New Delhi: Nadia Khan, a TV presenter and actor from Pakistan, remembered an interview she had with actor Dharmendra in which she conveyed her disapproval of the anti-Pakistan sentiments inherent in his son Sunny Deol's films. To her surprise, the veteran actor agreed with her.
Though Nadia didn't specify which movie she was alluding to, Sunny is most known for playing the lead in the box office successes 'Border', 'Gadar', and most recently 'Gadar 2', all of which centre on relations between India and Pakistan. When Nadia appeared on Nadir Ali's podcast to discuss her conversations with Bollywood celebrities, she admitted that she wasn't sure it was Dharmendra at first when he first contacted her. The podcast came out earlier, this year.
She was thrilled to have him on her show in the UK when he sent her a special film from the Apne sets to prove to her that he was, in fact, Dharmendra. “I told him, ‘I don’t like it when your son, Sunny Deol, says anti-Pakistan dialogues in his movies’. And, you know what he said? He said, ‘I also don’t like it.’ I told him to inform Sunny that he has many fans like me in Pakistan. ‘Ask him not to say such things,’" she said in the interview.
Sunny was defended by the host, Nadir Ali, who claimed that although he portrays several roles on television, Sunny is a kind guy in real life. Nadia claimed that Dharmendra informed her that even Sunny dislikes making anti-Pakistani jokes in his films since he is aware of their fandom outside of the country. He told her, "Par majboori hai (It's a duty)"
Nadia talked highly of Dharmendra, who even extended an invitation for her to stay at his farm house if she ever made it to India. Gadar 2, Sunny's most recent movie, has grossed over Rs 260 crore in less than a week and is now a box office sensation. Pakistan is the setting for a major section of the film, where Tara Singh travels to save his son.