As the iconic blockbuster Gadar: Ek Prem Katha celebrates 25 glorious years of its release, Ameesha Patel, the film’s leading lady, has opened up about her insecurities regarding her casting opposite the “mighty” Sunny Deol.
The film, which narrates the cross-border love story of a Sikh truck driver, Tara Singh (Sunny Deol), and a Muslim girl from Pakistan, Sakina (Ameesha Patel), remains a milestone in Indian cinema .
‘He is so Mighty’
In an exclusive interview with ETimes on the film’s silver jubilee, Ameesha recalled being extremely “anxious” about the role.
“I was really, really anxious about Sunny Deol. I have been his big fan, like a huge fan of his action films. He is so mighty, and I thought that ‘Oh my God, he is so way out of my league’!” the actress said .
Despite her fears, she credits director Anil Sharma for believing in her. “Anil ji said, ‘Beta, there’s nobody who can do this role but you. And you have to do it.'”
The Magic of ‘Main Nikla Gaddi Leke’
The film’s soundtrack, particularly the song ‘Main Nikla Gaddi Leke’, became a national phenomenon. The song features Sunny driving a truck with Ameesha sitting beside him, matching his energy.
“I was advised by my friends not to ever lip-sync or even mouth a song in a man’s voice. When Anil ji narrated the sequence to me, I knew instantly that it was a brilliant idea,” she revealed. Ameesha added that her “new energy” alongside Sunny’s stardom created the magic of that iconic tune .
The Whole is Greater Than Sum of Parts
Reflecting on the film’s unparalleled success, Ameesha emphasized that Gadar worked because it was a “whole package.” She stated that “a film not only runs because of its star cast, but also because of its script, its director, the technicians, the costume designers—each and every person contributes equally.”
Heartbreak During Divorce
The celebrations are bittersweet for the actress, as she had to step away from the promotion of the film’s sequel, Gadar 2, due to her ongoing divorce proceedings during that time.
“It was difficult as the entire team of the film was enjoying the success… and I was not in a state of mind to be happy for myself or for the film because I was going through a very traumatic emotional and mental time… I had to focus on my mental well-being,” she recalled.
When asked if she felt the industry sidelined her during this period, Patel responded, “Not really, but maybe indirectly, yes. I am very happy that the film did so well, but I just feel that after a point, people treat you differently.”
A Sequel on The Horizon?
As fans eagerly await news of a follow-up, the actor revealed that there are indeed scripts titled Gadar 3 being discussed. She added that Anil Sharma is currently busy with another project, and hopefully, they will come together for a meeting soon .
