Sunny Deol

Ajay Singh Deol (born 19 October 1957), better known as Sunny Deol, is an Indian actor, film director, producer, politician. One of the highest grossing actors of Indian cinema, he has worked in more than 100 Hindi films in a career spanning over four decades and is particularly known for his angry action hero persona. Deol has won several awards including two National Film Awards and two Filmfare Awards.
The elder son of actor Dharmendra, Deol made his acting debut opposite newcomer Amrita Singh in the romantic drama Betaab (1983), a major commercial success. He had further box-office hits in action films such as Arjun (1985), Paap Ki Duniya (1988) and Tridev (1989), and gained wider recognition for his portrayal of a boxer accused of murder in Rajkumar Santoshi's Ghayal (1990), winning the Filmfare Award for Best Actor and the National Film Award – Special Jury Award (Feature Film). His portrayal of a volatile lawyer in Santoshi's crime drama Damini (1993) won him the National Film Award for Best Supporting Actor and the Filmfare Award for Best Supporting Actor. He built on his career with Darr (1993), Jeet (1996), Ghatak (1996), Ziddi (1997), and Arjun Pandit (1999).
Deol had his biggest commercial successes in the period action films Border (1997) and Gadar: Ek Prem Katha (2001). The latter was the highest-grossing Hindi film to that point. He subsequently starred with his father and younger brother, Bobby Deol, in the drama Apne (2007) and the comedy Yamla Pagla Deewana (2011). After more than a decade of decline, he made a career comeback by reprising his role in Gadar 2 (2023), which became the highest-grossing film of his career and the fourth highest-grossing Hindi film at the time.
He was Member of Parliament in the Lok Sabha, the lower house of parliament from Gurdaspur constituency of Punjab as a member of the Bharatiya Janata Party.
Deol was born as Ajay Singh Deol on 19 October 1957, in the village of Sahnewal in East Punjab, India, in a Punjabi Jat family, to Bollywood actor Dharmendra and Prakash Kaur. Growing up, he was a mischievous child and was often slapped by his mother for misbehaviour. Despite this, he had a good childhood and felt loved by her. He was afraid of his father, whom he respected and held in high regard, and remained obedient to him.
Deol completed his schooling at Sacred Heart Boys High School in Mumbai, and pursued higher education at Ramniranjan Anandilal Poddar College of Commerce and Economics in Mumbai. Deol has publicly admitted to having dyslexia, which caused difficulties with reading and writing in school. But he excelled in sports and co-curricular activities. In college, Deol was a quarrelsome student as he used to get into lots of fights and beat people. He used to carry metal rods and hockey sticks in his car for protection. He also engaged in street races and made modifications to his car. He wanted to pursue car racing as a career but was denied by his family.
After completing college, he went on to study theatre. He attended the renowned Old Rep Theatre in Birmingham. There he performed stage shows and returned to India to make his film debut. He was admitted based on a personal recommendation from Shashi Kapoor.
Deol made his debut with the 1983 romantic film Betaab which earned him his first nomination for the Filmfare Award for Best Actor. Produced by father Dharmendra and directed by Rahul Rawail, the film follows the story of two young lovers, played by Deol and Amrita Singh, navigating obstacles to their love amidst family conflicts and class divide. The plot of the film was loosely based on William Shakespeare’s The Taming Of The Shrew. The film emerged as a commercial success and went on to be one of the biggest hits of the year, emerging as the second highest-grossing Indian film of 1983. Betaab turned Deol and co-star Singh into overnight sensations. The music by R. D. Burman, also played a significant role as the song ‘Jab Hum Jawan Honge' was a chartbuster. Hajan Valley located in Kashmir, a major location in the film came to be known as Betaab Valley, which has since become a popular tourist destination in the region.
The following year, Deol starred in Sunny, Manzil Manzil, and Sohni Mahiwal, with only the latter becoming successful at the box office. Sohni Mahiwal (1984), an Indian-Russian film portrays the classic Punjabi folklore tragic love story of Sohni, portrayed by Poonam Dhillon, a potter's daughter, and Mahiwal (Deol), a wealthy merchant, amidst societal constraints. The film remains celebrated for its soundtrack and has attained cult classic status in Russia.
Deol broadened his range by appearing in Rahul Rawail's action film Arjun (1985), in which he played the titular role of an unemployed radical youth who, along with his friends, fights against the corrupt and exploitative system. The critically acclaimed film became a major hit, and established Deol's status as an action hero. Arjun is considered one of Deol's best works to date.
In 1986, he appeared alongside his father for the first time in the epic adventure Sultanat. The film, however, did not perform well at the box office, despite high production values. Deol starred in a series of commercially successful action films in the late 1980s. In Dacait (1987), he portrayed a man driven to rebellion after his family is killed due to feudal oppression. His intense and emotionally resonant performance was praised, despite the film's grim tone. In Paap Ki Duniya (1988), Deol portrayed a criminal raised by a crime lord. His character, caught between his upbringing and his conscience, added complexity to the action driven narrative. That same year, he starred in the western Yateem (1988), directed by J. P. Dutta, playing an orphan facing ostracism for his stepson status.
In Vardi (1989), he played a cop trying to dismantle a crime syndicate. He also headlined Rajiv Rai's action thriller Tridev (1989), playing a suspended police officer framed for a crime he didn't commit. The film, a major success and the third-highest-grossing of 1989, received several awards and revitalised the multi-starrer genre in the industry. His performance, alongside Jackie Shroff, Naseeruddin Shah, and Madhuri Dixit, was well-received by audiences and critics alike. Deol took on a lighter role in ChaalBaaz (1989), a slapstick comedy film starring Sridevi in a dual role alongside Rajinikanth. The film was a commercial success and became the fifth highest-grossing film of the year. This period firmly established Deol as a prominent action star in Hindi cinema, leading to a series of high-profile roles in the following decade.
Deol starred as a boxer avenging his brother's death in Ghayal (1990), directed by debutant Rajkumar Santoshi; for which he received widespread critical acclaim. The film became the year's second highest-grossing film worldwide and the highest-grossing film domestically. The film grossed ₹20 crore and was declared a blockbuster by Box Office India. The film won him the Filmfare Award for Best Actor and the National Film Award – Special Jury Award (Feature Film). The success of the film established Deol as a bonafide box office draw and the film recorded a large repeat audience. Ghayal was rereleased many times throughout the 90s and grossed several times more than its original run, with many theatres showing it to packed houses. It is the second most successful Indian film in repeat runs, behind only Sholay.
Due to the overwhelming success of Ghayal, Deol enjoyed a very successful period throughout the 90s. From 1991 to 2001, he delivered back-to-back successes. Starting with Yodha in 1991 in which he co-starred alongside Sanjay Dutt. It received mostly average reviews and earned ₹12.95 crore against a budget of ₹2.85 crore. The same year, Narsimha, where he played a strongman who rebels against a politician, was another success and emerged as the 8th highest grossing Indian film of 1991.
In 1992, he appeared in his only release Vishwatma. The film received critical acclaim upon release from contemporary as well as modern critics, with praise drawn towards its screenplay and action sequences. It earned over ₹9.5 crore in its total theatrical run worldwide and was the sixth highest-grossing Indian film of 1992. It proved to be a major launchpad for Chunky Pandey as well as for debutanté Divya Bharti.
1993 was a noteworthy year for Deol as he starred in four major films of the year: Lootere, Kshatriya, Damini and Darr. Lootere was an action film where Deol played a cop investing the murder of his colleague with the help of a bar dancer. It ranked among the biggest hits of that year. In Kshatriya, he appeared as a royal warrior caught in the rivalry between two Rajput clans. The film featured a star cast of Sanjay Dutt, Sunil Dutt, Dharmendra, Vinod Khanna, Rakhee Gulzar, Meenakshi Seshadri, Raveena Tandon and Divya Bharti. Released worldwide on 26 March 1993, it recorded a record-breaking opening at the box office. Although it was well received by both critics and audiences, the film was withdrawn from theatres shortly after release due to Dutt's involvement in 1993 Bombay bombings case.
Also in 1993, Deol reunited with Rajkumar Santoshi to play an alcoholic lawyer in the highly successful crime drama Damini and was awarded the Filmfare Award for Best Supporting Actor and the National Film Award for Best Supporting Actor. The pathbreaking film was praised for breaking social taboos and handling the subject of rape with sensitivity; a rarity in Bollywood at the time. It further strengthened Deol's He-Man image. His dialogues in the film "Tarikh Pe Tarikh" (date after date) and "Dhai Kilo Ka Haath" (Two-and-a-half kilogram hand) became iconic and a pop-culture reference. The film was a milestone in the careers of Deol as well as Amrish Puri who went onto star in various films together in the future. Besides being critically acclaimed, the film also became the sixth highest-grossing film of the year and was declared a "hit" by Box Office India. That same year, Deol portrayed the character of a lieutenant army officer in Yash Chopra's musical psychological thriller Darr. The film earned Deol his third nomination for the Filmfare Award for Best Actor. It was declared a blockbuster and was the third-highest-grossing film of the year in India, and the highest-grossing Indian film of the year in the overseas markets. It received widespread acclaim from critics upon release. It was also noted for being Shah Rukh Khan's breakthrough film.
In 1994's Insaniyat, he appeared alongside Amitabh Bachchan. The production had finished in 1988 but it was delayed for several years and finally released on 11 March 1994. By the time it released, Bachchan had gone into semi-retirement post the release of Khuda Gawah (1992) and it was citied as Bachchan's last film. Due to Deol and Bachchan's pairing, the film got an excellent opening but was panned critically due to poor editing and unfinished storyline. It still turned out to be the 10th highest-grossing film of the year.
At the time, 1996 marked Deol's most successful year in terms of commercial success. The audiences saw four releases that year including Himmat, Jeet, Ghatak, and Ajay. Starring Alongside Salman Khan and Karisma Kapoor, Jeet earned a worldwide collection of ₹30.5 crore. It became the 3rd highest grossing Bollywood film of 1996. In Jeet, Deol played a hitman who falls in love with a woman, prompting a dramatic struggle between his criminal past and a yearning for a better future. His performance was appreciated, with praise drawn towards his ability to blend action with romance. Deol also starred alongside Karisma Kapoor in Ajay, which was also successful and found its place in the list of highest grossers of the year. Ghatak, released the same year, received critical and commercial acclaim, and was declared a blockbuster by Box Office India. It marked Santoshi's third collaboration with Deol, Seshadri, and Puri after Ghayal (1990) and Damini (1993). In this film, Deol played one of his most iconic characters Kashi Nath, who fights against a ruthless gangster to free his neighbourhood from tyranny and restore peace. The film earned Deol his fourth nomination for the Filmfare Award for Best Actor. Deol's dialogues in Ghatak such as "Ye Mazdoor Ka Haath Hai Katya" (This is a labourer's hand, Katya), "Utha Utha Ke Patkunga" (I will lift you and slam you repeatedly), and "Cheer Dunga Faad Dunga Saale" (I will tear you apart, you bastard) became popular among the audiences and influenced the pop culture of the time period.
Deol kicked off 1997 with Ziddi which had a lifetime collection of Rs. 324.3 million and was one of the highest grossing hits of 1997. He played a larger than life role of Deva, a hot headed man who takes revenge on the corrupt politicians responsible for his family's suffering. The film flourished particularly in the domestic market. He followed it up with Border, an epic war film based on the real life events that happened during the Battle of Longewala in 1971, in which Deol played the leading role of decorated Indian Army officer Brigadier Kuldip Singh Chandpuri. The film featured an ensemble cast of Deol, Jackie Shroff, Sunil Shetty, Akshaye Khanna, Tabu, Raakhee, Pooja Bhatt, including others. It opened to strong box office results and was declared an all-time blockbuster by Box Office India. It also became the highest-grossing Hindi film of 1997 domestically, and the second highest-grossing Indian film of the year worldwide. Border grossed a worldwide total of ₹65.57 crore and it was the fourth biggest blockbuster film of the 90s decade. It is often listed among the best Indian war films ever. The film was awarded several accolades, and earned Deol his fifth nomination for the Filmfare Award for Best Actor.
In 1998, Deol collaborated with Guddu Dhanoa once again after Ziddi (1997), to star in the action film Salaakhen. Featuring an identical cast to Ziddi, Raveena Tandon, Anupam Kher and Farida Jalal played supporting roles. The film was noted for its action sequences, cast performances and a notable monologue delivered by Deol during a courtroom hearing scene. Released on 24 April 1998, it recorded an excellent opening and was another hit for the actor.
His 1999 film Arjun Pandit marked his first collaboration with director Rahul Rawail after Yodha. Due to the critical and commercial success of their previous collaborations Arjun (1985) and Yodha (1991), the film was one of the most awaited films of the year. Although it was not well reviewed upon release, the film became a hit. UP gangster Vikas Dubey was reported to be an ardent fan of this movie and rumoured to have watched it over 100 times. Inspired by his love for this movie, he had earned the monicker Pandit. In 1999 he made his directorial debut with Dillagi starring himself, his brother and Urmila Matondkar, but the film failed to gain success.
His first blockbuster hit in the millennium was 2001 film Gadar: Ek Prem Katha, directed by Anil Sharma, in which Deol played the role of a patriotic Indian truck driver, Tara Singh who falls in love with a Muslim girl, Sakeena, in the backdrop of 1947 partition violence, and makes a dramatic trip to Pakistan to get back his beloved. Gadar became the highest-grossing Hindi film up until then in mainstream cinema earning over ₹1.3 billion (US$15 million) worldwide. It ranks among the top 3 Indian films in all-time highest footfalls since 1990s. Gadar is also the third highest-grossing film in India since the 1990s when adjusted for inflation. The famous "Handpump scene" became a major cultural symbol and influenced the contemporary parody culture in India in the following years. Deol received high praise for his performance.
Deol was paid ₹6 crore (US$700,000) for his role in Gadar, the highest for any Indian actor at that time. The film earned him his sixth nomination for the Filmfare Award for Best Actor. In the same year, Deol also worked in another successful action thriller film Indian (2001). It received a record breaking opening, grossing a domestic nett of ₹18.0 million on its opening day. It was the fourth highest-grossing Hindi film of the year in India with collection of ₹42.60 crore. Critics felt that Deol's role of DCP Rajshekhar Azad was "tailor-made" for him.
In 2002, Deol starred in the war film Maa Tujhhe Salaam which opened strongly and despite being among the highest-grossing films of the year, only emerged as a box office disappointment due to poor reviews. He played the role of Indian revolutionary Chandra Shekhar Azad in 23rd March 1931: Shaheed, starring his brother Bobby Deol in the role of Bhagat Singh. The film's release coincided with another film based on Bhagat Singh, directed by Rajkumar Santoshi and titled The Legend of Bhagat Singh. Both films failed at the box office.
Then, in 2003, Deol teamed up with director Anil Sharma yet again for The Hero: Love Story of a Spy, which also starred Preity Zinta and the debutant Priyanka Chopra. Released on 11 April, The Hero was billed as Bollywood's most expensive film at that time with an estimated budget of ₹600 million (US$7.0 million). The film became the third highest-grossing Bollywood film of that year. Derek Elley from Variety wrote about the film and called it "a wildly over-the-top, stridently nationalistic but undeniably entertaining slice of hokum."
During this phase of his career, Deol avoided traditional action films due to back injuries and experimented with various genres, achieving lackluster success.
In 2004, Deol starred in Lakeer, which featured an ensemble cast including Sunil Shetty, and newcomers Sohail Khan and John Abraham. The film was a flop. In the same year, he starred in the low budget sports comedy film Rok Sako To Rok Lo.
Jo Bole So Nihaal, Deol's 2005 solo release, sparked a trend of comedic films featuring carefree and jovial Sikh protagonists, exemplified by later releases like Singh is Kinng (2008), Son of Sardaar (2012), Singh is Bliing (2015), and Deol's own Yamla Pagla Deewana franchise. However, the film also generated controversy, with its title, a Sikh spiritual phrase, and certain scenes angering Sikh groups. Bombings at two theaters led to its withdrawal from cinemas and its eventual box office failure.
In early 2006, Deol starred in the techno-thriller Teesri Aankh. It marked the second time he co-starred alongside Ameesha Patel, after the all-time blockbuster Gadar. The film was inspired by the 1994 movie Mute Witness. It was panned by critics and turned out to be a disaster. In September 2006, Deol took on a role in the action-adventure film Naksha, an endeavour by Bollywood to capture the essence of films seen in the Indiana Jones and The Mummy series. Despite being hailed as ahead of its time by certain critics, the movie unfortunately met with box office failure.
Deol kicked off 2007 with Big Brother, a vigilante film. This was supposed to be Priyanka Chopra's first release in 2002 but was delayed by almost 5 years. Continuing his year, he appeared in the heist comedy Fool N Final, sharing the spotlight with emerging talents Shahid Kapoor and Ayesha Takia. This film was also a box office disappointment. Deol appeared alongside his father Dharmendra and brother Bobby Deol together for the first time in Apne (2007), a family sports-drama film. The film garnered significant hype and achieved considerable success.
In 2008, he appeared with his brother again in the ensemble film Heroes. Deol's performance, although brief, was praised. 2009 saw Deol star in the thriller Fox (2009) opposite Arjun Rampal. It marked Deol's first film appearing as an antagonist. The film was inspired from Hollywood film A Murder of Crows (1999). It was another commercial failure for the actor.
Deol's first release of 2010 was Neeraj Pathak's crime thriller Right Yaaa Wrong which had him playing a police inspector. Yamla Pagla Deewana which also featured him alongside his father and brother was Deol's only release in 2011. The surreal comedy was declared a hit.
For the first time in his career, Deol lent his voice in the Animated film Mahabharata for the role of Bheem. It earned ₹16.9 million. Yamla Pagla Deewana 2, a sequel to his 2011 hit was released in 2013 but the film was a critical and box office failure. In the end of 2013 Deol teamed up with Anil Sharma yet again for Singh Saab The Great which was received positively. It was Deol's comeback to traditional action genre and the film turned out be a moderate success.
In 2015, he worked in Radhika Rao and Vinay Sapru's I Love NY opposite Kangana Ranaut. Due to an unknown reason, the film was delayed from its original release date of 2011 and released several years later. It did not fare well at the box office.
In 2016, Ghayal Once Again was released which was a sequel to his 1990 film Ghayal. It marked Deol's second film directorial since Dillagi (1999). It was one of the most anticipated movies of the year. The action sequences were praised but the story and pacing were criticised. The film earned well upon release, but was ultimately declared a failure by the end of its theatrical run.
In 2017, he and his brother appeared in Shreyas Talpade's comedy film Poster Boys, which flopped at the box office. This was Bobby Deol's comeback film after a hiatus of three years but could not re-establish him.
In 2018, Deol appeared in Yamla Pagla Deewana: Phir Se, the third film in the franchise. Also that year, two of his long delayed films Bhaiyyaji Superhitt (where he plays a double role for the first time), and Mohalla Assi were released. All of them were box office failures. Mohalla Assi faced opposition before release by the court for hurting religious sentiments and was leaked online in 2015 by piracy. In the film, Deol played an idealistic Hindu pandit attempting to expose fraudulent spiritual leaders preying on foreign tourists in Varanasi. His use of blunt language and slurs, while controversial, was praised for demonstrating his range, despite the film's largely negative reception.
Meanwhile, in 2019, Deol took the mantle of a director again, his third film as a director, Pal Pal Dil Ke Paas, which marked the debut of his son Karan Deol, with another newcomer Sahher Bambba in lead roles. He declined the lead role in the 2019 hit film Kesari.
In 2022, Deol starred in the crime thriller Chup: Revenge of the Artist directed by R. Balki. Alongside Dulquer Salmaan, Shreya Dhanwanthary and Pooja Bhatt. The plot of the film centered around a serial killer who targets dishonest film critics. Released on 23 September 2022, where it received positive reviews from critics. Deol won the Lions Gold Awards for Male Action Star Of The Year 2022.
The sequel of the 2001 film Gadar, Gadar 2, was released on 11 August 2023. The film's story was centered around the era of the Indo-Pakistani War of 1971, in which Deol as Tara Singh returns to Pakistan to bring back his son. It was directed and produced by Anil Sharma, and the film starred Deol along with Ameesha Patel, and Utkarsh Sharma in lead roles. Gadar 2 emerged as the highest-grossing film in Deol's career. The film earned ₹691 crore worldwide, and became the year's 4th highest-grosser, as well as one of the highest-grossing Indian films of all time. Deol's performance in Gadar 2 earned him several award nominations, including his seventh nomination for a Filmfare Award in the Best Actor category. Deol won the Zee Cine Award for Best Actor (Viewer's Choice) for Gadar 2, while he was also named the GQ India Leading Man of the Year 2023.
Deol has various upcoming projects lined up. He announced an action film titled SDGM to be directed by Gopichand Malineni in July 2024, which was later renamed Jaat and will release on 10 April 2025. Deol is reuniting with Rajkumar Santoshi to headline Lahore 1947 (2025) which will be produced by Aamir Khan. Based on the play Jis Lahore Nai Dekhya O Jamyai Nai by Asghar Wajahat, it will be set against the backdrop of 1947 partition of India. The film will also feature Preity Zinta. He is set to play the lead role in the sequel to 1997's Border, titled Border 2 (2026). Deol will diversify his portfolio by portraying a middle aged man in the family drama Safar, a direct-to-OTT release with a release date yet to be announced. He will play the role of Lord Hanuman in Nitesh Tiwari directorial Ramayana: Part 1 (2026), based on the Indian epic.
Deol joined the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on 23 April 2019. Ahead of the elections, he made several promises, including pledging to open the border for trade with Pakistan and Central Asian nations. While his intentions were praised, his approach was criticised to be impractical and politically naive. He won the 2019 Lok Sabha Elections from Gurdaspur constituency in Punjab against Sunil Jakhar of Indian national Congress with a margin of 82,459 votes .
Deol's political career was deemed unsuccessful. Tribune India remarked, "History will not be kind to... Sunny Deol, when it judges him as an MP in the times to come." By 11 December 2023, he had an attendance of 18% in the Parliament. The national average for the same is 79%. Deol missed six parliamentary sessions and posed only four questions, with just one concerning Gurdaspur. He inquired about illegal sand mining in his constituency but did not engage in any debates. Deol stopped visiting Gurdaspur after September 2020 and failed to return even during the floods in August 2023. Deol utilised only ₹7 crore from his MP Local Area Development Fund over five years, despite being entitled to ₹5 crore annually. In the last two years of his term, he made no requests for funds and spent nothing in his constituency from the available resources. When questioned for his minimal participation in the lower house, he addressed, “When I go [to Lok Sabha], I see people who run the country are sitting there, from every party. But how do they behave? And then we tell others not to behave that way."
In an Aap Ki Adaalat interview, Deol addressed concerns about his low attendance in Parliament, stating that his focus was on serving his constituency and that his presence in Parliament did not impact his work. He also cited COVID-19 as a factor contributing to his absence. Deol emphasised that, while he has a record of his accomplishments, he is not one to publicly promote them. He became secluded towards the end and did not invite a single person from his constituency to his son's wedding in June 2023.
Deol announced his decision not to seek re-election in 2024, stating that he is not suited for politics and wishes to focus on creating quality cinema.
Sunny Deol has a younger brother Bobby Deol and two sisters Vijayta and Ajeeta who are settled in California, United States. Hema Malini is his step-mother. Actress Esha Deol and Ahana Deol are his paternal younger half-sisters. His cousin Abhay Deol is also an actor.
He is married to Lynda Deol (Pooja Deol), who comes from an Anglo-Indian family. Her father, Krishan Dev Mahal, is an Indian while her mother, June Sarah Mahal, is British. The couple has two sons, Karan and Rajveer.
Karan was an assistant director on Yamla Pagla Deewana 2 and has rapped in a song sung by Diljit Dosanjh in the film. He made his Bollywood debut in 2019 with the Hindi-language feature film Pal Pal Dil Ke Paas. He then starred in the 2021 crime comedy film Velle, a remake of the Telugu film film Brochevarevarura. He is set to play a role in Sunny Deol's upcoming film Lahore 1947.
In June 2023, Karan married Drisha Acharya in the presence of the Deol family, including Sunny Deol, Dharmendra and Bobby Deol. The same year, Rajveer made his Bollywood debut with the Hindi-language feature film Dono, in which he starred alongside Paloma Dhillon, daughter of actress Poonam Dhillon.
The Deol family, though influential and frequently discussed in the media, maintains a low profile by rarely attending social events and keeping their activities private.
Like the rest of the Deol family, Sunny belongs to the Arya Samaj, a modern Hindu reformist movement which relies only on the Vedas, professes monotheism and fights against what it considers to be superstitions, including idolatry.
Deol is frequently recognised as a superstar of Indian cinema. He established himself as an action hero, with his roles in Arjun (1985), Ghayal (1990), Ghatak (1996), Border (1997), and Gadar: Ek Prem Katha (2001). Deol's portrayals personified masculinity and anti-authoritarianism in India. At the peak of his career, Deol was known for his muscular physique. He has been noted as one of the pioneers who kickstarted the trend of bodybuilding in Bollywood. Deol was one of the prominent actors of Hindi cinema in the 1980s, 1990s, and early 2000s, appearing in Box Office India's list of top actors nine times from 1989 to 2002. Deol topped the list twice, in 1997 and 2001. Deol was one of the highest paid actors of Hindi cinema during the 1990s. Since 1990, Deol has the third most bumper openings at the box office with a total of 10, behind only Shah Rukh Khan (18) and Salman Khan (14). He has also given three record openers since 1990 including Kshatriya (1993), Border (1997), and Indian (2001). Deol is the first and only Indian actor to deliver an all-time blockbuster as a lead hero after turning 60, he was 66 when he accomplished this landmark with his 2023 release Gadar 2. He has been compared to Sylvester Stallone, earning him the moniker of "Indian Rambo".
In 2016, Geeta Phogat, the Indian wrestler and Olympic gold medalist, expressed her admiration for Deol, citing him as her favourite actor and how she drew inspiration from his "angry man" portrayals. Also in 2016, actors Varun Dhawan and John Abraham referred to Deol as "the greatest action hero of Bollywood". Deol's dialogues, including "Balwant Rai Ke Kutto", "Dhai Kilo ka Haath", and "Tarikh Pe Tarikh", are considered iconic. In 2019, Prime Minister Narendra Modi celebrated India's spirit by tweeting one of Deol's dialogues: "Hindustan Zindabad Tha, Hai, Aur Rahega". In 2022, he was placed in Outlook India's "75 Best Bollywood Actors" list. News18 named him "The Blockbuster King Of The '90s". In 2023, Deol was referenced in the lyrics of Haryanvi singer Raju Punjabi's viral song "Choudhar Jaat Ki". The specific lines from the song were, "Hawa banai thadi re meri Sunny Deol si body re (I make you look good with my Sunny Deol-like body)". Deol is renowned for his powerful voice, serving as an inspiration for many imitators and voice actors. Kiku Sharda repeatedly mimics Deol on The Kapil Sharma Show. In the Hindi-dubbed version of the cartoon series Oggy and the Cockroaches, the character Jack is voiced by Saurav Chakrabarti, who emulates Deol's distinctive vocal style.
Many of Deol's films share unique elements which have become characteristic of his body of work. Primarily, his films often center around protagonists hailing from modest backgrounds, who find themselves entangled in conflicts with crime syndicates and systemic corruption. Despite seeking help from legal channels, the characters invariably encounter hurdles within the justice system, compelling them to take matters into their own hands and resort to vigilantism as a means of seeking retribution against the antagonists. This narrative framework serves as a vehicle for exploring broader societal issues, including the shortcomings of law enforcement, discrimination, exploitation of the marginalised, and pervasive corruption, which are portrayed through the protagonists' struggles and impassioned dialogues delivered by Deol.
In contrast to the stereotype of the silent action hero, Deol's characters are men of action and articulate numerous words. Initially conflict-avoidant, they pivot to unfiltered anger when met with opposition, progressing to threats of violence charged with indignation, and ultimately resorting to physical force. Notably, Deol's characters seldom instigate violence independently and only respond when provoked.
Deol's filmography is also marked by instances of graphic violence, such as the arm-tearing scene in Ziddi (1997). Moreover, he frequently assumes roles of leadership, either of military units, as in Border (1997) and Maa Tujhhe Salaam (2002), or radical vigilante groups evident in films like Arjun (1985), Ghayal (1990), Ziddi (1997) and Big Brother (2007).
In his portrayal of everyday interactions, Deol's characters embody the ideal citizen advocating for truth, honesty, integrity, and patriotism, while exhibiting profound respect for familial and individual values. Physically, Deol embodies a rugged and muscular physique, distinguished by its lack of hyper-vascular aesthetics and the presence of natural body hair. Even in romantic relationships, Deol is depicted as a caring and respectful partner characterised by consideration for his partner's feelings and autonomy. They avoid overly dramatic displays of love and do not chase their love interest upon rejection, a departure from conventional Bollywood portrayals of romance.
Deol has consistently faced criticism for his dancing skills throughout his career. In defence, the actor argues that his characters portray relatable individuals who are not expected to be expert dancers. However, this explanation has not shielded him from public scrutiny, as his choreography has often been the subject of parody and memes. Early in his career, Deol largely refrained from dancing, but as his career progressed, his dance routines became a distinctive part of his screen persona. Songs like Yaara O Yaara gained popularity not only for their music but also for Deol's unconventional dance moves. Deol has acknowledged the criticism openly and maintains a lighthearted attitude towards it.
The 1990s in India were marked by significant socio-economic changes, the emergence of social justice politics, and the implementation of various reforms. Deol's characters embodied the frustrations and aspirations of the common man during this transformative period. His films became cultural touchstones of the time, resonating with the audience and making him an aspirational role model and heroic figure of the era.
Deol is commonly addressed as "Sunny Paaji", signifying the term 'elder brother'. Deol is known for being a humble, shy, and gentle person, who values his privacy and does not socialize much. He is also seen as a passionate, loyal, and dedicated actor, who works hard and does not compromise on his beliefs. His father characterised him as "painfully introverted" and lamented that he remains very distant despite his capacity for love. Deol is often absent from industry parties and events. In an interview with NDTV, he explained that, early in his career, he was labelled as "snooty and snobbish". However, as people got to know him, they realised that his aloofness was simply due to shyness. Over time, invitations dwindled because people understood that he was unlikely to attend. He is also particularly known for his extreme shyness around his female co-stars.
Deol is regarded for his punctuality and discipline on set. He has worked with several debutant directors throughout his career, including Rahul Rawail in Betaab (1983), Rajkumar Santoshi in Ghayal (1990), and N. Maharajan in Indian (2001). In 2005, he played a pivotal role in launching Imtiaz Ali's directorial career with Socha Na Tha. Following a meeting with Deol, who agreed to review Ali's script and produce the film, the project was greenlit. Reflecting on this significant moment, Ali stated, "He didn't ask me where I was from or about my experience. He holds a significant place in my life because he gave me my first film."
Indian actor Gaurav Chopra praised Deol, "He is everything that you've known him to be over so many years. He is not very talkative on the set, but it takes you 5 minutes to understand that he likes to keep it simple. He likes to keep his life and his presence grounded. Not just him, his entire staff, his entire aura, his entire presence on the set is grounded." Actress Priyanka Chopra made her Bollywood debut alongside Deol and recalled being incredibly nervous and "shaking" when she first met him. Despite rumours about her acting skills and talks of replacing her, Deol saw her potential and insisted on giving her a chance.
In recent years, he has been vocal about the bias and negativity he faced from the industry after the success of his film Gadar. He said that he was not offered any good scripts and that many of his contemporaries were jealous of his success.
Deol starred in the Yash Chopra-directed Darr (1993), where he played the protagonist opposite Shah Rukh Khan. Darr was one of the most anticipated films of 1993 due to it being the first collaboration between Deol and Chopra, and recorded a bumper opening at the box office largely credited to Deol's role. Despite the film's commercial success, Deol felt betrayed and cheated by the director, who he accused of glorifying the villain and sidelining the hero. He claimed that the final version differed significantly from what was initially conveyed to him, with edited scenes that he was not informed about. He had a heated argument with Chopra over the climax of the film, during which he ripped his pants in anger. Although over the years, this act has been praised as a feat of strength, since Deol had his hands stuffed in his pockets and ripped his jeans all the way down in a fit of anger. After the release of the film, he vowed to never work with Chopra again. Subsequently, he did not speak to Khan for 16 years, but he admitted that it was not deliberate. Since then, Deol and Khan have reconciled.
Deol faced a boycott by the farmers of Punjab, who were protesting against the farm laws passed by the central government in 2020. Deol, as a BJP MP from Gurdaspur constituency of Punjab, was seen as a supporter of the government and a betrayer of the farmers. He was also accused of being silent and inactive on the issue, and of not raising the voice of his constituents in the parliament. He later backed the new farm laws which led to the farmers also burning his effigies and posters, and refusing to watch his films.