Bollywood actors Sunny Deol and Preity Zinta met Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath in Lucknow on August 7, 2026, during promotional rounds for their upcoming film Batwara 1947, directed by Rajkumar Santoshi and scheduled for release in cinemas worldwide on August 14.
Ahead of its mid-August debut, the lead cast of the upcoming Batwara 1947 arrived in Lucknow for a series of promotional events alongside Sunny Deol’s son, Karan Deol. Following daytime media appearances in the city, the actors made a courtesy visit to the official residence of Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath.
Lucknow Meetings and Social Media Updates
Both parties documented the visit online.
“While in Lucknow, it was a pleasure to meet the Hon’ble Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh, Shri Yogi Adityanath ji. Had a very pleasant and warm conversation with him.”
Sunny Deol, Actor, via Instagram
Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath also shared photographs from the meeting on social media platform X.
“Today, a courtesy meeting took place with renowned film actor Sunny Deol Ji and actress Preity Zinta Ji at the government residence in Lucknow.”
Yogi Adityanath, Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh, via X
Crowd Disruption During Phoenix United Mall Promotional Tour
The promotional tour encountered severe logistical challenges when an event at Phoenix United Mall in Lucknow drew large crowds eager to see the actors make a much-anticipated return to the screen together. According to eyewitness accounts, inadequate crowd management arrangements led to pushing and shoving as the star cast departed the venue.
Amid the ensuing commotion, a youth lost his balance, fell, and sustained serious head and body injuries. The injured man was rushed to a nearby hospital, where his condition remained critical.
Production Details and Thematic Scope of Batwara 1947
Directed by Rajkumar Santoshi, Batwara 1947 is set against the backdrop of the 1947 Partition and follows a family whose lives are upended by violence and displacement. The project marks a creative reunion between Santoshi and Sunny Deol after nearly three decades.
The film is produced by Aamir Khan and Aparna Purohit under Aamir Khan Productions. Its musical score is composed by AR Rahman, with lyrics penned by Javed Akhtar and Santosh Sivan serving as director of photography (DOP).
In addition to Sunny Deol and Preity Zinta portraying a married couple, the ensemble cast features Shabana Azmi, Karan Deol, Ali Fazal, Abhimanyu Singh, Khhushi Hajare, and Kanikka Kapur. The narrative centers on a family displaced across the border who are allotted a haveli inhabited by an elderly Hindu woman, played by Shabana Azmi, who refuses to leave. Sunny Deol’s character stands against communal violence to protect her.
Release Schedule and Censor Board Clearance
The official trailer, released on July 28, highlights themes of resilience, compassion, and human cost amid partition conflict.
The film is scheduled to release in cinemas worldwide on August 14, coinciding with Partition Day and the Independence Day holiday week, where it will face a box-office clash with Emraan Hashmi and Disha Patani’s Awarapan 2.
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