sunny Deol as an Indian Muslim forced to migrate to Pakistan.
- When
- The film is currently in theatres; its story is set during the Partition era.
- Where
- The story follows migration from India to Pakistan, while the investment discussions took place in Mumbai.
- Why
- Investors reportedly considered the subject risky because of its Partition setting, Muslim lead character, and references to Pakistan.
Investor Concerns
Director’s Explanation
Commercial appeal
Investor Concerns
Several potential financiers reportedly wanted Sunny Deol in a familiar action or vigilante film and considered the Partition-era subject risky.
Director’s Explanation
Rajkumar Santoshi defended making a story-led film about migration, family protection, and relations between a Muslim family and a Hindu woman.
References to Pakistan
Investor Concerns
Santoshi said investors feared that even mentioning Pakistan could lead people to view a film as anti-national.
Director’s Explanation
Santoshi said the film’s story requires Pakistan as part of the characters’ forced migration and does not make Deol’s character Pakistani.
Character identity
Investor Concerns
Some reviews and reports described Sunny Deol’s character as Pakistani.
Director’s Explanation
Santoshi clarified that Deol plays an Indian Muslim who is uprooted from India and migrates to Pakistan to save his life and family.
- Film
- Batwara 1947
- Director
- Rajkumar Santoshi
- Lead actor
- Sunny Deol
- Historical setting
- The Partition era
- Character
- An Indian Muslim who migrates to Pakistan
- Investor concern
- Financiers reportedly preferred Deol in a conventional action or vigilante role.
- Support
- Aamir Khan said he would produce the film if nobody else did.
- Current performance
- The film is in theatres and is reportedly struggling at the box office despite positive reviews from critics and fans.
