Sunny Deol Movies List You Must Watch Once in Your Life (Debut in 1983)

Aug 28, 2025

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Heyy! You love action, drama, and that dhai kilo ka haath, right? Sunny Deol movies list is full of blockbuster films that make your heart race and eyes glued to screen!

From fighting bad guys to emotional family stories, Sunny Paaji’s movies are total paisa vasool. Let’s dive into who he is and his must-watch films!

Who is Sunny Deol

Sunny Deol is one of the most popular Bollywood actors of 80s and 90s. He started with Betaab in 1983 and became famous for his angry roles.

His full name is Ajay Singh Deol but everyone calls him Sunny Paaji. Born in the famous Deol family, son of legendary Dharmendra and elder brother of Bobby Deol, Sunny Deol created his own unique place in Bollywood.

His loud dialogues like “Tarikh pe tarikh!” in Damini and “Hindustan zindabad!” in Gadar are iconic. He’s not just actor but also director and producer. His films mix action, patriotism, and family values, making him superstar among masses.

Sunny Deol Movies List (Blockbuster, All-Time Blockbuster, Hit & Semi-Hit)

Here are some must-watch movies of Sunny Deol that became huge successes at box office. The complete filmography is present at the end of the article. So don’t forget to read them as well!

Betaab (1983)

Synopsis: You already guessed it! This is Sunny paaji’s debut film as a lead actor. It is a romantic-drama where two childhood friends fall in love as adults but are separated due to the social class.

Genre: Romance/Drama
Director: Rahul Rawail (He earlier directed Love Story which was also a hit.)
Co-stars: Amrita Singh, Shammi Kapoor
Release Date: 5 August 1983
IMDb Rating: 6.5/10
Box Office Collection: ₹13.5 crore approx.
Status: Hit

Arjun (1985)

Synopsis: Arjun, a simple boy who becomes trapped in crime and politics. The movie shows his struggle against corrupt leaders.

Genre: Action/Drama
Director: Rahul Rawail (same director of Betaab, known for hard-hitting movies.)
Co-stars: Dimple Kapadia, Anupam Kher
Release Date: 20 April1985
IMDb Rating: 7.2/10
Box Office Collection: ₹5.5 crore
Status: Hit

Paap Ki Duniya (1988)

Synopsis: Action-packed movie about two brothers separated and raised on opposite sides of crime and law.

Genre: Action/Drama
Director: Shibu Mitra (known for directing action entertainers like Ilzaam.)
Co-stars: Neelam, Pran, Danny Denzongpa
Release Date: 18 March 1988
IMDb Rating: 5.1/10
Box Office Collection: ₹9.5 crore approx.
Status: Hit

Tridev (1989)

Synopsis: Story of three men fighting against a don who rules the city. Packed with songs and action.

Genre: Action/Thriller
Director: Rajiv Rai (famous for Mohra later in 90s.)
Co-stars: Naseeruddin Shah, Jackie Shroff, Madhuri Dixit
Release Date: 7 July 1989
IMDb Rating: 6.5/10
Box Office Collection: ₹17 crore
Status: Hit

ChaalBaaz (1989)

Synopsis: Double role madness with Sridevi playing twins, Sunny Deol and Rajinikanth adding charm. A comedy + action mix.

Genre: Comedy/Drama
Director: Pankaj Parashar (also directed Jalwa.)
Co-stars: Sridevi, Rajinikanth, Anupam Kher
Release Date: 8 December 1989
IMDb Rating: 6.8/10
Box Office Collection: ₹15 crore
Status: Hit

Ghayal (1990)

Synopsis: A story of an innocent man becoming a fighter after his brother’s death. Sunny won hearts with his angry young man act.

Genre: Action/Crime
Director: Rajkumar Santoshi (later famous for Damini, Andaz Apna Apna.)
Co-stars: Meenakshi Seshadri, Amrish Puri
Release Date: 22 June 1990
IMDb Rating: 7.7/10
Box Office Collection: ₹20 crore
Status: Blockbuster

Narsimha (1991)

Synopsis: An unemployed man gets dragged into fight with a dangerous gangster. Patriotism + courage.

Genre: Action/Drama
Director: N. Chandra (known for Tezaab earlier.)
Co-stars: Dimple Kapadia, Om Puri
Release Date: 5 July1991
IMDb Rating: 5.5/10
Box Office Collection: ₹7.5 crore
Status: Hit

Lootere (1993)

Synopsis: A cop is protecting a witness, and both fall in love. Action plus romance.

Genre: Action/Romance
Director: Dharmesh Darshan (later made Raja Hindustani.)
Co-stars: Juhi Chawla, Anupam Kher
Release Date: 2 April 1993
IMDb Rating: 5.2/10
Box Office Collection: ₹9 crore
Status: Hit

Damini (1993)

Synopsis: Courtroom drama where Sunny plays a lawyer supporting a woman fighting for justice. The “Tarikh pe Tarikh” dialogue became legendary.

Genre: Drama/Courtroom
Director: Rajkumar Santoshi (Ghayal, Ghatak.)
Co-stars: Meenakshi Seshadri, Rishi Kapoor, Amrish Puri
Release Date: 30 April 1993
IMDb Rating: 7.8/10
Box Office Collection: ₹11.75 crore
Status: Blockbuster

Darr (1993)

Synopsis: A romantic psychological thriller where Shah Rukh Khan plays obsessed lover, Sunny plays husband protecting his wife.

Genre: Thriller/Romance
Director: Yash Chopra (Chandni, Dil To Pagal Hai later.)
Co-stars: Juhi Chawla, Shah Rukh Khan
Release Date: 24 December 1993
IMDb Rating: 7.6/10
Box Office Collection: ₹26 crore
Status: Blockbuster

Jeet (1996)

Synopsis: A love triangle with action. Sunny plays a goon with a soft heart. Songs became super hit.

Genre: Action/Romance
Director: Raj Kanwar (Laadla, Andaaz later.)
Co-stars: Salman Khan, Karishma Kapoor
Release Date: 23 August 1996
IMDb Rating: 5.9/10
Box Office Collection: ₹30.5 crore
Status: Hit

Ghatak (1996)

Synopsis: A man stands against gangster terrorizing people. Intense action and powerful dialogues.

Genre: Action/Drama
Director: Rajkumar Santoshi (Ghayal, Damini fame.)
Co-stars: Meenakshi Seshadri, Amrish Puri
Release Date: 15 November 1996
IMDb Rating: 7.5/10
Box Office Collection: ₹32.7 crore
Status: Hit

Ziddi (1997)

Synopsis: Angry young man fights against corruption. Pure raw action style Sunny Paaji.

Genre: Action
Director: Guddu Dhanoa (Elaan, Bichhoo later.)
Co-stars: Raveena Tandon, Ashish Vidyarthi
Release Date: 11 April 1997
IMDb Rating: 5.9/10
Box Office Collection: ₹32.43 crore
Status: Hit

Border (1997)

Synopsis: Based on India-Pakistan War of 1971, showing brave Indian soldiers. Sunny Deol as Major Kuldip Singh is unforgettable.

Genre: War/Patriotic
Director: J.P. Dutta (Refugee, LOC Kargil.)
Co-stars: Suniel Shetty, Jackie Shroff, Akshaye Khanna
Release Date: 13 June 1997
IMDb Rating: 7.9/10
Box Office Collection: ₹66.70 crore
Status: Blockbuster

Gadar: Ek Prem Katha (2001)

Synopsis: A love story set during partition of India and Pakistan. Sunny Deol as Tara Singh moved mountains literally.

Genre: Romantic/Patriotic Drama
Director: Anil Sharma (The Hero, Apne later.)
Co-stars: Ameesha Patel, Amrish Puri
Release Date: 15 June 2001
IMDb Rating: 7.3/10
Box Office Collection: ₹133 crore
Status: All-Time Blockbuster

Indian (2001)

Synopsis: Honest cop fighting terrorism. Full of action and thrills.

Genre: Action/Patriotic
Director: N. Maharajan (Vallarasu Tamil hit earlier.)
Co-stars: Shilpa Shetty, Rahul Dev
Release Date: 26 October 2001
IMDb Rating: 5.5/10
Box Office Collection: ₹42.60 crore
Status: Hit

Yamla Pagla Deewana (2011)

Synopsis: Comedy entertainer about a con man father and his two sons. Real Deol family fun on screen.

Genre: Comedy/Drama
Director: Samir Karnik (Heroes, Kyon Ho Gaya Na earlier.)
Co-stars: Dharmendra, Bobby Deol, Kulraj Randhawa
Release Date: 14 January 2011
IMDb Rating: 5.8/10
Box Office Collection: ₹88 crore
Status: Semi-Hit

Gadar 2 (2023)

Synopsis: Sequel to Gadar, bringing Tara Singh back on the big screen after 22 years. Father-son bond and patriotism again roars.

Genre: Patriotic/Action
Director: Anil Sharma (Gadar, Apne.)
Co-stars: Ameesha Patel, Utkarsh Sharma
Release Date: 11 August 2023
IMDb Rating: 5.1/10
Box Office Collection: ₹ 691.08 crore approx.
Status: All-Time Blockbuster

Jaat (2025)

Synopsis: Sunny Deol stars as a fearless and righteous man who represents the pride and spirit of the Jaat community, performing his own stunts at 67!

Genre: Action, Drama
Director: Gopichand Malineni
Co-stars: Randeep Hooda, Viineet Kumar Singh, Regina Cassandra, Saiyami Kher
Release Date: 10 April 2025
IMDb Rating: 6.0/10
Box Office Collection: ₹119.24 crore
Status: Semi-Hit

Awards Won by Sunny Deol

2 National Film Awards (Special Jury Award for Ghayal, Best Supporting Actor for Damini)
2 Filmfare Awards (Best Actor for Ghayal, Best Supporting Actor for Damini)
Many other awards for action and patriotic roles.

Who was the Biggest Competitor of Sunny Deol in 80s, 90s, and early 2000s?

In 80s, rivals were Anil Kapoor and Jackie Shroff.
In 90s Shah Rukh Khan, Salman Khan, Aamir Khan came as strong competitors.
In 2000s, Ajay Devgn, Akshay Kumar became his box-office challengers.

What I Think about Sunny Deol as an Actor

Personally I feel Sunny Paaji is special because he is not fake on screen. His anger looks real, his patriotism feels from heart, his action has raw force. You can equate his angry shouts to that of roaring lion. So much power it pack!

Why Should You Watch Sunny Deol’s Movies

Because they are full of emotions, action and patriotism. His films like Border and Gadar make you proud to be Indian. His courtroom drama in Damini shows his acting power. And his comedy in Yamla Pagla Deewana shows he can make you laugh too.

Complete Sunny Deol Movies List with Box Office Verdicts

Movie Title	Year	Verdict
Betaab	1983	Hit
Sohni Mahiwal	1984	Average
Sunny	1984	Flop
Manzil Manzil	1984	Flop
Arjun	1985	Hit
Zabardast	1985	Flop
Sultanat	1986	Flop
Saveray Wali Gaadi	1986	Flop
Samundar	1986	Flop
Dacait	1987	Average
Paap Ki Duniya	1988	Hit
Ram-Avtar	1988	Average
Yateem	1988	Flop
Inteqam	1988	Flop
Vardi	1989	Average
Joshilaay	1989	Flop
Tridev	1989	Hit
ChaalBaaz	1989	Hit
Nigahen: Nagina Part II	1989	Flop
Aag Ka Gola	1989	Flop
Majboor	1990	Flop
Kroadh	1990	Average
Ghayal	1990	Blockbuster
Vishnu Devaa	1991	Flop
Yodha	1991	Flop
Shankara	1991	Flop
Narsimha	1991	Hit
Vishwatma	1992	Average
Lootere	1993	Hit
Kshatriya	1993	Flop
Damini	1993	Blockbuster
Izzat Ki Roti	1993	Flop
Veerta	1993	Flop
Gunaah	1993	Flop
Darr	1993	Blockbuster
Insaniyat	1994	Flop
Imtihaan	1994	Flop
Dushmani: A Violent Love Story	1995	Flop
Angrakshak	1995	Flop
Himmat	1996	Flop
Jeet	1996	Hit
Ghatak	1996	Hit
Ajay	1996	Flop
Ziddi	1997	Hit
Border	1997	Blockbuster
Qahar	1997	Flop
Zor	1998	Flop
Salaakhen	1998	Flop
Pyaar Koi Khel Nahin	1999	Flop
Arjun Pandit	1999	Flop
Dillagi	1999	Flop
Champion	2000	Flop
Farz	2001	Flop
Gadar: Ek Prem Katha	2001	All-Time Blockbuster
Indian	2001	Hit
Kasam	2001	Flop
Maa Tujhhe Salaam	2002	Below Average
23rd March 1931: Shaheed	2002	Disaster
Jaani Dushman: Ek Anokhi Kahani	2002	Flop
Karz: The Burden of Truth	2002	Flop
The Hero: Love Story of a Spy	2003	Below Average
Jaal: The Trap	2003	Flop
Khel – No Ordinary Game	2003	Flop
Lakeer – Forbidden Lines	2004	Flop
Rok Sako To Rok Lo	2004	Disaster
Jo Bole So Nihaal	2005	Disaster
Naksha	2006	Disaster
Teesri Aankh: The Hidden Camera	2006	Disaster
Big Brother	2007	Disaster
Fool & Final	2007	Flop
Apne	2007	Average
Kaafila	2007	Disaster
Heroes	2008	Flop
Fox	2009	Disaster
Right Yaaa Wrong	2010	Disaster
Khuda Kasam	2010	Disaster
Yamla Pagla Deewana	2011	Semi-Hit
Yamla Pagla Deewana 2	2013	Flop
Singh Saab the Great	2013	Flop
Dishkiyaoon	2014	Disaster
I Love NY	2015	Disaster
Ghayal Once Again	2016	Flop
Poster Boys	2017	Flop
Yamla Pagla Deewana: Phir Se	2018	Disaster
Mohalla Assi	2018	Disaster
Bhaiaji Superhit	2018	Disaster
Blank	2019	Disaster
Chup: Revenge of The Artist	2022	Flop
Gadar 2	2023	All-Time Blockbuster
Jaat	2025	Semi-Hit

FAQs

Q. Which is Sunny Deol’s debut film?
His debut film is Betaab that came out in 1983.
Q. How many National Awards Sunny Deol has won?
He has won 2 National Awards.
Q. What is Sunny Deol most famous for?
Explosive dialogues, powerful action scenes and patriotism.
Q. Is Sunny Deol a director also?
Yes, he directed films like Dillagi and Ghayal Once Again.
Q. Who was his most famous co-star?
Ameesha Patel in Gadar and Juhi Chawla in Darr were very popular pairings.

Final Thought

So that was my very long and great list of Sunny Deol movies. These are not films… they are an emotion. There is action.. there is drama.. there is romance.. everything you need for a perfect movie night.

Boy! Don’t wait any longer! Watch them now and judge for yourself why Sunny Deol is a real Bollywood legend! You won’t be sorry, I promise.

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