Sunny Deol expresses wish to work in film based on Emperor Ashoka, says "I can bring both my sons into this"
Patna, August 2
Bollywood actor Sunny Deol expressed his wish to work in a film based on Emperor Ashoka, where he can also cast both his sons, Karan Deol and Rajveer Deol.
During the Batwara 1947 promotions in Patna, Sunny Deol highlighted the significance of Ashoka in his life as he first heard stories of this emperor from late actor-director Raj Kapoor.
However, he also highlighted that such a movie would require a high budget as it includes a depiction of India's history. Sunny Deol added that the story was compelling enough that he could even cast both of his sons in the film
"The Ashoka is very near to my heart. Rajkumar Santoshi has told me the story, and Chandraprakash Dwivedi has also narrated the story to me. But such films require heavy budgets. And in past I didn't had any film. After Gadar 2, situations became good and I hope it becomes better in future. I would love to make such a movie. It's a lovely subject. I also believe that I can also bring my both sons into this because it carries a vast history," said Sunny Deol while talking to the media.
Sunny Deol will be next seen in Batwara 1947. Directed by Rajkumar Santoshi and produced under Aamir Khan Productions, the film 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
Honestly, I'd love to see more films about Emperor Ashoka - his transformation from Chandashoka to Dhammashoka is one of the most powerful stories in Indian history. But let's be real, we already had a big-budget Ashoka film with SRK in 2001 that didn't do well. What matters is the storytelling and historical accuracy. Having said that, if Sunny paaji and Rajkumar Santoshi are serious about this, I'm willing to give it a chance. After Gadar 2, Sunny sir is definitely back in form! 💪
Interesting concept, but I hope they focus on Ashoka's Kalinga war and his conversion to Buddhism - that's the real emotional core of his story. Also, casting both sons is sweet but they need to earn their spots. Bollywood nepotism is already a hot topic, and if Karan and Rajveer aren't up to the mark, this could backfire. Batwara 1947 looks promising though - great cast and Aamir Khan's production backing. Let's see how that turns out first.
The emperor who gave us the Ashoka Chakra on our national flag deserves a grand cinematic tribute! 🇮🇳 Sunny Deol ji has that raw, powerful screen presence that could work well for the warrior side of Ashoka. But we also need someone who can portray his philosophical transformation - that's the challenging part. Also, hearing that Raj Kapoor sahab inspired him with Ashoka's stories - such beautiful connections. History and cinema coming together, love it!
I'm a bit skeptical, yaar. Historical films in Bollywood often go overboard with VFX and forget the human story. Ashoka's journey from a ruthless conqueror to a peace-loving Buddhist emperor is nuanced - it needs a director like Shyam Benegal or Ashutosh Gowariker who respects history. Rajkumar Santoshi and Chandraprakash Dwivedi are both talented, but let's hope
We welcome thoughtful discussions from our readers. Please keep comments respectful and on-topic.