Amid Batwara 1947 promotions, Sunny Deol recalls how Dharmendra backed Ghayal after every producer rejected it
Batwara 1947 also features Sunny Deol's son, Karan Deol, and marks Preity Zinta's return to after more than five years.
Sunny Deol has kicked off the promotions of his upcoming film Batwara 1947 in Jaipur. The film is directed by Rajkumar Santoshi, who also helmed Sunny's breakthrough film Ghayal (1990). In his latest Instagram post, the actor shared a heartfelt anecdote about how his father, veteran actor Dharmendra, decided to back Ghayal in the very same city after no other producer was willing to finance the project.

How Dharmendra decided to back Ghayal
On X, Sunny posted a video featuring Rajkumar Santoshi and wrote, "Some journeys come full circle in ways you can never plan. Years ago, I believed deeply in a script written by a young Rajkumar Santoshi. We tried taking it to producers, but no one was ready to back the film. That was when I decided to take it to Papa. Papa was shooting for Batwara in 1988 in Jaipur & staying at Rambagh Palace. Raj gave him the complete narration of Ghayal,& the moment it ended, Papa said yes."
He added, "More than the film, what stayed with me was how proud he was that I had recognised and stood by such a powerful story. That faith became Ghayal. And now, all these years later, I returned to Jaipur for the first promotions of Batwara 1947. Papa’s Batwara (1989). My #Batwara1947 (2026). The same city. A lifetime of memories. And a circle that feels beautifully complete. ❤️🙏"
About Batwara 1947
In Batwara 1947, Sunny Deol plays a Muslim man who migrates to Pakistan during the Partition. However, he discovers a Hindu woman, played by Shabana Azmi, living upstairs in his home who refuses to leave. He takes it upon himself to protect her while also ensuring the safety of his own family amid the communal riots.
The film also marks the first on-screen collaboration between Sunny and his son, Karan Deol, who plays his son in the film. The cast also includes Ali Fazal, Abhimanyu Singh, Khushi Hajare and Kanikka Kapur in pivotal roles.
Batwara 1947 also marks Preity Zinta's return to acting after more than five years. The film's music has been composed by AR Rahman, with lyrics by Javed Akhtar. It has also been cleared by the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) without any cuts. The film is bankrolled by Aamir Khan under the banner of Aamir Khan Productions.
ABOUT THE AUTHORVibha MaruVibha Maru is an Assistant Editor with Hindustan Times Entertainment, based in Delhi. With a decade of experience across digital and print media, she covers Bollywood, Hollywood and web shows. A self-confessed cinephile who breathes Hindi cinema, Vibha can often be found sacrificing sleep after binge-watching films and web series. Though she holds a Commerce degree, she discovered her true calling in journalism after enrolling at the Indian Institute of Mass Communication (IIMC). She began her career covering Delhi's cultural scene, food, nightlife, concerts, and city life at The Times of India, before moving into full-time entertainment journalism with India Today. At India Today, Vibha interviewed some of the biggest names in Bollywood and television while carving a niche for herself through film reviews, opinion pieces, nostalgic features, celebrity interviews, and trend-driven stories. She later brought her storytelling and editorial expertise to The Indian Express, where she continued to deepen her understanding of cinema through long-form entertainment explainers, retrospectives and feature writing. Now, as Assistant Editor at Hindustan Times Entertainment, Vibha continues to chronicle the world of movies and pop culture. Her work spans breaking entertainment news, exclusive interviews, celebrity features, and stories that capture the conversations shaping Indian cinema.Read More
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