Sunny Deol has spoken candidly about his long-standing equation with Shah Rukh Khan and the circumstances that created tension between them during the making of ‘Darr’. The 1993 film, which featured Shah Rukh as an obsessive character and Sunny as the protagonist, became one of the most discussed films of its time because of the unconventional treatment of its central characters. Years after the film’s release, Sunny has reflected on the differences between the two actors and explained how insecurity can sometimes affect relationships within the film industry.
Sunny Deol reflects on insecurity among actors
During a conversation with Shubhankar Mishra, Sunny was asked about his relationship with Shah Rukh and the period when they were working together. The actor acknowledged that there may have been some differences when they were younger, but maintained that insecurity has never been part of his approach to work.“At a younger age, like I won’t say that we don’t have a little something with each other. We do have that. And I have never been like that. I am not an insecure person. I am never insecure on set. But because of insecurity, many actors do things which they don’t have to do. Because we can only be the character we are,” he said.Sunny further explained that actors cannot go beyond what their characters require, but insecurity can sometimes influence their behaviour and ultimately affect the atmosphere on a film set.“We cannot be anything beyond that. But somehow, quite a lot of actors feel very insecure. And because of that, the vibes go wrong. Things happen which don’t have to happen. But then, that’s the reality of our film industry,” he added.
Where Sunny stands with Shah Rukh today
When Sunny was asked whether he considers Shah Rukh a friend today, he offered a more professional perspective on relationships within the industry.“He wasn’t my enemy either. Friends means we are all colleagues. In the film industry, I would say we are all more of our colleagues rather than friends,” Sunny said.His comments suggest that while the two stars may not describe their relationship as a close friendship, the hostility associated with their ‘Darr’ era is no longer a defining part of their equation.
What caused tension during ‘Darr’?
Shah Rukh’s portrayal of Rahul in ‘Darr’ became one of the film’s biggest talking points. Although Sunny played the hero, Shah Rukh’s intense performance as the obsessive antagonist received enormous attention from audiences.Sunny had previously spoken about his discomfort with the way the villain was presented in the film. Speaking on Aap Ki Adalat, he said, “At the end of the day, people loved me in the film. They loved Shah Rukh Khan as well. My only issue with the film was that I did not know they would glorify the villain.”The disagreement reportedly contributed to a period when the two actors did not share much of an equation. Their differences eventually appeared to ease over the years, particularly after Sunny’s ‘Gadar 2’ became a major success.
Possibility of working together again
The two stars were also seen sharing a warmer equation at the celebration surrounding the success of ‘Gadar 2’. The development was viewed as a sign that the bitterness from their earlier years had largely been put behind them.Sunny has also expressed interest in sharing the screen with Shah Rukh again. In an interview with Pinkvilla, he said, “Shah Rukh ke saath ek hi film ki thi. Toh ek aur kar sakte hain. It would be nice because that was a different period, and now it’s a different period, so definitely.”For now, a reunion on screen remains only a possibility, but Sunny’s latest comments underline how much his perspective on the relationship has evolved since the days of ‘Darr’.
Sunny Deol’s upcoming projects
On the work front, Sunny is currently associated with ‘Batwara 1947’, which also features Preity Zinta and Shabana Azmi. He will also be seen in Nitesh Tiwari’s ‘Ramayana’, where he plays Lord Hanuman. With his recent projects bringing him back into the spotlight, Sunny continues to balance major commercial films with roles marking different phases of his career.