Rajkumar Santoshi rejects Shabana Azmi’s Batwara 1947 claim

Filmmaker Rajkumar Santoshi has challenged veteran actress Shabana Azmi’s explanation for the poor box office performance of Batwara 1947. Azmi had suggested that audiences found it difficult to accept Sunny Deol portraying a Muslim character, which may have contributed to the film’s disappointing theatrical run.

Santoshi, however, does not agree with the argument. In a recent interview, the 70-year-old filmmaker questioned why an actor’s religious identity should prevent audiences from accepting them in a particular role. He pointed to several successful examples from Indian cinema where actors portrayed characters belonging to different religious communities.

“It makes no sense to me,” Santoshi said, referring to Azmi’s assessment. He recalled that Amitabh Bachchan played a Muslim character in Coolie in 1983 and became one of the most memorable stars associated with the film. He also highlighted the work of filmmaker Manmohan Desai, whose movies frequently featured Muslim heroes.

According to Santoshi, Indian audiences have historically been capable of separating an actor from the character they portray. He questioned whether society has reached a stage where audiences can no longer accept a protagonist from another religious community.

The filmmaker stressed that viewers should focus on the story, the writer’s message and the filmmaker’s intentions instead of judging a character based on the actor’s personal identity. He argued that India has traditionally been a diverse society where cinema has brought together characters and performers from different backgrounds.

At the same time, Santoshi admitted that the social environment has changed considerably over the years. He believes people have become less tolerant and inclusive, making certain creative choices more complicated than they were in the past.

To explain his point, the filmmaker referred to his 2001 directorial Lajja, which featured a sequence inspired by the Ramayana. Santoshi suggested that recreating a similar sequence in the current environment could attract greater scrutiny and might be more difficult to execute today.

The director of films including Ghatak, Damini and Halla Bol emphasized that audiences should consider the creative purpose behind a project before reaching conclusions about its themes or characters.

Santoshi also discussed his personal approach to religion and faith. He described himself as a Hindu who visits temples and revealed that his son is named Ram. However, he stressed that his personal beliefs do not prevent him from respecting other religions.

The filmmaker said he believes there are valuable lessons to be learned from different faiths. For him, religious teachings should promote equality, acceptance and understanding rather than division or exclusion.

His comments come amid discussions surrounding Batwara 1947, a period drama backed by Aamir Khan Productions. The film features Sunny Deol alongside Preity Zinta, Karan Deol, Ali Fazal and several other actors. The project reportedly carries a production budget of around Rs 150 crore.

Despite its high-profile cast and backing, the film has struggled commercially since its release. Reported worldwide gross earnings have remained significantly below its production cost, resulting in a disappointing theatrical outcome.

While Shabana Azmi attributed part of the film’s failure to the casting of Sunny Deol as a Muslim character, Santoshi has rejected that interpretation. His comments have instead shifted attention toward the changing relationship between Indian audiences, cinema and religious representation.

The filmmaker’s argument ultimately rests on the belief that actors should be judged by their performances and the stories they tell, rather than by the religious background of the characters they portray.