In 1990, a fresh-faced Sunny Deol bagged the National Award for his performance in the blockbuster film Ghayal. Twenty years later, director Ashwini Chaudhary (Dhoop) will take the story forward with Ghayal Returns. He talks to Sunday Midday about continuing without Amrish Puri as villain, and what the Deols mean in Haryana

Why are you making the sequel to Ghayal after 20 years?
I wanted to make a film with Sunny (Deol) for long. Back home in Haryana, you are not considered a director unless you make a film with the Deols. For people there, the Deols are idols. Ghayal released 20 years ago, and for my generation (I'm 45 now) it was a landmark film. Directors and producers have attempted a sequel. I, too, wanted to make one, but it was important that we go a notch higher than the original. About a year ago, the seed of an idea for Ghayal Returns took seat. I thought of exploring what happened to the protagonist, Ajay Mehra after he had been in jail for 20 years.


Sunny Deol in a still from the trailer for Ghayal 2 that was
released recently

You have released a trailer before the film has been shot!
The film has been written by Sanjay Chauhan. We worked on the script for a year but decided to announce the film only after it was ready. Now we've announced the film with a trailer.