director Anil Sharma has revealed that the actors Kajol i Aishwarya Rai They were among the actresses looked after by Gadar: Ek Prem Katha before the newcomers Ameesha Patel she was eventually cast as Sakina. The filmmaker also explained why several established actresses opted out of the film and how Ameesha’s dedication made her the perfect choice.Speaking to Shubhankar Mishra, Sharma dismissed the belief that Kajol was the first and only choice for the film.
“We spoke to Kajol and Aishwarya Rai”
When asked if he was originally supposed to star Kajol opposite Sunny Deol, Sharma said, “Not exactly. There has been a theory that Kajol was going to do Gadar. We spoke to Kajol. We also spoke to Aishwarya Rai. In fact, there were discussions with many actresses.”He added that several actors and actresses heard the script but were hesitant to participate.“A lot of people heard the story but didn’t get it. Some didn’t want to work with me, some didn’t want to work with Sunny Deol and some just didn’t want to do a period film.”
“People wanted overseas films with glamour”
Explaining the mindset of the industry in the late 1990s, Sharma said films set abroad dominated Bollywood.“In 1998, everyone wanted glamorous films shot in Switzerland or London. The overseas market had become very important. Since Gadar was touring around India and Pakistan, many people were hesitant. Period films were not considered commercially attractive at that time. Everyone wanted glitz and glamor romantic films. That’s why many artists, including actresses, refused the film.”
Why did he choose Anil Sharma Amrish Puri about a great heroine
The filmmaker revealed that budget constraints also influenced the casting process.“Zee told me, ‘Sunny Deol is already on board. We only have a fixed budget. Within that amount, you can cast Amrish Puri or a great heroine.”Sharma said his decision was immediate.“I said, ‘I will choose Amrish Puri because Pakistan is Amrish Puri in this film. The heroine can be a young newcomer. The role is so strong that whoever plays it will become a star.”Following this decision, the team auditioned between 400 and 500 aspiring actresses before selecting 12 finalists.“Ameesha Patel was among those 12 girls. At that time, Kaho Naa… Pyaar Hai was yet to release. Its shooting had just started.”
“People still call her Sakina”
Sharma praised Ameesha Patel’s commitment to the role, saying her dedication remains unmatched.“Ameesha worked incredibly hard. She was one of the most dedicated actresses I’ve ever worked with. For six months, she came to me every weekday from 2pm to 5pm to prepare for the role.”He added, “She completely transformed into Sakina. It was because of her hard work that even today people don’t call her Ameesha Patel, they call her Sakina.”
“An actor doesn’t control everything”
Reflecting on Ameesha’s career after Gadar and Kaho Naa… Pyaar Hai, Sharma said that success in the film industry depends on a combination of talent, circumstances and luck.“No one knows what turn life will take. Sometimes it’s because of your own mistakes, sometimes it’s because of circumstances and sometimes it’s just fate.”He also noted that actors have limited control over how a film is shaped.“We identify movies by actors, the same way we identify songs by singers. But the truth is, neither of us has total control. If a director chooses a bad shot during editing or makes a bad film, what can the actor do? The actor can only give the best possible performance.”Praising Ameesha once again, Sharma concluded, “Getting Kaho Naa… Pyaar Hai and Gadar was destiny. Those films were extraordinary. What Ameesha did was justify that faith through hard work. Both films will always have a place in the history of Indian cinema.”