Sunny Deol responds to criticism about Gadar 2 being ‘anti-Pakistan’: ‘Never run anyone down’

Amid Gadar 2's success, Sunny Deol was questioned about it being 'anti-Pakistani' and whether films can influence religious tensions.

Sunny Deol is basking in the success of Gadar 2. (Photo: Varinder Chawla)

Listen to this article

00:00

1x 1.5x 1.8x

While Sunny Deol’s Gadar 2 has been breaking many records at the box office, it’s also has drawn criticism from certain sections. The Anil Sharma directorial has been called an ‘anti-Pakistani’ film and some say it shows Muslims in a bad light. In a recent interview, the actor, however, dismissed the claims and shared how cinema should be taken as a means of entertainment, and not dissected so seriously.

In conversation with BBC UK, Sunny was asked about how the film has been considered ‘anti-Pakistani’. He shared that since the partition in 1947, there has been “hatred among one another”. However, he believes that “whatever has happened, has happened” and how it has now become a political thing. “I think people in both countries are like let it all go, we are normal humans on both sides,” he said in Punjabi. Sunny added that in a film there has to be ‘a villain, a hero’ for the story to run.

“But throughout the film, whenever I have portrayed any character, I have never run anyone down. I don’t believe in that. Even Tara Singh is not that kind of person, not that kind of character. And I believe in such cinema,” he shared. Referring to his earlier film Border, Sunny Deol shared that whatever they showed, it was shared by soldiers and it was what they experienced during the war. He added that people pick it up in a different way and get personal.

Also Read | Anil Sharma on Gadar 2 possibly breaking Pathaan’s all-time record: ‘Our box office numbers are real, not fake’

“But we need to look at cinema, it’s not trying to affect this side or that side. That’s not what we are. We are global, we are for everyone. It’s only when it’s read and spoken by a certain sectors of people, then that thoughts come in time. Majority don’t do that, it’s a handful of people. That’s when the wave comes,” he added.

The host also asked the actor about the religious imagery around the villain in Gadar 2 that could influence hatred in a climate that’s already seeing tensions among communities. To this, Sunny Deol replied, “Don’t take these films so seriously. There’s so much rubbish happening on digital and even news channels. Cinema comes for entertainment.”

Also Read | ‘Sunny Deol started weeping on the phone’: Gadar 2 director Anil Sharma recalls tearful conversation, star said, ‘We did it’

However, Sunny did admit that there’s a certain level of exaggeration in films, to make them look too good and bad. He said but the core of cinema continues to be entertaining the audience. As for influence, the actor shared that his past characters have inspired the youth as he’s mostly done positive parts or ones that fought for honesty.

As they discussed jingoism in films, Sunny Deol shrugged it off saying a film is not watched by everyone. He then added that he feels that politics today has become all about garnering more votes. “We are a free country now, what are we fighting for? How do we get votes? And I say this for all parties,” he said, adding that he feels a country is like a multinational company and the leaders should be working towards progressing in every sector than worrying about votes.

Story continues below this ad

Directed by Anil Sharma, Gadar 2 – a sequel of the 2001 hit Gadar – also stars Ameesha Patel, Utkarsh Sharma, Simratt Kaur and Manish Wadhwa.

Click here to follow Screen Digital on YouTube and stay updated with the latest from the world of cinema.