Gujarat HC allows filmmaker Rajkumar Santoshi to travel abroad for 'Lahore 1947' film promotion

Gujarat High Court on Tuesday granted interim relief to Bollywood filmmaker Rajkumar Santoshi in a cheque dishonour case, permitting him to travel abroad from December 30, 2025, until 12 am on January 5, 2026, for the promotion of his upcoming film ‘Lahore 1947’.

A single bench relaxed the bail condition that prohibited Santoshi from leaving India without prior court permission. The director had sought the modification to attend promotional events for the period drama, produced under Aamir Khan Productions and starring Sunny Deol in the lead role.

In a separate application, Santoshi requested eight weeks to deposit the remaining balance amount as per his earlier undertaking.

The court extended the deadline for depositing the balance amount of Rs 35 lakh from December 31, 2025, to January 31, 2026.

On October 30, 2025, the high court had suspended Santoshi's two-year sentence and granted him conditional bail after he undertook to deposit ₹5 lakh immediately and the remaining ₹83 lakh in two instalments of ₹41.50 lakh each—by November 30 and December 31, 2025 before the registry of Gujarat High Court.

The case stems from a complaint filed by Jamnagar-based industrialist Ashok Haridas Lal through his power of attorney, alleging dishonour of cheques totalling around ₹1 crore. The filmmaker is known for hits like Ghayal, Damini, Andaz Apna Apna and many such films.