‘I got so much love’, Sunny Deol on Pakistan Kartarpur Corridor visit

Bollywood actor Sunny Deol has recalled his visit to the Kartarpur Corridor, saying he received considerable affection in Pakistan despite the political tensions between the two neighbouring countries.

Deol made the remarks while promoting his latest film, Batwara (1947), which was released in India and several other countries on Friday. During a recent interview, the actor was asked whether he had ever travelled to Pakistan.

Deol clarified that he had never formally visited Pakistan, but had the opportunity to travel to the Kartarpur Corridor when it was opened. As the corridor falls within his parliamentary constituency, he was included in a delegation that visited Kartarpur.

Recalling the experience, Deol said he was surprised by the warmth he encountered on the Pakistani side.

“I received a lot of love in Pakistan,” the actor said, adding that members of the military also expressed affection and spoke to him about his films.

According to Deol, some of those he met told him they admired him but asked him not to make films portraying Pakistan negatively because they felt a strong connection with him as an actor.

Deol said his response was that he was only performing a character in films and that the views of a fictional character should not necessarily be confused with his personal beliefs.

The actor also spoke about the wider human dimension of relations between India and Pakistan. He said people naturally love their own countries but argued that innocent civilians should never be targeted.

His comments come as Deol promotes Batwara (1947), a film dealing with the turbulent period surrounding the Partition of British India.

The Kartarpur Corridor, which links India with the Gurdwara Darbar Sahib in Pakistan, has long been viewed as an important religious and people-to-people connection between the two countries.

Deol’s recollection has attracted attention because of his long association with patriotic and action-oriented Bollywood roles, some of which have featured strong anti-Pakistan themes.

His latest remarks, however, offered a more personal perspective, highlighting how an encounter across the border left him with memories of warmth and affection.