At the trailer launch event of Gadar 2, Ameesha Patel recalled how the first film (Gadar: Ek Prem Katha) was subjected to negativity before its release. She also revealed how some bigwigs from the film industry had discouraged her from taking up the role of a mother in that film.
The much anticipated trailer of Gadar 2 was unveiled at an event in Mumbai in the presence of its star cast- Sunny Deol, Ameesha Patel and Utkarsh Sharma on July 26, 2023. While interacting with the media, Ameesha who reprises the role of Sakina in the sequel, recalled how some people had discouraged her from taking up the role of a mother in Gadar: Ek Prem Katha which released in 2001.
According to a report in Indian Express, Ameesha said, “When Anil ji had narrated me the story of the first Gadar, there were several people–I don’t want to take names–popular names of the film industry, bigwigs from the industry, they said why would you do this role? I was working in a Salman Khan film, where I was a college girl, in an Ajay Devgn film, I was a college student, in both the films with Hrithik Roshan, I was a college student.”
The actress revealed that when the story of Gadar: Ek Prem Tha was narrated to her, Kaho Naa…Pyaar Hai was yet to release, and she was told that she would be able to pull off the role of a mother.
“I love challenges. I want to step outside my comfort zone and conquer them. I had faith. I knew my director was brilliant. I knew a love story so beautiful was never written and will never be written. I just had to say yes,” the Humraaz actress shared at the event.
Ameesha admitted that playing Sakina was a difficult task and recalled how she worked with director Anil Sharma for six months and 12 hours a day to get her character right.
The actress continued, “Before Gadar was release, people called it ‘gutter’. It really hurt me. I thought I wouldn’t be dejected but in fact, work harder. When Gadar 2 was in talks, the same conversations started happening. ‘Dude, have you seen yourself on Instagram?, that a girl who did ‘Lazy Lamhe’, how can she do Gadar now?’ How will she play a mother to a boy in his 20s? Those same questions were raised. But I just had to do it.”
Ameesha further said that they kept on doing look tests for hours on end. Finally, she received a text from director Anil Sharma which read, “My precious Sakina is back.”
Gadar 2 features Sunny Deol, Ameesha Patel and Utkarsh Sharma in leading roles. The film is slated to release in theatres on August 11.
