Bollywood superstar Sunny Deol has hit the ball out of the park again with his stupendous performance in Ikka, streaming on Netflix. At a recent special screening of the movie, we caught up with the maverick for a quick chat.
The film reminded many people of Damini, where you played a lawyer. Did that influence your decision?
I didn’t get an opportunity earlier, but when Netflix brought it to me, I said, ‘Why not?'”
How was it working with Akshaye Khanna again?
I have worked with Akshaye in Border. He is a gem of a guy. We have had a good equation and tuning since then. He is Vinod ji’s son, so there is an even stronger bond with him.
Was it the twist in the story that made you sign the film?
It is not the twist but the story in totality. One does not do a film for the twist. We do it for the story, and we work towards bringing out the depth of the character. That should come across, and we need to engage the audience. It is a film about family issues. The reason I did it is that it will reach people across the world.
This character is very different from the lawyer you played in Damini. Did you have to consciously control your intensity?
It is all about the character. It depends on what battle the character is fighting. He is doing something that he does not want to do, but he is doing it for his family.
Your new look has gone viral and the buzz is that it is for Ramayana?
Today it is all about looks. Acting khatam ho gayi hai (laughs).
Will Ikka 2 happen?
Let us keep our fingers crossed. If people liked it, it will happen.”
You often speak about your father, Dharmendra, with immense pride?
Wherever we go, people tell us, ‘Dharmendra ka beta.’ And that’s what we are. From now on, I would like to be known as ‘Dharmendra’s son, Sunny Deol.
