Mumbai: In Bollywood, stories of friendship and enmity are often more exciting than the film screen. The rift between Sunny Deol and Shahrukh Khan, which started with the 1993 superhit thriller ‘Darr’, remained in the headlines for 16 years. But now time has brought these two giants closer again. Recently Sunny Deol revealed that he wants to become a ‘juridar’ in Shahrukh’s film. This statement is not only good news for his fans, but also raises the hope of a new partnership in Bollywood.

The distance started with ‘Darr’

Sunny Deol and Shahrukh Khan came together for the first time in Yash Chopra’s film ‘Darr’ in 1993. Sunny was the hero of the film, but Shahrukh’s villain character settled in the hearts of the audience. Sunny felt that his role was underestimated, which led to tension between the two. This bitterness grew so much that both of them did not even talk to each other for the next 16 years. But the box office report of 2023 worked to melt this old bitterness.

‘Gadar 2’ and ‘Pathan’ built a bridge

Last year was great for both the stars. Sunny Deol’s ‘Gadar 2’ gave a new flight to his career by earning more than 500 crores, while Shah Rukh Khan created a stir at the box office with ‘Pathan’ and ‘Jawaan’. This success gave both of them a chance to praise each other. Shahrukh called Sunny and congratulated him on the success of his film and also attended the success party of ‘Gadar 2’. This meeting left behind the old differences.

During the promotion of his upcoming film ‘Jatt’, Sunny spoke openly to the media. When asked whom he would like to work with in a multi-starrer film, Sunny replied, “I would enjoy working with Shah Rukh again. We have done only one film together. If we get another chance, it won’t be bad.” This statement clearly reflects his changed perspective.

Desire to become a ‘juridar’

Sunny has expressed his desire to become a ‘juridar’ in Shah Rukh’s film—a character who is known for strong supporting roles in Shah Rukh’s films. This clearly shows that Sunny has now risen above the arrogance of the past. Film critic Taran Adarsh ​​says, “If Sunny and Shah Rukh are paired again, it will prove to be explosive for the box office. The combination of their fan following and experience is amazing.”

Start of a new innings

After crossing the age of 60, Sunny Deol made a strong comeback with ‘Gadar 2’. His ‘Dhai Kilo Ka Haath’ became popular among the audiences again. On the other hand, Shah Rukh proved with ‘Pathan’ and ‘Jawaan’ after a gap of five years that he is still the uncrowned king of Bollywood. The success of both of these gave a new lease of life to the Hindi film industry recovering from the pandemic. But compared to the films of Salman Khan and Ranbir Kapoor, the pair of Sunny and Shah Rukh have not been seen together till now. If this pair comes in an action thriller, it will be no less than a gift for the fans.

End of old bitterness

Sunny and Shah Rukh had differences since ‘Darr’. Sunny was upset that Shah Rukh got all the accolades in a film with two heroes. After this, the two were never seen together. But the success of 2023 melted the ice between them. Sunny said, “The old things with Shahrukh were from a different time. With time people forget their ego. Our fight was childish. Still, I met Shahrukh many times, talked to him. This time he came to see my film with his whole family and also called me. Now there is no distance between us.”

Expectations of fans and the industry

Fans on social media are excited about this news. A fan wrote, “If Sunny and Shahrukh come together, then the account of ‘Darr’ will be settled.” At the same time, a producer said, “If this pair is formed, the earnings will be double the budget.” However, some people believe that it is not easy to forget the old bitterness completely. But this openness of Sunny is a sign of a new beginning.

What will happen next?

When will this friendship of Sunny and Shahrukh be seen on screen now, this question is in everyone’s mind. This distance ending after 16 years is a positive change for Bollywood. If this dream becomes a reality, then the audience can get the gift of a memorable film. Currently, fans are eager to see this pair on screen.

(The author is a freelance film journalist. This article is based on facts and interviews.)