Rajkumar Santoshi questions audience hesitation over Sunny Deol playing a Muslim in Batwara 1947; asks, “If Spiderman’s name was Aslam Sheikh, would they reject him?” : Bollywood News

Rajkumar Santoshi directorial Batwara 1947, starring Sunny Deol in a Muslim character for the primary time, has been receiving optimistic suggestions from audiences who’ve watched the movie. Nevertheless, director Rajkumar Santoshi says he’s stunned that the appreciation has not translated into stronger field workplace numbers. The filmmaker has now urged audiences to come back to theatres, watch the movie after which type their very own opinion.

Rajkumar Santoshi questions viewers hesitation over Sunny Deol enjoying a Muslim in Batwara 1947; asks, “If Spiderman’s identify was Aslam Sheikh, would they reject him?”

Talking to Zoom, Santoshi stated, “It will be important that folks come out and watch the movie.” He went on to spotlight the response from those that have already seen the Partition drama. “The individuals who have seen the movie Batwara are liking it loads.”

In keeping with Santoshi, the movie has additionally prompted viewers to achieve out to the staff. “They’re appreciating it loads. They’re sending so many fan mails. They’re getting so many bookings.” The filmmaker additional described the emotional response from audiences rising from theatres. “Persons are calling and appreciating it. And when individuals who have come out of the theatres are requested how it’s – their eyes are tearful.”

Santoshi additionally revealed that some viewers have in contrast Batwara 1947 with Sunny Deol’s blockbuster Gadar, which stays one of many actor’s greatest industrial successes. He stated, “Everyone seems to be saying that ‘it’s a greater movie than Gadar. It’s a higher movie than Gadar’. Gadar is without doubt one of the greatest hits of Sunny’s profession.”

Regardless of the optimistic phrase of mouth, Santoshi expressed his shock over the movie’s field workplace efficiency. “They’re appreciating it a lot. However they don’t seem to be displaying the field workplace numbers. I’m stunned in regards to the people who find themselves not coming.”

The director believes that Sunny Deol’s Muslim character might doubtlessly be one of many explanation why some audiences are staying away from the movie. “I’m wondering why are they not coming? Both they’ve heard that Sunny is doing a Muslim character. Sunny has performed a Muslim within the movie for the primary time. So why are they not watching the movie?”

Rajkumar Santoshi Calls Out Hate In opposition to #Batwara1947 🔥🚨

Rajkumar Santoshi slammed these spreading hate and stated some persons are refusing to observe Batwara 1947 as a result of #SunnyDeol performs a Muslim character.

He questioned: If #SpiderMan had been named “Aslam Sheikh” and got here from… pic.twitter.com/2SHfueMr01

— Rahul Gupta (@RahulGupta25376) August 21, 2026

Santoshi harassed that viewers ought to expertise the movie earlier than making a judgement. “I would like folks to come back and watch the movie. After watching it, they’re entitled for his or her opinion. They’ll criticize me. I’ll by no means really feel dangerous. However they need to come and watch the movie. What’s it? Do they suppose – ‘Sunny is doing a Muslim position. That’s the reason we is not going to watch the movie?’”

The filmmaker then used the instance of the globally common superhero Spider-Man to query whether or not a personality’s identify or geographical setting ought to affect the viewers’s notion. “If tomorrow we come to know that Spiderman’s identify is Aslam Sheikh. And it was going to be in Pakistan. Then will they reject Spiderman?” He added, “It was such a giant hit in India. Simply due to the identify and the area. Will Spiderman lose all his qualities? Will he not exist solely in that case? What is that this?” Santoshi concluded by praising Sunny Deol’s work in Batwara 1947. “Sunny has achieved a very good position. Batwara is the perfect efficiency of his profession.”

Batwara 1947 is a interval drama co-written and directed by Rajkumar Santoshi and produced by Aamir Khan underneath the banner of Aamir Khan Productions. Set in Lahore in opposition to the backdrop of the 1947 Partition of British India and the division of Punjab, the movie stars Sunny Deol, Preity Zinta, Shabana Azmi, Karan Deol, Ali Fazal, Abhimanyu Singh, Khushi Hajare, Kanikka Kapur, Waseem Rajput and Isha Sandhir. The movie is predicated on Asghar Wajahat’s drama ‘Jis Lahore Nai Vekhya, O Jamya E Nai’ and launched on August 14, 2026, coinciding with Pakistan’s Independence Day.

Additionally Learn: EXCLUSIVE: Batwara 1947 director Rajkumar Santoshi to host special screening for spiritual leaders; says, “This film does not divide people-it unites them”