Veteran actress Shabana Azmi has opened up about the disappointing box-office performance of Batwara 1947. The film, starring Sunny Deol in the lead role, failed to meet expectations despite generating considerable pre-release buzz.
Speaking about the reasons behind the film’s failure, Shabana said that one possible factor could be the audience’s reluctance to accept Sunny Deol in the role of a Muslim character.
Interestingly, director Rajkumar Santoshi had earlier admitted that casting Sunny Deol as a Muslim protagonist was considered a risky move by many in the industry.
Some investors and distributors were reportedly hesitant to back the project because of the unusual casting choice. But the makers went ahead, and the film has now flopped.