Sunny Deol’s Muslim character in ‘Batwara 1947’ made investors hesitant, Rajkumar Santoshi clarifies: ‘He is not Pakistani, he is playing an Indian Muslim’ | Hindi Movie News

Rajkumar Santoshi Battles Investor Hesitancy Over Sunny Deol’s Muslim Character in ‘Batwara 1947’

Mumbai, India – Veteran filmmaker Rajkumar Santoshi has revealed the significant hurdles faced in securing financial backing for his upcoming film ‘Batwara 1947,’ starring Sunny Deol. Santoshi disclosed that many investors were reluctant to support the project, primarily due to the film’s sensitive subject matter centered around the Partition of India and Deol’s portrayal of a Muslim character.

Speaking to Galatta India, Santoshi detailed the challenges, stating that financiers were more interested in seeing Deol reprise his iconic action hero persona rather than embrace a serious, nuanced role. "Most of the investors here in Mumbai came to know that Sunny Deol and I were doing a film, they wanted me to do a regular action film, a vigilante film. They were not ready to take this film, where Sunny is playing a Muslim character," Santoshi explained. He acknowledged that Deol has played Muslim characters before, but emphasized that the role in ‘Batwara 1947’ carries a distinct gravitas and depth, making it a "serious character."

The director also took the opportunity to clarify misconceptions surrounding Sunny Deol’s character’s nationality. Despite some early reports and reviews labeling the character as Pakistani, Santoshi firmly stated, "He is not playing a Pakistani. He is playing a Muslim from India. He is uprooted and to save his life and save his family, he migrated to Pakistan." He further elaborated that the character is an Indian Muslim, born and raised in India, who is tragically forced to migrate during the tumultuous period of Partition. "It is easy to brand a person, but he isn’t a Pakistani character in the film," Santoshi asserted.

The filmmaker attributed much of the investor apprehension to the inherently "bold and risky" nature of the subject matter itself. He lamented the current climate where even mentioning historical events like Partition or the country of Pakistan can be misconstrued. "Now, that the trend has become that even if you say Pakistan you are considered anti-national," he observed, highlighting the sensitive environment in which such a film is being produced.

Interestingly, Santoshi revealed that Bollywood superstar Aamir Khan was aware of the project’s financial difficulties and had offered to step in as a producer if other avenues failed. "Aamir was aware of it and he knew about it. He was very supportive and he mentioned that he would produce it if nobody does," Santoshi shared, underscoring the solidarity within the industry despite commercial pressures.

Despite efforts from both Santoshi and Deol to secure funding, the challenging subject continued to deter potential producers. "We had actually reached out to producers, Sunny also contacted but the problem was that they didn’t want to take up this subject," Santoshi recounted. Many financiers reportedly pressed for a return to the successful action-packed collaborations that defined their earlier work, such as ‘Ghayal’ or ‘Ghatak,’ where Deol’s character typically engaged in high-octane combat.

However, Santoshi remained steadfast in his vision for ‘Batwara 1947,’ choosing to tell a compelling story rooted in historical events and presenting Deol in a character that transcends his established action-hero persona. This decision, while proving a challenge for financing, underscores Santoshi’s commitment to exploring deeper narratives and offering a fresh perspective on a pivotal moment in history. The film’s eventual release will undoubtedly be a testament to the perseverance of its creators in bringing this poignant story to the big screen.