Few actors in the history of Bollywood have owned the role of a villain Amrish Puriwhose long performances as Mogambo and: Ashraf Ali permanently etched themselves in the memories of moviegoers. However for: Ameesha Patelhis co-star in the iconic ‘Gadar. Ek Prem Katha’, the late actor represented something more than just a screen presence, he was someone whose warmth and humanity left a deep and lasting impression on him.
Ameesha Patel in Amrish Puri. “She’s a doll to work with”
His time filming ‘Gadar’ is fondly remembered. Ek Prem Katha’, Ameesha paints a picture of Amrish who is worlds apart from the menacing characters he is known for, portraying him as a genuinely warm and entertaining presence on set. Speaking to India Today, he said, “Oh, I miss Amrish ji so much. The scary part is not because of him – he was a doll to work with. He was very witty, funny, and had such an edgy sense of humor, something you wouldn’t guess from the kind of Mogambo and Ashraf Ali roles he did.“
Ameesha Patel in her first scene in ‘Gadar’
What makes Ameesha’s memories even more remarkable is the fact that her very first film scene was not an easy one. Since films are rarely shot in chronological order, he finds himself falling straight into the deep end of the intense post-interval confrontation scene with Puri. “That confrontation scene was my very first scene in Gadar, and it was opposite Amrish ji. I was shitting on bricks. I was shaking. But working with him was amazing. He made it easy​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​with me.
Ameesha Patel to play Sakina
Ameesha went on to explain the immense emotional weight that came with stepping into Sakina’s shoes for that pivotal scene, revealing how she had to absorb the character’s lifelong journey before stepping in front of the camera. “Mentally, I had to tell myself that Sakina graduated from school, went through Partition, separated from her family and thought they were dead. She married and settled in India with a man poles apart from her – an uneducated, non-English speaking Jat. He has adapted to Hindu ways and has a seven-year-old child. I had to stand opposite Amrish ji who brought all the transitions within me. So it becomes more difficult.”
Ameesha Patel to work with Amrish Puri
Despite the nerves that come with facing a seasoned performer, Ameesha admits that working opposite someone of Puri’s caliber ultimately pushed her to give her best. “But fantastic actors elevate your scenes. Because they perform so well, they give you the enthusiasm to perform even better. Honestly, you tremble, but they make it very easy,” he added. Beyond his memories of Puri itself, Ameesha had warm words for his wife, who was an inspiring presence during the schedule in Lucknow. “His wife was also very beautiful. She was on the sets in Lucknow when we were shooting those scenes, and she always kept everyone calm,” he recalled.
Ameesha Patel recalls Amrish Puri’s sweet gesture on the sets of ‘Gadar’
A memory that clearly brought a smile to Ameesha’s face was a light moment from the Amritsar schedule, where the director Anil Sharma: expressed concern over the slender frame of the actor amid the frenzy of the crowd. “There was a large crowd at the Amritsar station and even lathi charges outside because people had come to meet us. Anil Sharma entered the make-up van carrying this big box of sweets and said, ‘Sakina madam, eat these laddoos. You must weigh yourself. Sakina looks happy, so the heroine should be like this and like that,'” recalls Patel.
Ameesha Patel in Amrish Puri. “It’s like a father defending his daughter”
He recalled that actor Lilette Dubey and others were all sharing the make-up van when Amrish Puri entered and gave a perfectly timed comment that had everyone in splits. “Amrish ji quietly patted Anil Sharma on the back and said, ‘Yes, yes, the heroine should eat laddoos, but Sakina is good. Come on, take the shot.’ I laughed. It’s like a father defending his daughter in real life — ‘Leave her alone, leave her alone.Very cute. These were great moments I shared with the cast, and they will stay with me forever. If I could rewind time and go back to the sets, I would love it,” he said.
What’s next for the ‘Gadar’ franchise?
‘Gadar 2’ released in theaters 22 years after the original ‘Gadar: Ek Prem Katha’. And the franchise didn’t stop there, director Anil Sharma recently confirmed that ‘Gadar 3’ is also in the making.