Published By: Sayan Paul

Happy Birthday, Sunny Deol: Did You Know The 'Gadar' Actor Has Also Directed A Few Films?

The celebrated actor has directed three films so far. However, most of them struggled at the box office.

"There is a director in me, who is desperately wanting to do something." - Sunny Deol

On-screen, Sunny Deol stands tall as the voice of the common man. During the 1990s, at the peak of his career, the actor expressed all the suppressed emotions in people's hearts - especially their frustration against the flawed system - on the screen. While the industry, in general, was shifting towards superficial stories, he starred in films that explored societal issues like discrimination, corruption, law enforcement, exploitation of the marginalized, and more. In successful films like 'Ghayal', 'Border', 'Arjun', and 'Ziddi' among others, he advocated for truth and justice, emerging as a role model for fans. Whether it's his rugged persona, hard-hitting dialogues, or stunning performances, he was arguably the biggest icon of mainstream Hindi cinema at that time.

Sunny Deol in ‘Gadar 2’

Born on October 19, 1957, Sunny Deol has worked in more than 90 Hindi films in a career spanning over four decades. Since 1990, he has delivered three record openers (including 'Kshatriya', 'Border', and 'Indian'), and has the third most bumper openings (10) at the box office. And it's not all about the 90s; he is still at the top of his game, thanks to his latest release 'Gadar 2' and his upcoming projects, including 'Border 2'. Well, with the mammoth success of 'Gadar 2' last year, he became the "first and only Indian actor to deliver an all-time blockbuster as a lead hero after turning 60".

Credit: iamsunnydeol

The acclaimed actor turns 67 today, and the best way to celebrate his birthday is to revisit some of his iconic films. However, what many don't know is that the actor has also directed a few films as well. Today, on the occasion of his birthday, let's explore the 'director' Sunny Paaji in this article.

Dillagi (1999)

Released in 1999, the drama film 'Dillagi' marked Sunny Deol's directorial debut. And he also co-produced the film with his father and actor, Dharmendra, under their production house Vijayta Films. In the film, he acted alongside his brother Bobby Deol, Urmila Matondkar, Preity Zinta, Dara Singh, Zohra Sehgal, Kulbhushan Kharbanda, and Reema Lagoo among others.

Credit: Midst Live

The film follows two brothers who support each other through thick and thin, however, fall in love with the same woman. Made on a budget of ₹14 crores, it collected approximately ₹21.21 crores at the box office.

Ghayal: Once Again (2016)

'Ghayal: Once Again' is a direct sequel to Deol's own 1990 blockbuster, 'Ghayal'. Besides directing the film, he also starred as the lead alongside an ensemble cast including Om Puri, Soha Ali Khan, Shivam Patil, Rishabh Arora, and Neha Khan.

Credit: Craving Cinema

Unlike its predecessor, 'Ghayal: Once Again' failed critically as well as commercially. Made on a budget of ₹50 crores, the film managed to gross only around ₹45 crores at the box office.

Pal Pal Dil Ke Paas (2019)

Deol's third (and latest) film as a director, the 2019 romance drama 'Pal Pal Dil Ke Paas' starred Karan Deol as the lead. The film had created loads of buzz in the media prior to its release, especially because of its exotic shooting locations such as Spiti Valley, Kunzum La, Rohtang La, Tabo, Chandra Taal, Kaza, and Lahaul Valley. However, upon its theatrical release, the film emerged as a massive critical and commercial failure.

Credit: Zee Music Company

Made on a production budget of ₹30 crores, 'Pal PalDil Ke Paas' earned only ₹10 crores at the box office.

When Will Sunny Deol Direct/Produce His Next?

While promoting 'Gadar 2' last year, Deol was asked about his next directorial venture. The actor said that he won't don that hat anytime soon, as every time he makes a film, he goes “bankrupt.”

In his words, "The world has become very difficult. Years back, I could control things because distribution was normal. They were people we interacted with. There was a connection. Ever since the corporates have come in, there's nothing. For an individual to stand tall over there, it's difficult. You have to do your PR, run around, and they won't give you your number of theatres. They don't want individuals to be there. I had a tough time with my films in this past decade. You're trying to do a certain kind of cinema, but you (don't get the backing)." 

"That's what I came in for. I became a producer, a director, wearing too many hats. A man can only do one job. So I said, ‘Throw everything away, just become an actor.’ So that's what I want to do now. Do as many films as I can as an actor," he added.