Rajkumar Santoshi Responds to Shabana Azmi’s Claim: ‘Batwara 1947’ Didn’t Fail Because of Sunny Deol’s Role
Rajkumar Santoshi has addressed Shabana Azmi’s remarks concerning the box office performance of his film, Batwara 1947. Azmi suggested that audiences might have struggled to accept Sunny Deol in the role of a Muslim character. In a recent conversation with Variety India, Santoshi expressed his disagreement with this perspective and questioned whether Indian viewers have indeed become less accepting of protagonists from diverse religious backgrounds.
Santoshi’s Perspective on Audience Acceptance
Santoshi highlighted the historical acceptance of characters from various faiths in Indian cinema. He cited Amitabh Bachchan’s portrayal of Muslim characters in films like Coolie (1983) as evidence that audiences have embraced such roles in the past. He stated, “It makes no sense to me. Amitabh Bachchan played a Muslim hero in Coolie. So many of Manmohan Desai’s films had Muslim heroes. Are we at a point where we cannot accept a hero from the other community? We are sensible, good people, educated people. How are they saying there’s a big mistake in the film?”
The filmmaker expressed concern about what he perceives as a decline in tolerance and inclusivity within society. He emphasized the importance of considering a filmmaker’s intent when evaluating a film’s message. “We have become far less tolerant and inclusive as a people. You should look at the filmmaker’s intent and what the writer wants to say,” he remarked.
Santoshi’s Personal Beliefs
Santoshi also shared insights into his own religious beliefs, clarifying that his artistic approach is not meant to oppose any faith. “I’m a Hindu. I go to the temple. My son’s name is Ram. I am not against any faith. But I want to take the best of every faith. Whatever the saints have tried to say about faith, it is always about equality. Hinduism has always been about inclusiveness, not exclusion,” he explained.
His comments come in response to Azmi’s surprise regarding the film’s theatrical performance. In an interview with Zoom, she suggested that the casting of Sunny Deol as a Muslim character might have influenced audience reception.
Azmi’s Concerns About Representation
Azmi articulated her confusion over the audience’s reaction to Deol’s role, stating, “The thing is that you cannot accept Sunny Deol as a Muslim. In Coolie and in many other films, Amitabh Bachchan very comfortably played Muslim characters. In Deewaar, he put 786, and that was accepted. So how do we understand this? Are they creating an environment where such decisions are being taken on purpose? I am not able to understand.”
She further expressed her surprise at the reactions from viewers, noting that some believed Deol was portraying a Pakistani character, which she clarified was not the case. “Even the ones who watched the film think Sunny Deol is playing a Pakistani. He is not. It is simply not registering in their heads,” she said. Azmi also mentioned that Bushra Ahmed, a Pakistani actor, had objected to the film’s language, indicating that the Punjabi dialect used by the villain was inaccurate. “If both religions are not liking the film, it means it is something which is pure and beautiful,” she added.
With Santoshi now weighing in on this ongoing debate, the conversation surrounding Batwara 1947 has evolved beyond its box office results to encompass broader themes of representation, religious identity, and the freedom to portray diverse characters in mainstream Hindi cinema.
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