Actor Sunny Deol has shared his thoughts on Pakistan during a promotional press conference for the upcoming film Batwara 1947.
As per the details, the actor, accompanied by his son Karan Deol, was interacting with the media when a journalist asked him to comment on Pakistan, given that his film is set during the Partition of the subcontinent.
In response, he spoke about Pakistan and India being one before the Partition of 1947.
Deol recalled how his father, the late superstar Dharmendra, used to refer to Pakistan as his “mausi”, which means aunt.
“We don’t think like that because the entire country was once one. As my father said, ‘This is my mother and that is my aunt.’ You all know that well. In one way or another, we are all connected,” he said.
The 68-year-old actor declined to comment further on Pakistan or the current tensions between the two neighbours, and stressed that his job as an actor was to tell stories, not get involved in political debates.
“I don’t want to get into all that. We are actors, we are storytellers. We choose stories and make films. We don’t take them in a political direction, and we don’t want to. That’s why I won’t comment on those matters.”
Batwara 1947 follows a Muslim family that migrates from Lucknow to Lahore during Partition and is allotted an old haveli. The property belongs to a Hindu woman who refuses to leave, and Deol’s character and his family stand by her, helping her fight to stay in her home despite mounting opposition.
The film reunites Deol with director Rajkumar Santoshi, with whom he previously collaborated on Ghayal, Damini and Ghatak.
Produced by Aamir Khan, the film also stars Preity Zinta, Shabana Azmi, Karan Deol and Ali Fazal. It is set for release on August 13.
