Actress Kanikka Kapur has spoken candidly about her experience working alongside veteran actor Sunny Deol on the film 'Dono' — a project that also marked the acting debut of Sunny's son Rajveer Deol. Kanikka described Sunny as exceptionally warm and gracious, and recalled how his on-set performances left the entire crew spellbound.

A Commanding Presence on Set

'I had the opportunity to meet Sunny Sir when I was working for the movie Dono with his son Rajveer,' Kanikka said. 'He has always been extremely gracious, extremely kind and always very very warm towards me and I will always have the utmost respect for him.'

She went on to describe the effect his performances had on those watching: 'I remember, in 1-2 scenes where I was a small part, I used to sit and watch and the way he used to say his lines, he used to utter one line and the whole set used to go silent, even after every take everyone used to clap, it was a treat to watch him act.'

A Dream Debut with 'Batwara 1947'

Kanikka also opened up about her forthcoming film debut in 'Batwara 1947', calling her time on set a 'dream.' One moment, in particular, stands out vividly — her final look test alongside Karan Deol, during which she was asked to perform a deeply emotional scene even before the formal shoot had commenced.

To her surprise, both Preity Zinta and Sunny Deol were present that day. 'When our dialogues were over, we were still sort of in our emotions only, until the director said cut. And when he did, I had tears in my eyes. I was crying inconsolably. I could not even see clearly what was happening behind the camera, but then suddenly I started hearing the sound of claps and with my blurry vision, I saw that people were standing up,' she recalled.

Preity Zinta's Reaction — A Career-Defining Moment

What made the moment truly unforgettable, Kanikka said, was seeing Preity Zinta rise to applaud her performance. 'As I wiped my tears, I saw that Preity ma'am had watched my scene and she also stood up to applaud for me. It was everything for me. I came out of the scene, hugged her and she said 'you were so good, I was so moved',' Kanikka recounted.

For Kanikka, the moment carried deep personal significance. 'Growing up, she was my favourite person. I have adored her in movies like Kal Ho Naa Ho and Koi Mil Gaya; they are my favourite childhood films. But to see your idol, who you've looked up to, say such good things to you, means everything,' she said.

About 'Batwara 1947'

Directed by Rajkumar Santoshi and produced by Aamir Khan under Aamir Khan Productions, 'Batwara 1947' is set in Lahore against the harrowing backdrop of the 1947 Partition of India and the division of Punjab. The film features an ensemble cast including Shabana Azmi, Karan Deol, Ali Fazal, Abhimanyu Singh, and Khushi Hajare. The film is scheduled to release in theatres on 14 August 2026.