Archive · 30 Aug 2026
Shabana Azmi Questions Batwara 1947’s Box Office Failure
Batwara 1947 is a film about people affected by the Partition of India.
It stars Sunny Deol, Preity Zinta, and Shabana Azmi.
The film came to cinemas on August 14.
It earned less money than expected, while Awarapan 2 did much better.
Shabana Azmi said many people told her they liked the film’s message about humanity.
However, not enough people went to watch it in theatres.
She believes some viewers found it difficult to accept Sunny Deol playing a Muslim character.
She also said some people wrongly thought his character was Pakistani.
Azmi said stories about India and Pakistan may be difficult to make in the current environment.
Batwara 1947, released on August 14, has earned Rs 53 crore so far.
Shabana Azmi said she was surprised by the film’s weak theatrical performance.
Azmi suggested some viewers struggled to accept Sunny Deol playing a Muslim character.
She said some audiences mistakenly believed Deol was portraying a Pakistani character.
Awarapan 2, released the same day, has crossed Rs 200 crore, while Batwara 1947 received mixed reactions.
- Who
- Shabana Azmi discussed Batwara 1947, which stars Sunny Deol and Preity Zinta; Azmi also appears in the film.
- What
- Azmi expressed surprise at the film’s box-office failure and suggested that reactions to Deol’s Muslim character may have affected its reception.
- When
- Batwara 1947 was released on August 14; Azmi discussed its performance in a conversation with Zoom.
- Where
- The film is set during Partition, including in Lahore; the reported performance concerns cinemas and the box office.
- Why
- Azmi said audiences may have struggled with Deol’s casting, misunderstood his character, or found the film confusing.
Shabana Azmi’s Interpretation
Audience and Presentation Concerns
Sunny Deol’s casting
Shabana Azmi’s Interpretation
Azmi suggested that some viewers could not accept Sunny Deol as a Muslim character and compared this reaction with the acceptance of Amitabh Bachchan in earlier Muslim roles.
Audience and Presentation Concerns
The reports describe audience confusion about Deol’s character, including claims that he was playing a Pakistani, but they do not establish that casting was the sole cause of the film’s box-office performance.
The film’s message
Shabana Azmi’s Interpretation
Azmi said people around her praised the film’s message about moving from hatred toward humanity and considered it important in the current environment.
Audience and Presentation Concerns
Despite that positive feedback, theatrical attendance was low and some viewers reportedly left confused, indicating that favorable personal reactions did not translate into broad cinema turnout.
India-Pakistan subject
Shabana Azmi’s Interpretation
Azmi said Batwara 1947 was not politically incorrect and expressed disappointment that stories about Hindustan and Pakistan had become difficult to address in Hindi cinema.
Audience and Presentation Concerns
The reports also mention criticism attributed to Pakistani actor Bushra Ahmed concerning the film’s language and the Punjabi dialect used by its villain.
- Film
- Batwara 1947
- Release date
- August 14
- Reported earnings
- Rs 53 crore so far
- Same-day release
- Awarapan 2 crossed Rs 200 crore
- Sunny Deol’s role
- Sikandar Mirza, a Muslim character
- Audience response
- Some viewers praised the humanity message, while others reportedly had confused reactions
- Production
- Backed by Aamir Khan Productions and directed by Rajkumar Santoshi
- Source material
- Inspired by the Urdu play Jis Lahore Nai Vekhya O Jamyai Nai
Sources
Batwara 1947 failed as people couldn’t accept Sunny Deol as a Muslim: Shabana Azmi
'You Cannot Accept Sunny Deol As A Muslim': Shabana Azmi Says She Was 'Surprised' By Batwara 1947 Box Office Failure
'You cannot accept Sunny Deol as a Muslim': Shabana Azmi on why Batwara 1947 flopped