Sunny wants cinema to be relevant

It’s important to tackle social issues alongside entertaining viewers, says the actor

His upcoming film Poster Boys has the theme of vasectomy, or male sterilisation, and actor Sunny Deol (above) says that it’s essential to highlight relevant issues in an entertaining way through cinema.

Poster Boys is inspired by a real-life incident about three porters who found their pictures on a poster advertising vasectomy. “There are so many things that are supposed to be a taboo in society, but they [have been] happening for years and years. Ten years ago, nobody would have thought of [this story] as a film,” says Sunny. “These ideas keep cropping up as and when society and cinema evolve and things change around us. It’s important to highlight issues that are relevant in society.”

The actor, who ruled Bollywood in the Nineties and early Noughties with films such as Ghayal, Ziddi, Damini and Gadar: Ek Prem Katha, believes that cinema has the power to make people think about issues that are often brushed under the carpet. “People go to the theatres for entertainment, and if they get the message as well, then that’s good. Cinema has been a reflection of society and it works otherwise as well,” says Sunny.

His intention, adds the actor, is to always give his best to every film he does. “We are fortunate that what we did with Poster Boys has brought us positive feedback,” he says. The film is a remake of the 2014 Marathi hit Poshter Boyz, which Shreyas Talpade had produced and acted in. It marks the directorial debut of Talpade in Bollywood.

“I have not seen the Marathi film,” says Sunny, “so I don’t know what the actors and the characters do. I didn’t want to see the original film, as subconsciously there are things that stay with you. I wanted to bring my own take to it along with the vision of the director.” The comedy drama also features Bobby Deol and Shreyas in the lead.