Sunny Deol has opened up about the difficult years of his career, revealing how financial troubles and a lack of promising film offers affected him before Gadar 2 revived his career in 2023, reports Hindustan Times.
In an interview with Shubhankar Mishra, the veteran actor reflected on the highs and lows of his career, including a period when he was burdened with debt but still managed to remain happy.
Sunny recalled the success of Gadar: Ek Prem Katha and Indian, both released in 2001. While the films performed strongly at the box office, their success did not lead to a steady stream of suitable projects for him.
According to Sunny, the Hindi film industry was undergoing a major transformation as corporate studios began entering the business.
“Along with Gadar, I also delivered Indian, which was a much bigger hit than Lagaan and all the other films of that time,” he said.
“Suddenly, corporates came in, and the film industry’s format began changing. But after that, I don’t know why I wasn’t getting the right subjects and makers.”
Sunny also recalled the controversy surrounding his 2005 film Jo Bole So Nihaal.
The film faced opposition from sections of the Sikh community over its title and subject matter. The controversy escalated after a bombing at a Delhi cinema screening the film killed one person and injured several others.
The resulting political pressure and safety concerns eventually led to the film being withdrawn from cinemas.
Sunny expressed frustration over what he saw as increasing political interference in the film industry, arguing that actors and filmmakers should be able to focus on their work without unnecessary external pressure.
The actor’s professional struggles also had significant financial consequences.
Several of his films and production ventures failed to perform as expected, while his directorial projects, including Dillagi, Ghayal Returns and Pal Pal Dil Ke Paas, did not become major commercial successes.
His financial difficulties became public in 2023 when a bank notice announced an e-auction of his Juhu property, Sunny Villa, over outstanding dues and interest of around ₹55.99 crore.
The notice was later withdrawn after the matter was resolved.
Despite the debt, Sunny said he did not allow financial problems to take away his happiness.
“I can’t do so many things for money. But to be very honest, I’m very happy. Even when I was in debt, I was very happy. I was living my life,” he said.
He added that the money he owed was his own responsibility and that he planned to repay it by selling his assets.
Sunny’s fortunes changed dramatically with Gadar 2 in 2023. The sequel became a major box-office success and brought the actor back into the spotlight.
He subsequently appeared in Jaat and Ikka. He has now reunited with director Rajkumar Santoshi for Batwara 1947, which is currently playing in cinemas.
After years of uncertainty, Sunny’s recent run marks a significant new chapter in a career spanning decades.
