"Forever grateful to Papa for believing": Sunny Deol reflects on "full circle" moment, recalling Dharmendra's faith in 'Ghayal'
Mumbai, August 1
Having arrived in Jaipur for the promotions of his upcoming film 'Batwara 1947', actor Sunny Deol shared a deeply personal memory with his late father, the legendary Dharmendra.
Reflecting on a journey that, in Sunny Deol's words, had "come full circle", the actor revealed how he took Rajkumar Santoshi's 'Ghayal' script to his father when the project was struggling to find producers.
"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," he wrote.
As shared by Sunny in his Instagram post, the late Dharmendra was shooting in Jaipur when Rajkumar Santoshi gave him a complete narration of 'Ghayal', and he received an immediate nod.
"Papa was shooting for Batwara in 1988 in Jaipur and staying at Rambagh Palace. Raj gave him the complete narration of Ghayal, and the moment it ended, Papa said yes. 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," he added.
Mentioning the promotions of 'Batwara 1947' in Jaipur, Sunny Deol expressed much gratitude and remembered fond memories.
"Papa's Batwara (1989). My #Batwara1947 (2026) - The same city. A lifetime of memories. And a circle that feels beautifully complete. Forever grateful to Papa for believing in my instinct, and to Raj for giving me a story worth fighting for," he concluded.
Directed by Rajkumar Santoshi and produced under Aamir Khan Productions, 'Batwara 1947' stars Sunny Deol, Preity Zinta, Shabana Azmi, Karan Deol, Ali Fazal and Abhimanyu Singh in key roles.
Set against the backdrop of the 1947 Partition, Batwara 1947 follows a family whose lives are irrevocably altered as violence, fear and forced migration tear apart communities that once lived side by side. Yet, amid unimaginable loss and deepening divisions, the film celebrates the courage to choose kindness over hatred and hope over despair, read a press note.
The movie is slated for a worldwide theatrical release on August 14, 2026. Its music is composed by AR Rahman, while the lyrics are penned by Javed Akhtar.
— ANI
Reader Comments
Dharmendra ji was truly a legend. The way he trusted his son's instincts is admirable. A lot of parents today could learn from this. Also, AR Rahman and Javed Akhtar on board means the music and lyrics will be magical. This film has great potential!
Full circle moment indeed! It's rare to see such dedication to a story. The Partition backdrop will resonate with so many families across India and Pakistan. Looking forward to seeing Karan Deol's performance as well. All the best to the entire team!
Beautiful tribute to Dharmendra sahab. However, I must say that as much as I admire both Ghayal and Sunny Deol's action films, I hope Batwara 1947 doesn't glorify violence too much. The Partition was a tragic event and it needs sensitive handling. That said, Rajkumar Santoshi is a master storyteller, so I have faith. 🙏
My parents always talk about how Ghayal was a game-changer back then. Now seeing Sunny Deol ji coming full circle in Jaipur, where his father believed in him, gives me goosebumps. Batwara 1947 is going to be emotional. The cast is brilliant - Preity Zinta, Shabana Azmi, Ali Fazal... outstanding!
Dharamendra ji saying 'yes' to Ghayal and now Batwara 1947 releasing in 2026. What a legacy! Also, kudos to Aamir Khan Productions for backing such meaningful cinema. It's high time Bollywood makes more films about
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