Sunny Deol is an Indian actor and director who has been part of the Hindi film industry since 1983. He has earned numerous awards, including two National Film Awards, for his acting performances over the years and is one of India’s most beloved actors. In this post, we will take a closer look at the life and career of Sunny Deol and discuss some of his most iconic roles and achievements.
Early Life & Education
Sunny Deol was born in New Delhi on 19 October 1956 to Punjabi parents Dharmendra and Prakash Kaur. His brother Bobby Deol is also an actor. Sunny completed his schooling from Mumbai’s Jamnabai Narsee School before pursuing an MBA degree from Kishinchand Chellaram College. During his college days, he developed an interest in martial arts which later helped him excel in action films.
Career Beginnings & Breakthrough Role
Sunny Deol made his debut in the movie Betaab (1983) alongside Amrita Singh, with whom he had great chemistry on-screen. The movie proved to be a major success that established him as an emerging talent in the film industry. His breakthrough performance came with Ghayal (1990), for which he won a National Award for Best Actor. This critically acclaimed action drama saw Sunny playing the role of Ajay Mehra, a journalist-turned-vigilante seeking justice for his sister’s murder.
Iconic Film Roles & Achievements
Since then, Sunny has acted in several blockbuster movies such as Gadar: Ek Prem Katha (2001), Apne (2007), Yamla Pagla Deewana (2011) and many more. Apart from being known for his stellar performance in action dramas, Sunny is also recognized for his comic timing in light-hearted entertainers like Jeet (1996) and Salaakhen (1998). He even produced a few notable films like Dillagi (1999) and Shaheed-e-Azam (2002).
Film Production & Directing Ventures
In addition to acting, Sunny has also directed several movies such as Dillagi (1999), Naqaab (2007) and Poster Boys (2017). He even ventured into production with Yamla Pagla Deewana 2 (2013) and Ghayal Once Again (2016). Both these movies were highly successful at the box office.
Political Career
In 2004, Sunny joined politics when he contested the Lok Sabha elections as a Bharatiya Janata Party candidate from Gurdaspur constituency in Punjab. He went on to win the seat by a margin of 1.5 lakh votes and retained it again during 2009 General Elections. He served as a member of parliament until 2014.
Philanthropy & Humanitarian Efforts
Apart from his professional commitments, Sunny Deol is deeply involved in various social welfare initiatives across the country. He actively works towards providing medical assistance to people in need through charitable trusts run by him and supports organizations working for animal welfare, education and health care.
Personal Life & Legacy
Sunny Deol married Pooja Deol in 1984 and the couple have two sons Karan and Rajvir. He has attained legendary status in Bollywood due to his immense popularity among fans over the decades and continues to work on exciting projects both as an actor and filmmaker.
Popular Films
Some of Sunny Deol’s popular films include Betaab (1983), Arjun (1985), Vijay (1988), Damini – Lightning (1993), Border (1997), Gadar: Ek Prem Katha (2001), Apne (2007) and Yamla Pagla Deewana series (2011–19).
Awards & Accolades
Throughout his illustrious career, Sunny Deol has bagged several prestigious awards such as two National Awards, five Filmfare Awards and six IIFA Awards. He also received an honorary doctorate degree from Bhim Rao Ambedkar University, Lucknow in 2006.
Conclusion
Sunny Deol is an eminent figure in the Hindi film industry whose cinematic contributions are unparalleled. With a career spanning nearly four decades, he has achieved remarkable success both as an actor and filmmaker and continues to inspire millions around the world with his passion for cinema and dedication towards philanthropic causes.