Director: Anil Sharma: reveals that the actors Kajol: and: Aishwarya Rai was one of the artists approached for Gadar. Ek Prem Katha before new Ameesha Patel Eventually Sakina was cast. The filmmaker also explains why many established actresses were chosen not to be a part of the film and how Ameesha’s dedication made her the perfect choice.Talking to Shubhankar Mishra, Sharma dispelled the belief that Kajol was the first and only choice for the film.
‘We spoke to Kajol and Aishwarya Rai’
Asked if Kajol was originally supposed to star opposite Sunny Deol, Sharma said, “Not exactly. There is a theory that Kajol will do Gadar. We are talking to Kajol. We are also talking to Aishwarya Rai. In fact, discussions are happening with many actresses.”He added that many actors and actresses have heard the script but are hesitant to come on board.“Many people have heard the story, but they don’t understand it. Some don’t want to work with me, some don’t want to work with Sunny Deol, and some don’t want to do an episode of the film.”
“People want attractive foreign films”
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 became very important. Since Gadar was shooting in India and Pakistan, many people hesitated. Films of the time were not considered commercially attractive at that time.
Why did Anil Sharma choose? Amrish Puri of a great hero
The filmmaker revealed that budgetary 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 big hero.'”Sharma said that his decision was immediate.“I said, ‘I will choose Amrish Puri because Pakistan is Amrish Puri in this film. The heroine will be a young newcomer.After that decision, the team auditioned around 400-500 aspiring actresses before choosing 12 finalists.“Ameesha Patel was one of those 12 women. At that time, Kaho Naa… Pyaar Hai is yet to release. It has just started shooting.”
“People still call her Sakina”
Sharma was all praise for Ameesha Patel’s commitment to the role, saying her dedication remains unmatched.“Ameesha works very hard. She is one of the most dedicated actresses I have ever worked with. For six months, she met me every weekday from 2 pm to 5 pm to prepare for the role.”He added, “She completely transformed herself into Sakina. It’s because of her hard work that, even now, people don’t call her Ameesha Patel – they call her Sakina.”
“An actor cannot control everything”
Reflecting on Ameesha’s career after Gadar and Kaho Naa… Pyaar Hai, Sharma said success in the film industry depends on a combination of talent, circumstances and luck.“No one knows what will happen in life. Sometimes because of your own mistakes, sometimes because of circumstances, and sometimes just because of fate.”He also points out that actors have limited control over how a film takes shape.“We identify films with actors, like we identify songs with singers. But the truth is that there is no absolute control. If a director chooses a bad take during editing or makes the film poorly, what can the actor do? The actor can only give the best performance possible.”Praising Ameesha yet again, Sharma concluded, “Getting Kaho Naa… Pyaar Hai and Gadar were destiny. Those films were amazing. What Ameesha did was give justice to faith through hard work. Both films will always have a place in the history of Indian cinema.”