Puneet Issar on Border: 'The original is the original', praises J.P. Dutta's vision
Synopsis
Nearly 29 years after J.P. Dutta's Border became a touchstone of Hindi war cinema, one of its original cast members has drawn a line in the sand: the sequel may be good, but 'the original is the original.' Puneet Issar's remarks are a reminder of how deeply the 1997 film is embedded in popular memory — and how high a bar it sets for any franchise revival.
Key Takeaways
Puneet Issar starred in J.P.
Dutta 's 1997 war drama Border , inspired by the Battle of Longewala during the 1971 India-Pakistan war .
He praised Border 2 (released January 2026 ) but maintained that 'the original is the original,' crediting J.P.
Dutta's direction as irreplaceable.
He singled out Varun Dhawan and Ahan Shetty for their performances in the sequel.
The original Border starred Sunny Deol , Suniel Shetty , Jackie Shroff , Akshaye Khanna , and Issar himself.
Issar is set to headline the upcoming crime web series Shadyantra as its central character and narrator.
Actor Puneet Issar, who featured in J.P. Dutta's landmark 1997 war drama Border, has reflected on the film's enduring legacy and weighed in on its 2026 sequel Border 2, saying that while he enjoyed the second instalment, nothing can replace the original. 'The original is the original,' he said in a recent interview.
Remembering the Original Border
Issar recalled the ensemble that made the first Border a cultural milestone — Sunny Deol, Suniel Shetty, Jackie Shroff, Akshaye Khanna, and himself among the leading cast. 'The first Border was made by J.P. Dutta, and the original is the original,' he said. 'It is not that the second film was not good. It was good too.'
He credited the film's iconic status not just to its performances but to its music and, above all, to the singular creative vision of its director. 'That film was iconic, its songs were amazing. And I guess, this is what I believe, that film making is a director's medium. And what J.P. Dutta created, it was J.P. Dutta and J.P. is JP Dutta,' Issar added.
What He Said About Border 2
Issar was generous in his assessment of Border 2, directed by Anurag Singh and released theatrically in January 2026. He praised the performances of the sequel's cast, which included Varun Dhawan, Diljit Dosanjh, and Ahan Shetty, alongside Sunny Deol reprising his role. 'I saw this too, I liked it too. In this, Sunil Shetty's son was so good, Varun Dhawan was good. Everyone was good,' he said.
Notably, Ahan Shetty — son of original Border star Suniel Shetty — featured prominently in the sequel, adding a generational thread that critics and audiences found resonant.
The Legacy of Border (1997)
Released in 1997, Border was inspired by the Battle of Longewala during the 1971 India-Pakistan war. The film also featured Sudesh Berry in a key role and remains one of the most celebrated war films in Hindi cinema. Nearly three decades after its release, it continues to be referenced as a benchmark for the patriotic genre.
The film's music — including the song 'Sandese Aate Hain' — became a defining cultural touchstone and is still widely recognised today. Its combination of battlefield realism, emotional storytelling, and an ensemble cast set a standard that sequels in the genre have consistently been measured against.
What's Next for Puneet Issar
Beyond his comments on Border, Issar is preparing to appear in an upcoming crime-based web series titled Shadyantra, in which he plays the central character and serves as the main narrator. The series, which explores crime, mystery, and conspiracy, marks a significant role for the actor in the digital entertainment space.
Point of View
Yet veterans of the original feel compelled to qualify their praise — a sign that the 1997 film's emotional ownership is still contested territory. The deeper point, that 'film making is a director's medium,' is a quiet rebuke to franchise-first studio logic that prioritises IP over authorship. Whether Anurag Singh's sequel eventually earns its own canonical status will depend on how it ages, not just how it opened.
NationPress
22 Sept 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What did Puneet Issar say about Border and Border 2?
Puneet Issar said that while Border 2 was good and he enjoyed it, the 1997 original remains unmatched — 'the original is the original.' He attributed the first film's iconic status to J.P. Dutta's direction and its memorable music.
Who were the cast members of the original Border (1997)?
The 1997 film Border featured Sunny Deol, Suniel Shetty, Jackie Shroff, Akshaye Khanna, Puneet Issar, and Sudesh Berry in pivotal roles. It was directed by J.P. Dutta and inspired by the Battle of Longewala during the 1971 India-Pakistan war.
Who stars in Border 2 and when did it release?
Border 2 was directed by Anurag Singh and released theatrically in January 2026. The cast includes Sunny Deol, Varun Dhawan, Diljit Dosanjh, and Ahan Shetty — the last being the son of original cast member Suniel Shetty.
What is Puneet Issar's upcoming project?
Puneet Issar is set to appear in Shadyantra, an upcoming crime-based web series where he plays the central character and serves as the main narrator. The series centres on themes of crime, mystery, and conspiracy.
What is the historical inspiration behind the original Border film?
Border (1997) was inspired by the Battle of Longewala, a pivotal engagement during the 1971 India-Pakistan war in which a small Indian Army contingent held off a much larger Pakistani armoured force. The battle is widely regarded as one of the most decisive actions of that conflict.
