Actor Sunny Deol on Monday said he did not have a role in the 1993 film Damini initially and he got the part only because he actively sought a role in the critically-acclaimed courtroom drama.
"When I did Damini with Rajkumar Santoshi, our friend was producing the film. At that time, I wanted to be part of this film but I had no role in it," the actor said at the trailer launch of his new film Ikka.
"There was a small character in it and he (Santoshi) asked me if I would like to do it and I instantly said yes as I wanted to be part of it. We didn't think this film will create the impact that it did," he said.
Damini starred Meenakshi Seshadri in the titular role and also featured Rishi Kapoor, Amrish Puri and Deol in major roles. The film is about Damini who witnesses her house help being raped by her brother-in-law and his friends. Despite facing many obstacles, she strives to get justice with the help of her husband and a lawyer.
Sunny won the National Film Award for Best Supporting Actor for playing the lawyer.
"I enjoy doing films and I want to do (such) characters, but I don't know how far the characters will go. But the journey of the character is so beautiful. It's my high. Damini made you all the fans at that time. But after that, no such character or role came," Sunny said.
"When Siddharth (director) told me this story (Ikka), I really liked it. Again, don't know when and which film will be made, the world changes. Suddenly, Netflix came and said they want to do this film and I was there," he said on his new film.
In Ikka, the iconic 'dhai kilo ka haath' dialogue from Damini is referenced by actor Tillotama Shome, who plays a public prosecutor opposite Deol.
"When we were talking of this 'dhai kilo ka haath' dialogue, it was like playing to the gallery and she (Tillotama) did it beautifully," Sunny said.
The 68-year-old actor also revealed that the makers were toying with the idea of making a second part of Damini.
"I didn't get a chance after Damini (to be part of a courtroom drama). I was very happy when this subject came to me. We were trying to make Damini 2 which didn't happen," he said, without divulging details.
The legal drama-thriller also features Dhurandhar (2025) star Akshaye Khanna as the antagonist. It reunites the two actors for the first time in nearly three decades. They were last seen together in J P Dutta's 1997 war film Border.
In Ikka, Sunny plays a celebrated lawyer forced to defend a man from his past, portrayed by Akshaye, in a case that puts his principles and family under pressure.
Tillotama is the public prosecutor opposite Sunny’s character and Dia Mirza as his wife.
"I got to work with Akshaye (Khanna) on this film. I did Border with him and that was the first film where we both were together. We had fun while working on that film. I have known him for so many years. He is more aloof than me. But he's a gem of a guy," Sunny said.
Speaking of Akshaye’s growing popularity post Dhurandhar, Sunny said he was extremely happy for him.
"I always say we can't predict time but we need to keep working, never give up, just keep at it. I think that's what Akshaye was doing. When the time came, he's flying high and he deserves it much, much more. I'm so happy for him," he said.
Sharing a funny incident from the sets, Tillotama said she was pleasantly surprised to see Akshaye smile at her.
"I had never seen Akshaye Khanna smile. One day, I was leaving after pack-up and this man was walking towards me with a smile. I smiled back and walked past him. Then he called out 'Tillotama'. I turned around and realised it was Akshaye Khanna smiling. I couldn't recognise him," she said.
Ikka is set to premire on Netflix on July 10. It is produced by Alchemy Films. The film's cast also includes Sanjeeda Shaikh, Shishir Sharma and Akansha Ranjan Kapoor.