Batwara 1947 premieres August 14, Sunny Deol and Santoshi

A major Bollywood film exploring the human cost of Partition is set to release next week, reuniting actor Sunny Deol with director Rajkumar Santoshi for the first time in three decades. "Batwara 1947," a period drama produced by Aamir Khan, will premiere in cinemas worldwide on August 14, 2026.

The film is set in Lahore in 1947 and stars Sunny Deol as a Muslim man who migrates to Pakistan and risks his life to protect a Hindu woman, played by Shabana Azmi, as violent turmoil engulfs the region. The cast also includes Preity Zinta, marking her return to Bollywood after an eight-year hiatus, alongside Karan Deol, Ali Zafar, and Abhimanyu Singh.

At a recent media interaction ahead of the release, director Rajkumar Santoshi made bold claims about his lead actor's performance, stating that Sunny Deol's character would set a new benchmark and that the actor would emerge as the country's biggest hero following the film's release. Santoshi described the role as one of extraordinary bravery and righteousness, emphasizing that the character's battle is against fanaticism, a force he described as uniquely formidable.

The project marks a long-awaited reunion for Santoshi and Sunny Deol,...