Rajkumar Santoshi says Batwara 1947 differs from Dhurandhar: ‘Sunny Deol has played action heroes with dignity’
Here's the latest update from the Bollywood world:
Right after Sunny Deol -starrer Batwara 1947 rolled out in theatres, comparisons between the movie and Ranveer Singh's juggernaut Dhurandhar ensued. Now, in a recent interaction, director Rajkumar Santoshi spoke about the depiction of masculinity in films and how violence is often being used merely as proof of masculinity. In this regard, he also explained how Sunny Deol's character in Batwara 1947 is different.
Adding to this, Rajkumar Santoshi opened up on Batwara 1947 being compared with Dhurandhar. ‘People are using bad words, drinking; it's so cheap’ In conversation with India Today, Rajkumar called Aditya Dhar “a very fine director”, pointing out the success of Uri: The Surgical Strike and how he has a different style. He also lauded Ranveer Singh's performance in Dhurandhar, saying he had “fantastically performed”.
Meanwhile, The director shared that he isn't against muscular action in films, but feels that violence is being used merely as proof of masculinity in films. He shared, "Today people are using bad words, abusing, drinking; it's so cheap. Sunny has played action heroes with dignity. He has played the role of a true macho guy. Those are powerful and memorable performances. We (Sunny and I) will do more action films, but with standards and class. Not to show off strength, but with good reasoning. There should be a good purpose to fight and hit a man."
Notably, Speaking about Dhurandhar, Santoshi admitted that a hero who has endured such torment and torture may react as Ranveer Singh's character did.
As per the latest buzz, However, the director explained that Sunny Deol's role as Sikandar Mirza differed from Ranveer Singh's Hamza, because physical strength was only one aspect of the character. The director shared he was more interested in showing the choices the lead character makes amid turmoil. "He is the most courageous character I have written. One can fight with a single army, or a group of people, but to fight and take a stand against fanaticism in today’s time, impossible. Nobody will dare to do that,” the filmmaker concluded.
In further updates, Sunny Deol and director Rajkumar Santoshi reunited for the movie Batwara 1947 after 30 years, following their last collaboration on the 1996 action movie Ghatak.
On top of that, Batwara 1947 received an underwhelming response at the ticket-window. Its total domestic collections stand at ₹ 34.47 crore rupees net after a week. The movie has also received mixed reviews from critics and audiences.
Vibha Maru is an Assistant Editor with Hindustan Times Entertainment, based in Delhi. With a decade of experience across digital and print media, she covers Bollywood, Hollywood and web shows. A self-confessed cinephile who breathes Hindi cinema, Vibha can often be found sacrificing sleep after binge-watching films and web series. Though she holds a Commerce degree, she discovered her true calling in journalism after enrolling at the Indian Institute of Mass Communication (IIMC). She began her career covering Delhi's cultural scene, food, nightlife, concerts, and city life at The Times of India, before moving into full-time entertainment journalism with India Today. At India Today, Vibha interviewed some of the biggest names in Bollywood and television while carving a niche for herself through movie reviews, opinion pieces, nostalgic features, star interviews, and trend-driven stories. She later brought her storytelling and editorial expertise to The Indian Express, where she continued to deepen her understanding of cinema through long-form entertainment explainers, retrospectives and feature writing. Now, as Assistant Editor at Hindustan Times Entertainment, Vibha continues to chronicle the world of movies and pop culture. Her work spans breaking entertainment news, exclusive interviews, star features, and stories that capture the conversations shaping Indian cinema. Read More
Source: Hindustan Times