Ameesha Patel has revealed that she questioned her casting opposite Sunny Deol in Gadar. As the film marks 25 years on June 15, Ameesha Patel has opened up about one of the most loved projects in her filmography. Ameesha, who has often expressed her love and pride for the franchise, added that while she was unsure at first, she soon understood the dynamics of her and Sunny Deol’s characters.
Ameesha Patel told Hindustan Times, “The first question I asked was, ‘Do you not think I’m very young for the film?’ The hero paired opposite me was way senior to me romantically… Once they explained the story, I understood the contrast between Tara Singh’s ruggedness and Sakina’s refinement.”
The actress said that nearly 500 people auditioned for the role
of Sakina. Once she finally got the part, she immersed herself in rigorous research, including getting her Urdu diction right. “We visited mosques, observed prayers, read about the British Raj and studied the period. Anil Sharma ji (director) helped me understand Sakina deeply,” she said.
The actress also reflected on her dynamic with Sunny Deol and said, “He was incredibly patient and supportive. There were times when Anil Sharma ji would be trying to get a shot out of me, and Sunny would say, ‘You go out, I’ll direct her.’ He would explain things to me patiently. He never lost his temper, never lost his patience. He understood that I was a newcomer and that Sakina was not an easy role.”
“I want to heartily thank my fans for making sure that no matter what films come and go, Gadar’s box-office record is not broken,” she added and mentioned that she was surprised to see that the combined collection of Gadar and Gadar 2 remains ahead of many franchise films. She also said, “Tara plus Sakina equals Gadar. You take one of them out, and it isn’t Gadar anymore.”
“The numbers and footfalls spoke for themselves. We had no concept of social media when we made Gadar. Work spoke for itself. But now an entirely new generation has discovered the film. People who weren’t even born when Gadar released have watched it and fallen in love with Tara and Sakina,” Ameesha mentioned.
“Gadar worked without gimmicks, without item songs, without over-sexualisation, without computer graphics. Tara Singh wore practically one outfit through most of the second half. Sakina was covered from head to toe. We worked on the subject with heart and soul,” she concluded.
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