In the annals of Bollywood history, box office clashes are inevitable, often pitting major stars against each other. One such instance involved the father-son duo, Dharmendra and Sunny Deol. While they've starred in several films together, there was a time when their movies directly competed at the box office.
Dharmendra, born Dharam Singh Deol, has had a prolific career spanning over six decades, debuting in 1960 with "Dil Bhi Tera Hum Bhi Tere". He is considered one of the greatest and most successful actors in Hindi cinema, holding the record for starring in the highest number of hit films. Known for his versatility, Dharmendra gained popularity in the mid-1960s with films like "Ayee Milan Ki Bela" and "Phool Aur Patthar". By 1966, he was a superstar after "Phool Aur Patthar" topped the box office.
Sunny Deol, Dharmendra's elder son, made his acting debut in 1983 with the romantic drama "Betaab," produced by his father. "Betaab" was a major commercial success, launching Sunny's career. He further solidified his position with action films like "Arjun" (1985) and "Ghayal" (1990).
The clash occurred in 1984 when "Sunny" and "Sohni Mahiwal" were released. The movie "Sunny", released on September 28, 1984, featured Sunny Deol, Dharmendra, Waheeda Rehman, Amrita Singh, and Sharmila Tagore in lead roles. "Sunny" was not a box office success. "Sohni Mahiwal" however, did fairly well.
While both films have their merits, "Sohni Mahiwal" emerged as the winner in this particular box office face-off. Though "Sunny" had the star power of both Dharmendra and his son, the film failed to impress audiences. "Sohni Mahiwal" was a success.
Despite this clash, Dharmendra and Sunny Deol have maintained a close relationship and have appeared in numerous films together, including "Apne" (2007) and the "Yamla Pagla Deewana" series. Their collaborations have often been successful, showcasing their strong bond and appeal to audiences. They acted in 8 Bollywood Films together : Yamla Pagla Deewana 2, Yamla Pagla Deewana, Apne, Kshatriya, Sultanat, Vardi, Saveraywali Gaadi and Sunny.
