Bollywood Star Sunny Deol Slammed for Driving Land Rover Defender Without Seatbelt
Bollywood actor Sunny Deol has found himself at the centre of an online controversy after a recent video shared on his social media account showed him driving without a seatbelt. The clip, posted on Instagram, features Deol behind the wheel of his Land Rover Defender while dressed in an Army officer’s uniform, reportedly during travel to or from the shoot of his upcoming film Border 2.
In the video, the actor appears relaxed and is seen enjoying music as he drives along a narrow stretch of road. While the post may have been intended as a lighthearted moment, viewers were quick to point out that Deol was not wearing a seatbelt despite driving on what appeared to be a public road. The omission sparked criticism across social media platforms, with many users highlighting the importance of following basic traffic rules, especially for public figures with a large fan following.
Several users also noted that celebrities have a responsibility to promote safe behaviour, consciously or otherwise, as their actions can influence public perception. Driving without a seatbelt is a violation of traffic regulations in India and poses serious safety risks, regardless of road conditions or distance covered.
Adding to the attention around the video is the vehicle itself. Sunny Deol was driving the Land Rover Defender Octa, the most powerful version of the SUV currently on sale in India. It is powered by a 4.4-litre mild-hybrid V8 engine producing 626 hp and 750 Nm of torque, paired with an eight-speed automatic gearbox and an all-wheel-drive system. The high-performance SUV is priced at around Rs 2.8 crore (ex-showroom).
Apart from the Defender Octa, Sunny Deol’s garage includes luxury and performance cars such as the Porsche 911 GT3 Touring, Range Rover Autobiography LWB and Volkswagen Tiguan. The incident, however, has once again reignited conversations around road safety and accountability among high-profile individuals.
