On August 16, 2025, Sunny Deol remains a beloved name in Indian cinema. His powerful voice and strong screen presence make him unforgettable. Born as Ajay Singh Deol, he is known as Sunny Deol to millions of fans. He is an actor, director, producer, and even a politician. His journey in Bollywood spans over 40 years. He has won hearts with his action roles and emotional performances. This article tells the story of Sunny Deol’s life in simple words. It covers his childhood, career, family, and achievements. Let’s dive into the life of this Bollywood legend.
Early Life And Family
Sunny Deol was born on October 19, 1957, in Sahnewal, Punjab. His father, Dharmendra, was a famous Bollywood actor. His mother, Prakash Kaur, raised him with love. Sunny grew up in a Punjabi Jat family. He has a younger brother, Bobby Deol, who is also an actor. He has two sisters, Vijayta and Ajeeta, who live in the USA. His father later married actress Hema Malini. From this marriage, Sunny has two half-sisters, Esha and Ahana Deol. The Deol family is a big name in Bollywood. Sunny’s childhood was full of fun and mischief. His mother often scolded him for being naughty. But he always felt loved at home. He respected his father a lot and was a little scared of him. This respect shaped his disciplined life.
Sunny went to Sacred Heart Boys High School in Mumbai. He was not a top student but loved sports. He faced challenges because he had dyslexia. Reading and writing were hard for him. Still, he worked hard and never gave up. After school, he studied at Ramniranjan Anandilal Poddar College in Mumbai. He was a bold and fearless student. He often got into fights and carried metal rods for protection. Sunny loved cars and wanted to be a car racer. But his family did not allow it. Instead, he found his passion in acting. He went to England to study theatre at the Old Rep Theatre in Birmingham. This training helped him become a great actor.
Sunny Deol Age, Wikipedia, Biography, Wife, Son, Family
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Ajay Singh Deol |
| Popular Name | Sunny Deol |
| Date of Birth | October 19, 1957 (some sources mention 1956) |
| Place of Birth | Sahnewal, Punjab, India |
| Family | Father: Dharmendra (Actor) Mother: Prakash Kaur Brother: Bobby Deol (Actor) Sisters: Vijayta, Ajeeta Half-Sisters: Esha Deol, Ahana Deol Wife: Pooja Deol Sons: Karan Deol, Rajvir Deol |
| Education | School: Sacred Heart Boys High School, Mumbai College: Ramniranjan Anandilal Poddar College, Mumbai Theatre Training: Old Rep Theatre, Birmingham, England |
| Health Condition | Dyslexia (faced challenges with reading and writing) |
| Debut Film | Betaab (1983) |
| Breakout Role | Ghayal (1990) – Played Shiv Nath, a boxer fighting for justice |
| Famous Films | Betaab (1983), Arjun (1985), Ghayal (1990), Damini (1993), Darr (1993), Border (1997), Gadar: Ek Prem Katha (2001), Gadar 2 (2023) |
| Iconic Dialogues | “Yeh dhai kilo ka haath” (Ghayal) “Tarikh pe tarikh” (Damini) |
| Awards | National Film Award for Best Actor (Ghayal, 1990) National Film Award for Best Supporting Actor (Damini, 1993) Filmfare Award for Best Actor (Ghayal, 1990) Filmfare Award for Best Supporting Actor (Damini, 1993) Zee Cine Award for Best Actor (Gadar 2, 2024) |
| Career Roles | Actor, Director, Producer |
| Directorial Debut | Dillagi (1999) |
| Comeback Film | Gadar 2 (2023) – Highest-grossing film of his career |
| Political Career | Joined Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in 2019 Won Lok Sabha Election from Gurdaspur, Punjab (2019–2024) |
| Net Worth (2024) | Approximately ₹399 crores |
| Fees per Film | ₹5 crores |
| Hobbies | Photography, Trekking, Long Drives |
| Favorite Food | Thai Food |
| Favorite Place | Manali, Himachal Pradesh |
| Favorite Actors | Sylvester Stallone, Dharmendra |
| Lifestyle | Does not smoke or drink |
| Property | Owns Sunny Villa in Mumbai Owns cars like Porsche Cayenne, Audi R8 |
| Nickname | Sunny Paaji |
| Legacy | Known as the “Angry Man of Bollywood” and “Action King” Inspired millions with patriotic and action-packed roles |
Starting Journey
Sunny Deol entered Bollywood in 1983 with the film *Betaab*. He played a romantic hero named Sunny. The movie was a love story with actress Amrita Singh. It was a big hit. People loved Sunny’s charm and energy. The film’s songs, like *Jab Hum Jawan Honge*, became very popular. *Betaab* made Sunny a star overnight. The movie was produced by his father, Dharmendra. It was directed by Rahul Rawail. The story was about two young lovers facing family problems. This role showed Sunny’s talent in romantic roles. Fans started calling him a heartthrob.
In 1984, Sunny acted in *Sohni Mahiwal*. It was a tragic love story based on a Punjabi folktale. He played Mahiwal, a merchant who falls in love with Sohni. The film was a hit in India and Russia. Its music was loved by all. Sunny’s emotional acting touched many hearts. These early films showed he could do both romance and drama. But his real strength was yet to come. He was about to become Bollywood’s action king.
Rise to Fame
In 1985, Sunny starred in *Arjun*. He played a young man fighting against corruption. The film was a big success. It made him a popular action hero. People loved his angry and powerful style. After *Arjun*, Sunny did many action films. Movies like *Dacait* (1987), *Paap Ki Duniya* (1988), and *Yateem* (1988) were hits. In 1989, he acted in *Tridev*. He played a police officer fighting crime. The film was a superhit. It was one of the biggest films of that year. Sunny’s strong dialogues and action scenes won everyone’s hearts.
In 1990, Sunny gave his career’s biggest hit, *Ghayal*. He played a boxer named Shiv Nath. The story was about a man fighting for justice. Sunny’s acting was powerful and real. The film won him the Filmfare Award for Best Actor. It also won a National Film Award. *Ghayal* was loved by audiences and critics. It ran in theatres for a long time. Sunny became a superstar. His famous dialogue, “Yeh dhai kilo ka haath,” became iconic. People still remember it today. This film made Sunny the “Angry Man of Bollywood.”
Iconic Roles And Dialogues
The 1990s were Sunny Deol’s golden years. He gave many hit films. In 1993, he acted in *Damini*. He played a lawyer named Govind. The movie was about a woman fighting for justice. Sunny’s role was small but powerful. His dialogue, “Tarikh pe tarikh,” became very famous. It is still used in jokes and memes. *Damini* won him the National Film Award for Best Supporting Actor. He also won a Filmfare Award. The same year, he starred in *Darr*. It was a thriller with Shah Rukh Khan. Sunny played a brave navy officer. The film was a hit, but Sunny had a fight with the director, Yash Chopra. He felt his role was cut short. After this, he never worked with Yash Chopra again.
In 1997, Sunny acted in *Border*. It was a war film based on the 1971 India-Pakistan war. He played a brave soldier. The movie was a huge hit. It made people feel proud of the Indian Army. Sunny’s strong acting and patriotic dialogues were loved. In 2001, he gave another blockbuster, *Gadar: Ek Prem Katha*. He played Tara Singh, a Sikh man fighting for his family. The film was a massive success. It was the highest-grossing Hindi film at that time. Sunny’s emotional and action-packed performance won hearts. The film’s dialogues are still famous in Punjab.
Trying New Roles
Sunny is known for action, but he tried other roles too. In 1989, he did a comedy film, *ChaalBaaz*, with Sridevi. It was a fun movie and a big hit. In 1996, he acted in *Jeet*, a romantic action film. It was loved by fans. In 1999, he directed his first film, *Dillagi*. He also acted in it with his brother Bobby. The movie was about two brothers in love with the same girl. It did not do well at the box office. But people praised Sunny’s direction. In 2007, he acted with his father and brother in *Apne*. It was a family drama about boxing. Fans loved seeing the Deol family together. In 2011, he did *Yamla Pagla Deewana*, a comedy with his father and brother. It was a fun film and a hit.
A Comeback
After 2001, Sunny faced some flops. His films did not do well for many years. But he never gave up. In 2023, he made a grand comeback with *Gadar 2*. It was a sequel to *Gadar: Ek Prem Katha*. Sunny played Tara Singh again. The film was a massive hit. It became the highest-grossing film of his career. It was also one of the biggest Hindi films ever. Fans went crazy for Sunny’s powerful acting. The movie brought back his glory days. It showed that Sunny Deol is still a superstar.
Personal Life
Sunny Deol is a private person. He married Pooja Deol in 1984. They have two sons, Karan and Rajvir. Karan is also an actor and debuted in *Pal Pal Dil Ke Paas* in 2019. Sunny keeps his family away from the spotlight. There were rumors about his affairs with actresses like Amrita Singh and Dimple Kapadia. But Sunny never spoke about them. He loves long drives and owns cars like a Porsche Cayenne and Audi R8. He also owns a villa in Mumbai called Sunny Villa. In 2023, it was almost auctioned due to a loan issue. But the problem was solved quickly.
Political Journey
In 2019, Sunny joined the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). He contested the Lok Sabha election from Gurdaspur, Punjab. He won by a big margin. He served as a Member of Parliament until 2024. Sunny wanted to work for his people. But he faced some criticism for not being active enough. Still, his fans supported him. They believed in his honesty and hard work.
Achievements And Legacy
Sunny Deol has won many awards. He got two National Film Awards for *Ghayal* and *Damini*. He also won two Filmfare Awards. In 2024, he won the Zee Cine Award for Best Actor for *Gadar 2*. His net worth is around ₹399 crores. He charges ₹5 crores per film. Sunny loves Thai food and traveling to Manali. He admires actors like Sylvester Stallone and his father, Dharmendra. His hobbies include photography and trekking. He does not smoke or drink. Sunny’s fans call him “Sunny Paaji.” His dialogues and action style have inspired many. He has made a big impact on Bollywood. His films like *Ghayal*, *Gadar*, and *Border* are still loved.
Sunny Deol’s journey is inspiring. From a naughty boy in Punjab to a Bollywood superstar, he worked hard. His strong roles and loud voice made him unique. Even after 40 years, he rules hearts. Sunny Deol is truly the Action King of Bollywood. His story teaches us to never give up. He will always be a legend in Indian cinema.