Anil Sharma Reveals Kajol and Aishwarya Rai Approached Gadar Before Amisha Patel; He chose Amrish Puri over the big heroine (Image credit: Instagram)
Director Anil Sharma revealed that actors Kajol and Aishwarya Rai were among the actresses who were approached for Gaadar: Ek Prem Katha ahead of the newcomer.
Amisha Patel
She is eventually cast as Sakina. The director also explained why many well-known actresses chose not to participate in the film and how Ameesha’s dedication made her the perfect choice.Speaking to Shubhankar Mishra, Sharma denied believing 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 play the lead opposite Sunny Deol, Sharma said: “Not exactly. There was a theory that Kajol was going to play Gaddar. We spoke to Kajol. We also spoke to Aishwarya Rai. In fact, discussions were going on with several actresses.”He added that many actors and actresses heard the script but were hesitant to join it.“A lot of people heard the story, but didn’t understand it. Some didn’t want to work with me, some didn’t want to work with Sunny Deol, and some simply didn’t want to do a historical film.”
“People wanted glamorous foreign films.”
Explaining the mindset of the industry in the late 1990s, Sharma said Bollywood was dominated by films shot abroad.“In 1998, everyone wanted to shoot glamorous films in Switzerland or London. The foreign market became very important.
Ever since Gadar revolved around India and Pakistan, many people were hesitant. Period films were not considered commercially attractive at the time. Everyone wanted glamorous and shiny romantic movies. That’s why many artists, including actresses, rejected the film.”
Why did he choose Anil Sharma? Amrish Puri On a great heroine
The director revealed that budget constraints also influenced the casting process.“Sunny Deol is already there. We just have a fixed budget,” Zee told me.
Within this amount, you can either choose Amrish Puri or a big heroine.’”Sharma said his decision was immediate.“I said: ‘I will cast Amrish Puri because Pakistan is Amrish Puri in this film. The heroine could be a young newcomer. The role is so powerful that anyone who plays it will become a star.’Following this decision, the team auditioned approximately 400-500 aspiring actresses before selecting 12 finalists.“Amisha Patel was among those 12 girls. At that time, Kaho Na…
Pyaar Hai is not released yet. “The shooting just started.”
“People still call her Sakina.”
Sharma has heaped praise on Ameesha Patel’s commitment to the role, saying her dedication remains unparalleled.“Amisha worked incredibly hard. She was one of the most dedicated actresses I have ever worked with. For six months, she came to meet me every weekday from 2pm to 5pm to prepare for this role.”“She has completely transformed herself into Sakina. Because of her hard work, even today, people don’t call her Ameesha Patel, they call her Sakina,” he added.
“The actor doesn’t control everything.”
Reflecting on Ameesha’s career after Gadar and Kaho Na… Pyar 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 mistakes, sometimes it’s because of circumstances, and sometimes it’s simply because of fate.”He also noted that the actors had limited control over how the film ultimately shaped.“We define films by actors, just as we define songs by singers. But the truth is that neither of them has complete control. If a director chooses a bad line during editing or makes a bad film, what can an actor do? An actor can only give the best possible performance.”Praising Ameesha once again, Sharma concluded, “Getting Kaho Na… Pyaar Hai and Gadar was destiny. Those films were extraordinary. What Ameesha did was justify that belief through hard work. These two films will always have a place in the history of Indian cinema.”
