Sunny Deol's latest film, Partition 1947, has struggled to make a strong impact at the box office. Despite arriving around Independence Day and featuring a patriotic theme, the film has reportedly failed to attract the audience numbers expected from a project starring Sunny Deol.

Now, director Rajkumar Santoshi has opened up about the difficulties the film faced even before its release. According to Santoshi, one of the major challenges was finding investors who were willing to back a film in which Sunny Deol played a Muslim character.

Investors Expected a Typical Sunny Deol Action Film

Rajkumar Santoshi explained that when potential investors in Mumbai learned that he was making a film with Sunny Deol, many expected a conventional action movie.

According to the filmmaker, investors were hesitant to put money into Partition 1947 because Sunny Deol's character was Muslim. The actor is widely associated with patriotic and action-oriented roles, which Santoshi believes influenced the expectations surrounding the project.

Sunny Deol's Character Was an Indian Muslim

Santoshi also clarified an important detail about the character. He said Sunny Deol was not playing a Pakistani Muslim in the film.

Instead, his character is an Indian Muslim who eventually moves to Pakistan during the 1980s to protect himself and his family.

The director believes that the subject may have been misunderstood by some investors, particularly because of the film's connection with Partition and Pakistan.

Why Are Partition Films Considered Risky?

According to Santoshi, films dealing with Partition remain difficult subjects for filmmakers and investors.

He argued that mentioning Pakistan in a film can sometimes create concerns about how the project will be perceived. Santoshi also suggested that some investors would rather see Sunny Deol in a conventional action role similar to his earlier popular films, where he fights against enemies.

The director indicated that this mindset made financing Partition 1947 more challenging.

Aamir Khan Supported the Film

Santoshi also revealed that Aamir Khan was supportive of the project from the beginning.

According to the director, Aamir appreciated the subject and was willing to back the film if nobody else came forward to produce it. His support reportedly gave the project additional confidence during its difficult financing phase.

Partition 1947 Struggles at the Box Office

The film's theatrical performance has also been underwhelming. According to the figures cited in the report, Partition 1947 has earned around ₹47 crore during its first week.

With the reported production budget considerably higher than its current box-office earnings, the film faces an uphill battle to recover its investment.

Rajkumar Santoshi's comments highlight how the film faced challenges not only after its release but also during the financing stage, with the choice of Sunny Deol's Muslim character and the sensitive Partition subject reportedly making investors cautious.