Bollywood actor Sunny Deol has come under fire on Indian social media after referring to Pakistan as India’s “maternal aunt” while promoting his upcoming film Batwara 1947. The remarks, inspired by the words of his late father and legendary actor Dharmendra, triggered a wave of criticism, with many accusing Deol of contradicting the nationalist image he has cultivated throughout his career.
Speaking at a promotional press conference alongside his son and co-star Karan Deol, Sunny was asked by an Indian journalist to comment on Pakistan as a nation and its atmosphere. Rather than offering a political opinion, the actor recalled a phrase often used by his father.
At the #Batwara1947 event, #SunnyDeol recalled his father #Dharmendra's perspective on the shared roots between India and Pakistan.
— Filmfare (@filmfare) August 4, 2026
He said, "Hum feel ki baatein nahi karte because pura mulk ek hi tha. Jaise papa ne kaha ki yeh meri maa hai aur woh meri mausi hai, jo aap log sab… pic.twitter.com/Pc2jMIAz92
“We can’t talk about how we feel about it because both countries were once one,” Deol said. “As my father used to say, ‘This is my mother and that is my maternal aunt.’ We’re all connected, in one way or another.”
Dharmendra, who passed away in November last year, was known for advocating peaceful relations between India and Pakistan and frequently spoke about the shared cultural and historical bonds between the people of both countries. Sunny Deol’s comments reflected that sentiment, emphasising common heritage over political divisions.
The actor, however, made it clear that he did not wish to turn the conversation into a political debate. “We are actors. We are makers. We choose stories and make stories. We don’t want to take them in a political direction,” he said, declining to elaborate further on India-Pakistan relations.
Despite his attempt to remain apolitical, the remarks quickly sparked controversy online. Critics questioned the actor’s sudden conciliatory tone, pointing to his long association with patriotic and military-themed films such as Border and Gadar, both of which portrayed India-Pakistan conflicts through a strongly nationalist narrative. Others also referenced his tenure as a Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Member of Parliament, arguing that he had previously benefited politically from nationalist rhetoric.
On social media platform X, several users accused Deol of hypocrisy and opportunism, claiming his comments were timed to generate goodwill ahead of the release of Batwara 1947. Others criticised what they perceived as sympathy towards Pakistan, while some defended the actor, arguing that acknowledging shared history should not be mistaken for endorsing political positions.
The debate comes at a time when relations between India and Pakistan remain particularly strained following the four-day military confrontation in May 2025. Since then, India has tightened restrictions on Pakistani digital entertainment content, including blocking YouTube channels, restricting Pakistani celebrities’ social media accounts and removing songs and related content from streaming platforms.
Against this backdrop, Batwara 1947 is already attracting considerable attention. Directed by Rajkumar Santoshi, the film is set during the Partition of British India and follows the story of a Muslim family forced to migrate to the newly created Pakistan amid communal violence. After arriving in Lahore, they discover that a Hindu woman, portrayed by Shabana Azmi, is living in the house allocated to them, leading to an emotionally charged story of displacement, identity and coexistence.
Featuring an ensemble cast that includes Sunny Deol, Shabana Azmi, Preity Zinta, Ali Fazal and Abhimanyu Singh, Batwara 1947 is scheduled for release on August 14. Whether the online controversy ultimately affects the film’s reception remains to be seen, but Deol’s remarks have once again demonstrated how discussions surrounding Partition and India-Pakistan relations continue to provoke strong public reactions nearly eight decades later.
