‘He was pooping bricks, shaking, but he was a doll to work with’: Ameesha Patel recalls her warm bond with Amrish Puri on the sets of ‘Gadar’ | Hindi Movie News
Few actors in the history of Bollywood have played the role of such a villain Amrish Purithe high performances like Mogambo and Ashraf Ali have been permanently etched in the memories of the viewers. Still for Ameesha Patelhis co-star in the iconic ‘Gadar: Ek Prem Katha’, the late actor represented much more than a commanding screen presence, he was someone whose warmth and humanity left a deep and lasting impression on him.
Ameesha Patel on Amrish Puri: ‘He was a doll to work with’
Looking back fondly on the time she shot ‘Gadar: Ek Prem Katha’, Ameesha painted a portrait of Amrish who was worlds apart from the menacing characters he was known for, describing him as a genuinely warm and hilarious presence on set. Speaking to India Today, he said, “Oh, I really miss Amrish ji. The scary part wasn’t because of him, he was a doll to work with. He was extremely witty, humorous and had such a bold sense of humour, something you would never guess from the kind of Mogambo and Ashraf Ali roles he had done.“
Ameesha Patel in her first scene in ‘Gadar’
What makes Ameesha’s fond memories even more remarkable is the fact that her first scene in the film was anything but easy. Since films are rarely shot in chronological order, it was thrown right at the end with the intense post-interval confrontation scene alongside Puri. “That confrontation scene was my first scene in Gadar, and it was in front of Amrish ji. I was shitting bricks. I was shaking. But he was so amazing to work with. He made it so easy for me. He never made me feel like he was a super accomplished actor and I was just a dumb newcomer. Nobody knew (about) the production of Kaho Naa Pya.
Ameesha Patel as Sakina
Ameesha went on to explain the huge emotional toll that came with stepping into Sakina’s shoes for that pivotal scene, revealing how she had to mentally absorb the character’s entire life journey before facing the camera. “Mentally, I had to tell myself that Sakina had graduated from school, gone through Partition, separated from her family and thought they were dead. She had married and settled in India with a man who was no part of her: an uneducated Jat who spoke no English. He had adapted to Hindu ways and had a seven-year-old son. I had to stand in front of Amrish ji carrying all these transitions within me. So it became even more difficult.”
Ameesha Patel working with Amrish Puri
Despite the nerves that came with facing such a seasoned performer, Ameesha admitted that working with someone of Puri’s caliber pushed her to give her best. “But great actors elevate your scenes. Because they act so well, they give you the drive to act even better. Honestly, you’re star-struck, but they make it so easy,” he added. Beyond his memories of Puri herself, Ameesha also had warm words for his wife, who was a reassuring presence during the Lucknow schedule. “His wife was also very lovely. She was on the set in Lucknow when we were shooting those scenes, and she always put everyone at ease,” he recalled.
Ameesha Patel recalls Amrish Puri’s sweet gesture on the sets of ‘Gadar’
A memory that clearly still brings a smile to Ameesha’s face is a joyous moment in the schedule of Amritsar, where director Anil Sharma expressed concern over the actor’s slender frame amid the chaos of an overwhelming crowd. “There were a lot of people at Amritsar station and even lathi charges outside because people had come to see us. Anil Sharma entered the make-up van with this huge box of goodies and said, “Sakina ma’am, eat these brats.” You should gain some weight. Sakina looks happy, so the heroine should be so and so,” recalled Patel.
Ameesha Patel on Amrish Puri: ‘He was like a father standing up for his daughter’
He recalled that actor Lilette Dubey and others were sharing the makeup van when Amrish Puri walked in and made a perfectly timed comment that had everyone in splits. “Amrish ji silently patted Anil Sharma on the back and said, ‘Yes, yes, the heroine should eat laddoos, but Sakina is fine. Come on, throw yourself away. I burst out laughing. It was like a father defending his daughter in real life: “Leave her alone, leave her alone.”It was very cute. These are beautiful moments that I shared with the cast and will stay with me forever. If I could rewind time and go back to those sets, I would love it,” he said.
What’s next for the ‘Gadar’ franchise?
‘Gadar 2’ was released in theaters 22 years after the original ‘Gadar: Ek Prem Katha’. And the franchise doesn’t stop there, director Anil Sharma recently confirmed that ‘Gadar 3’ is also in the works.
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