Sunny Deol once scolded Preity Zinta for calling Bobby Deol at 11 PM, recalling the unexpected moment and his protective approach toward his brother.
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Preity Zinta Recalls an Unexpected Encounter With Sunny Deol
Preity Zinta has recalled a memorable incident from the early years of her Bollywood career when Sunny Deol unexpectedly answered a late-night call she had made to his younger brother, Bobby Deol.
The actress shared the story during the opening episode of Kaun Banega Crorepati 18, where she appeared alongside Sunny Deol and producer Aamir Khan to promote their upcoming film Batwara 1947. The episode, hosted by Amitabh Bachchan, premiered on August 10, 2026.
The Late-Night Phone Call
While discussing her friendship with Bobby Deol, Preity explained that she had known Bobby even before both of them made their Bollywood debuts. According to her, Bobby used to have a van and would often take friends out with him.
Preity then recalled an incident from those early days. While she was out with a group of friends, they decided to call Bobby and tell him that they were planning to visit. Preity volunteered to make the call, apparently unaware that Sunny Deol might answer the family’s landline.
The call was made at approximately 10:30 or 11 pm.
When Sunny answered, Preity asked if she could speak to Bobby. Instead of Bobby coming to the phone, Sunny questioned her about the timing of the call.
Preity recalled Sunny asking, in essence, whether it was an appropriate time to call someone’s home. Caught off guard by the reaction, she said she became nervous and ended the call.
‘Dhai Kilo Ka Haath’ Joke
The story became particularly entertaining because of Sunny Deol’s famous image and his iconic “dhai kilo ka haath” dialogue from Damini.
While recounting the incident, Preity jokingly referred to the famous dialogue, saying she did not know that the “dhai kilo ka haath” would be the one answering the phone.
The remark generated laughter during the KBC 18 episode, turning what could have been an intimidating first encounter into a humorous Bollywood memory decades later.
Why Was Sunny So Strict About Bobby?
Sunny later explained why he reacted so strongly to the late-night call.
According to the actor, the Deol brothers had strict rules at home during those years. Sunny said they were not allowed to go out after 8 pm and explained that he was particularly strict about Bobby’s routine.
Sunny described Bobby almost like his own son and said he was very disciplined about his younger brother’s schedule. He also joked that Bobby would sometimes sneak out despite those restrictions.
Rediff also reported the same anecdote while reviewing the first episode of the new KBC season, noting that the Deol brothers had an 8 pm curfew and that Preity remembered being scolded after calling Bobby at around 10:30 pm.
Preity and the Deol Family Later Became Close
The incident happened when Preity was still relatively new to the industry and had not yet become completely comfortable around Sunny Deol.
She recalled that it took two or three films for the two actors to become comfortable with each other. They subsequently worked together in films including The Hero: Love Story of a Spy and Farz. Preity also appeared alongside both Sunny and Bobby in Dillagi.
Her friendship with Bobby also continued over the years. The two actors eventually shared the screen in films including Soldier and Jhoom Barabar Jhoom.
The Story Comes as Preity Zinta Returns to Bollywood
The anecdote has resurfaced at an interesting moment for Preity Zinta, who is returning to mainstream Hindi cinema with Batwara 1947 after an extended absence.
The upcoming period drama reunites Preity with Sunny Deol and director Rajkumar Santoshi. The New Indian Express reported that the film is set during the Partition and follows a Muslim family caught amid the violence and displacement of 1947. Sunny’s character protects an elderly Hindu woman, with the filmmakers presenting the story around themes of humanity and resistance to fanaticism.
Preity told The New Indian Express that working on the period film was one of the reasons she chose to return, while also admitting that she felt nervous when she began filming again.
A Funny Bollywood Memory, Not a Fresh Feud
Despite headlines suggesting that Sunny Deol “yelled” or “schooled” Preity Zinta, the context of the story is considerably lighter.
Preity herself narrated the incident humorously on KBC 18, and Sunny’s explanation showed that his reaction was connected to the strict household rules surrounding Bobby at the time.
More than two decades later, the late-night phone call has become a funny memory shared publicly by two actors who eventually developed a comfortable professional relationship.
With Preity and Sunny now appearing together again in Batwara 1947, the decades-old anecdote has given fans another glimpse into the personalities behind one of Bollywood’s most recognizable film families.
