Indian actor Sunny Deol sparked an online backlash after describing Pakistan as his “maternal aunt” while quoting his late father, Dharmendra, during a promotional event for his upcoming film Batwara 1947 on Sunday.
Responding to a question about Pakistan, Deol said India and Pakistan were once one and that the two countries remain connected. He declined to discuss the issue politically, saying actors should focus on telling stories rather than politicising their work.
His remarks drew criticism online, with some users accusing the actor of opportunism and others questioning his past nationalist image.
The controversy comes as Batwara 1947, directed by Rajkumar Santoshi, explores Partition-era violence and follows a Muslim family that migrates to Pakistan. The film, starring Deol alongside Karan Deol, Shabana Azmi, Preity Zinta and Ali Fazal, is scheduled for release on August 14.
