Jagmohan Singh Barhok

On His Birth Anniversary

सोनी मेरी सोनू सोनी
और नहीं कोई होनि सोनी
रब से जियादा
तेरा नाम लेता हूँ
रब तुम्हे माफ़ करे
मेरा इंसाफ करे
रब तुम्हे माफ़ करे
मेरा इंसाफ करे

Sunny Deol made his screen debut in his Dad’s movie “Betaab”.The film was innovative in more ways than one.For one thing,it was introducing a new screen – pair Sunny & Amrita Singh.For another,it had thrown challenge to censors by including no fewer than half a dozen kissing sequences.These were hot & savage when the heroine resists the overtures ,but became soft & sensuous when she agrees to co-operate.Their were also rumours of their infatuation.But sadly enough,it was short lived.Both went their own ways.

Sunny Deol was seemingly drawn to Dimple Kapadia who was then staging a come-back. The two appeared in lead roles in “Arjun” & “Manzil Manzil”. Sunny who had kissed Amrita Singh in his maiden film “Betaab”,repeated the lip-service in “Arjun”( where he kissed Dimple).Since then he became the only actor who kissed his heroines in almost every other film of his. He had earlier kissed Poonam Dhillon in “Sohni Mahiwaal” (1984). It was again not a plain kiss. On the contrary, it was a passionate, lip-to-lip smooch. Surprisingly & interestingly, too, while other heroes have only ‘crushes’ on their heroines, Sunny Deol ‘crushed’ his girls.

In “Aag Ka Gola” (1989) he plays Cupid with Archana Pooran Singh in the swimming pool to the hilt, dallying with her titillatingly in water and then smooching furiously – yes. I was present at Film City , having an informal chat with yesteryears actor Chandrashekhar, close to where the shooting of the film was underway.

It was in “Paap Ki Duniya” (1988) that sunny proved his intrinsic worth and acting potential. Before that he always got a raw deal from the producers. People entertained him because he was Dharmendra’s son. As Sunny Deol he has hardly had any recognition.

If “Paap Ki Duniya” (1988) paved way for stardom for the young hero, “Ghayal”(1990) ,directed by Raj Kumar Santoshi ( again home movie after “Betaab”) laid the foundation firmly for the edifice. The film did so many good things to his heroine Meenakshi,too.The cursed ‘jinx’ that was stuck to her all these years was exorcised with the success of this film. Raj Kumar Santoshi, was so impressed by her beauty and acting skill that he could not help making a direct marriage proposal to the actress which she thankfully declined, pleading that she had to wait for some time more before she decided to go to altar. “Ghayal” had a role specially designed for Sunny. The idea had paid of well.

Many say that Sunny owes his success to his Papa Dharmendra.But then almost all of his rivals had the support of their fathers, mothers sisters or say relatives. Sunny Deol amply demonstated his versatility or credibility in some movies as also in the years that followed. Unless you have it in you, you cannot dare making for the top. ‘A wooden cat can scare the mice away, but who can make it say ‘mew’?

“Yodha”, “Narsimha”, “Dacait’, “Tridev’, “Saltnat” & “Sunny” were some of his other mentionable films. Sunny co-starred with almost every leading lady of his time including Madhuri, Dimple & Sridevi (both worked in “Chaalbaz”), Meenakshi & Neelam. The actor also had a red-hot romance with Dimple Kapadia who also happened to be one of his Dad’s heroines( the two worked in “Dushman Devta”). Gulshan Rai’s “Vishwatma” (1992), “Gunaah”(1993), “Ghatak” ( 1996), “Damini” were his other notable movies. In J.P.Dutta’s “Border” he played the role of Kuldip Singh Chandpuri who showed his valour in the fierce “Battle of Longewala” in 1971. Chandpuri was honoured with Mahavir Chakra for his phenomenal leadership. “Border” (1997) was a super-hit movie.

Anil Sharma’s “Gadar: Ek Prem Katha”(2001) was another of his noteable film. Sunny plays a Sikh truck driver Tara Singh who loves a Muslim Pakistani girl played by Ameesha Patel.It was a huge box office success. Amrish Puri also plyayed a key role. The film was shot at Shimla & Lucknow.

In “Singh Saab the Great” (2013) Sunny again played a Sikh character . He also did a series of films titled “Yamla Pagla Deewana” also starring Dharmendra & his younger brother.The first film of this series was a huge success grossing more than 85 crores worldwide. He also directed films but not with much success. “Pal Pal Dil Ke Paas” (2019) was his last as director.

Married to Pooja Deol in 1984 & blessed with two kids,Sunny Deol won Filmfare Best Actor Award for “Ghayal” (1991) & Best Supporting Actor for “Damini. Also receieved Special Jury National Award for “Ghayal” & National Film Award for Best Supporting Actor “Damini” (1994).

I saw the actor in 1989 & later met him in 1990. My brother held his two ‘Press Meets’ at Chandigarh. We were together. I met his father twice in Mumbai.

Sunny is currently an MP from Gurdaspur constituency in Punjab since June 2019.Born Ajay Singh Deol to actor Dharmendra & Prakash Kaur, this Day in 1956 at Sahnewal in Punjab.