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Sunny Deol’s ‘maternal aunt’ remark on Pakistan sparks online storm

Bollywood actor Sunny Deol found himself at the center of controversy on Sunday. He was speaking to Indian media during a promotional event for his upcoming film Batwara 1947.

Deol, joined by his son and co-star Karan Deol, was asked about “Pakistan as a nation” and its “atmosphere” by a journalist present at the event. Rather than answering directly, he chose to quote his late father, veteran actor Dharmendra.

He said the two countries could not really be separated in feeling, since they were once one. Quoting his father, he called India “mother” and Pakistan “maternal aunt.” He added that everyone already knows the two nations remain connected in some way.

Dharmendra passed away last November. He had long supported warmer ties between India and Pakistan throughout his life.

Deol chose not to elaborate further on Pakistan. Instead, he stressed his role as an actor rather than a political voice. He said actors and filmmakers exist to tell stories, not to push political agendas.

Despite this attempt to stay neutral, his history tells a different story. Deol has built much of his career on hyper-patriotic films like Border and Gadar. He has also served as a BJP politician in the past. This contrast between his politics and his softer comments did not sit well with many online.

One social media user accused him of relying on “nationalistic jingoism” during his past election campaigns. Others called him “opportunistic” for echoing his father’s peace-leaning stance now. A wave of users criticized what they saw as sympathy toward Pakistan.

Tensions between the two countries have remained high for years. They escalated further after a four-day military conflict in May 2025. India responded by restricting Pakistani entertainment content online, banning YouTube channels and Instagram accounts of several celebrities. Streaming platforms like Spotify also removed related songs and imagery.

Given this backdrop, the backlash against Deol’s comments was almost inevitable. His film, Batwara 1947, is set during Partition. It follows a Muslim family who flee to Pakistan amid the violence of that era, only to find a Hindu woman already living in the home they were allotted in Lahore.

Directed by Rajkumar Santoshi, the film also stars Preity Zinta, Ali Fazal, and Abhimanyu Singh. It is slated for release on August 14.

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