Filmmaker Rajkumar Santoshi has revealed that finding financial backing for ‘Batwara 1947’ was not easy, with several investors reportedly hesitant about the film’s subject and Sunny Deol‘s character. According to the director, financiers were more interested in seeing the actor return in a conventional action film rather than take on a serious role set against the backdrop of Partition.
Investors wanted Sunny Deol in an action film
Speaking to Galatta India, Santoshi recalled the response he received when investors learned that he and Sunny Deol were collaborating again.“Most of the investors here in Mumbai came to know that Sunny Deol and I were doing a film, they wanted me to do a regular action film, a vigilante film. They were not ready to take this film, where Sunny is playing a Muslim character,” he said. Santoshi acknowledged that Deol may have played Muslim characters previously, but stressed that his part in ‘Batwara 1947’ was different in tone and treatment. “He must have played before, but here it is a serious character,” the filmmaker said.
Rajkumar Santoshi clarifies Sunny Deol’s character
The filmmaker also addressed reports and reviews that described Deol’s character as Pakistani. Santoshi clarified that the character is actually an Indian Muslim who is forced to migrate to Pakistan during the turmoil surrounding Partition.“Now, I have been reading reviews where it is mentioned that he is playing a Pakistani. I would like to clarify, he is not playing a Pakistani. He is playing a Muslim from India. He is uprooted and to save his life and save his family, he migrated to Pakistan,” Santoshi said.He further explained the character’s origins, saying, “Otherwise, he has been born and brought up there. It is easy to brand a person, but he isn’t a Pakistani character in the film.” According to Santoshi, the subject itself made potential investors cautious.“That became a major problem for us, investors didn’t want to take such a bold and risky subject. Now, that the trend has become that even if you say Pakistan you are considered anti-national,” he said.
Aamir Khan offered support
Santoshi also revealed that Aamir Khan was aware of the difficulties surrounding the project and was willing to step in if the film could not find another producer. “Aamir was aware of it and he knew about it. He was very supportive and he mentioned that he would produce it if nobody does,” Santoshi said.The director said the team explored multiple options for financing, with Sunny Deol also attempting to help secure backing. However, the subject continued to make prospective producers hesitant.“We had actually reached out to producers, Sunny also contacted but the problem was that they didn’t want to take up this subject,” Santoshi said.
Investors wanted another action entertainer
Santoshi said the preference among some financiers was for him to recreate the kind of action films that had previously established his collaboration with Deol. “They wanted us to make a film like ‘Ghayal’ or ‘Ghatak’ where Sunny is beating everyone,” he said.Instead, Santoshi chose to pursue a story centred on Partition and a character that required Deol to move away from the familiar action-hero image associated with some of their earlier collaborations.