Sunny Deol, the popular actor and son of veteran Dharmendra, shared his emotional journey in the film industry at a masterclass during the International Film Festival of India (IFFI). He spoke about facing challenges after the success of ‘Gadar: Ek Prem Katha’ but finding joy in the sequel, ‘Gadar 2.’
Starting Out with ‘Betaab’
Deol, whose career began with Rahul Rawail’s ‘Betaab’ in 1983, expressed gratitude for the opportunities to work with directors like Rawail, Raj Kumar Santoshi, and Anil Sharma throughout his four-decade-long career.
Lucky Beginnings
“I feel very lucky. I have been very fortunate. In my initial days, I had certain thoughts about the kind of movies that I wanted to do… I feel fortunate that I could do films the way I wanted,” said Deol. He mentioned being inspired by the diverse cinema of his father, Amitabh Bachchan, Vinod Khanna, and Mithun Chakraborty.
From Actor to Star
“I started doing films because I wanted to become an actor, not a star. I grew up watching my father’s cinema, and I wanted to have that kind of variety in my work,” he added.
Basking in ‘Gadar 2’ Success
Deol, currently enjoying the success of ‘Gadar 2,’ directed by Anil Sharma, expressed gratitude for the film’s massive success, earning over Rs 500 crore.
Overcoming Challenges
Reflecting on his career, Deol shared, “I believe I’m at this stage because of all the films I have done in the past.” He acknowledged facing struggles after the blockbuster ‘Gadar’ and a 20-year gap before finding happiness with ‘Gadar 2.’ “I become emotional these days a lot,” he confessed.
Never-Give-Up Attitude
Deol attributed his career to his never-give-up attitude. “Sometimes you stop believing in things, but I never gave up in life and continued to move forward. I only remember the good things and just forget the bad things,” he said.
Industry Recognition
Director Raj Kumar Santoshi, known for classics like ‘Ghayal,’ ‘Damini,’ and ‘Ghatak,’ remarked that the industry has not done justice to Sunny’s talent, but he believes that “God has.”
Trusting Instincts as an Artiste
Deol, also a BJP MP, shared his approach to scripts, saying, “I have always done movies if I like a script. I trust my instincts a lot, maybe because I’m a sportsman.”
Recalling ‘Ghayal’ Struggles
He recalled the challenges faced while making the 1990 hit ‘Ghayal’ with Santoshi, highlighting how they struggled to find producers until Dharmendra stepped in.
In conclusion, Sunny Deol emphasized the importance of trusting instincts and persevering in the face of challenges in the ever-evolving world of cinema.