Sunny Deol and Rajkumar Santoshi’s most celebrated collaborations are getting a theatrical encore, and the timing is hard to miss. As excitement builds around their reunion film Batwara 1947, PVR INOX has announced a special retrospective that brings Damini, Ghatak and Ghayal back to the big screen, reviving a partnership that helped define a powerful chapter in mainstream Hindi cinema.
The three-film run begins with Damini on July 24, followed by Ghatak on July 31 and Ghayal on August 7. Together, the slate revisits the films that cemented the Deol-Santoshi pairing as one of the most forceful actor-director combinations of its era, blending emotional intensity with punchy social drama and mass appeal.
Pvr Inox Turns The Spotlight On A Landmark Collaboration
PVR INOX said the retrospective is intended as a celebration of the Sunny Deol and Rajkumar Santoshi legacy ahead of their next film together. Niharika Bijli, Lead Strategist at PVR INOX Ltd, said, “The Sunny Deol and Rajkumar Santoshi collaboration gave Indian cinema some of its most cinematic moments in films like Damini, Ghayal, and Ghatak. These films have transcended generations because of their performances, compelling storytelling, and themes.”
She added, “Ahead of the release of their upcoming film, ‘Batwara 1947’, we are honoured to present this retrospective at PVR INOX.”
Santoshi also revisited the start of that creative equation, saying, “Sunny agreed to work in Ghayal at a time when I hadn’t directed a single film. That faith laid the foundation for a friendship and partnership that went on to create Damini, Ghatak, and some of the most memorable moments in Indian cinema.”
He further said, “We made these films with immense love, honesty, and conviction. We never chased moments for applause; we simply wanted to tell stories that would move audiences.”
Deol, too, reflected on the spirit behind their work together. “Rajkumar Santoshi and I have shared a partnership built on sincerity. We never set out to make iconic films; we simply worked with our hearts and tried to tell honest stories.”
Their Reunion Film Brings The Partnership Into A New Phase
The retrospective also works as a bridge to Batwara 1947, the duo’s latest collaboration, which is scheduled to arrive in theatres on August 14, 2026. The film, previously known as Lahore 1947, is a period drama directed by Rajkumar Santoshi and produced by Aamir Khan Productions. Its cast includes Sunny Deol, Preity Zinta, Shabana Azmi, Ali Fazal and Karan Deol.
Set against the backdrop of Partition, the film marks a significant return for Santoshi and Deol as collaborators after the impact of Ghayal, Damini and Ghatak. That makes the re-release plan feel less like a nostalgia play and more like a carefully timed reminder of what this creative pairing has meant to Hindi cinema over the decades.
Sunny Deol’S Big Screen Momentum Continues
The retrospective lands at a moment when Sunny Deol’s theatrical profile is once again commanding attention. Following the blockbuster success of Gadar 2 in 2023, the actor has moved into a phase built around large-scale, theatre-driven titles that lean into his enduring screen persona.
Alongside Batwara 1947, Deol is also part of Border 2, which is slated for 2026, and Ramayana: Part 1, where he features in another major big-screen spectacle due later the same year. With legacy titles returning to cinemas and fresh headline projects on the horizon, this PVR INOX line-up underlines just how firmly Deol has re-entered the theatrical conversation.
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