Bollywood superstar Sunny Deol, who will next be seen in “Jaat”, believes that Hindi cinema producers should take inspiration from their South Indian counterparts on how to make films with passion and dedication.
Speaking at the trailer launch of “Jaat” on Monday, Deol praised the Hyderabad-based Mythri Movie Makers, known for producing blockbusters like the “Pushpa” franchise, for their commitment to storytelling. Directed by Gopichand Malineni (Veera Simha Reddy) and also produced by People Media Factory, Jaat is set for release on April 10, 2025.
Sunny Deol: “South Filmmakers Focus on the Story as the Hero”
Deol, who made a massive comeback with “Gadar 2” (2023), said he thoroughly enjoyed working with the South Indian producers.
“My producers are so good. I want producers of Bombay to learn from them. You all call it Bollywood, but first, refer to it as Hindi cinema. They focus on the subject, rope in the director, trust his vision, and leave no stone unturned. The story is the hero. I thoroughly enjoyed working with them,” said Deol.
The 67-year-old action star even hinted at doing more South films, jokingly saying,
“Maybe I shall go and settle there (in the South). Let’s do another film!”
Hindi Cinema Should Get Back to Its Roots
Deol, known for ‘90s action hits like Ghatak, Arjun, Tridev, and Vishwatma, believes that Hindi filmmakers sometimes lose their cultural identity by getting influenced by Western trends.
“South films retain their essence, which is why they become pan-India hits. Everyone relates to them. We should also follow this and get back to our roots. Films like ‘Ghatak’, ‘Damini’, and ‘Arjun’—we should make those kinds of movies again.”
On Bollywood’s Changing Production Model
When asked about what’s lacking in Bollywood, Deol clarified that the industry hasn’t necessarily fallen behind but has changed due to corporate involvement.
“Earlier, producers believed in a story, committed to it, and gave it everything. But then corporate funding came in, making it all about business. In this, the hunger for filmmaking was lost.”
He emphasized that South filmmakers give directors creative freedom, without compromising on budgets.
“They don’t misuse directors. Yes, they spend more money, but it’s to enhance the quality of scenes. That patience is important.”
On Playing Negative Roles
When asked if he would follow his younger brother Bobby Deol (Animal) in taking on villainous roles, Sunny responded:
“I won’t call it negative; it’s just a character. If I get such a role, I’d love to do it. But the director and producers need to have the guts to do that with me!”
With Jaat set to release in April, fans are excited to see Deol back in his action-packed avatar, this time with a South Indian production powerhouse backing him.
