What happened between Sunny Deol and Shah Rukh Khan?

The animosity between Sunny Deol and Shah Rukh Khan dates back to the late 1990s when they had a heated altercation on the sets of their film "Darr." The incident had reportedly occurred when Shah Rukh, who played an obsessive lover in the film, improvised a scene by touching Deol's face without his consent. Deol was furious and stormed off the set, and the incident led to a bitter feud between the two actors that has persisted for more than two decades.

The rift between Sunny Deol and Shah Rukh Khan was further exacerbated by the box office success of "Darr," which went on to become a blockbuster hit. The film's success was largely attributed to Shah Rukh Khan's performance, and it is believed that Deol felt overshadowed by Khan's star power. This reportedly fueled his resentment towards the actor, and he refused to work with him again.

The feud between the two actors came to the forefront once again in 2001 when Shah Rukh Khan's film "Asoka" clashed with Sunny Deol's "Gadar: Ek Prem Katha" at the box office. Both films were released on the same day, and "Gadar" went on to become a massive commercial success, grossing over Rs 100 crores. In contrast, "Asoka" failed to make an impact at the box office and was considered a flop.

Following the box office clash, there were reports that Sunny Deol had taken a swipe at Shah Rukh Khan in an interview, saying that "Gadar" had proven that a film could succeed without resorting to gimmicks and cheap tactics. Although Deol did not mention Shah Rukh Khan by name, it was widely believed that his comments were aimed at the latter, who was known for his flamboyant on-screen persona.

In 2003, the feud between the two actors took a bizarre turn when Sunny Deol reportedly slapped Shah Rukh Khan at a party hosted by filmmaker Sanjay Dutt. The incident allegedly occurred after Khan made some derogatory remarks about Deol's father, legendary actor Dharmendra. According to reports, Deol was infuriated by Khan's comments and confronted him, leading to a physical altercation in which Deol allegedly slapped Khan.

The incident led to widespread speculation in the media, with many wondering whether the two actors would ever be able to bury the hatchet. However, over the years, both Sunny Deol and Shah Rukh Khan have downplayed the feud and insisted that they have moved on from the incident.

In a 2017 interview, Sunny Deol was asked about his relationship with Shah Rukh Khan, to which he replied, "I have no problems with Shah Rukh. We are all here to do our work and move on." Similarly, in a 2019 interview, Shah Rukh Khan was asked about the incident, and he said, "We sorted it out. We are good."

Despite their attempts to downplay the feud, it remains one of the most talked-about rivalries in Bollywood. Fans of both actors continue to speculate about the reasons behind their animosity, and many have called for the two to work together again and put their differences aside.