Ameesha Patel says being a part of ‘Gadar’ defined her career forever, as the audience always sees her as Sakina. She believes blockbuster films set impossible standards, adding that even Shah Rukh Khan, Kajol and Madhuri face the same. “Not every movie can be a huge, iconic, blockbuster, innovative movie,” she said.
Twenty-five years after her debut film ‘Gadar’ released, Ameesha Patel has come to terms with the fact that fans will forever see her as Sakina. The actress recently spoke about how being a part of a historical film can shape an actor’s entire career, as audiences find it difficult to separate them from their more iconic roles.
At 51 years old, Ameesha reflects on the lasting legacy of ‘Gadar’ and why it is almost impossible to avoid comparisons with a film that has left such a profound mark on Indian cinema.
Amisha Patel says blockbusters define their stars forever
In an interview with India Today, Amisha said: “Films like Gaadar come once in a lifetime. Take Mughal-e-Azam – it continues to define the legacy of its stars. Even today, when you think of Dilip Kumar or Madhubala, you think of Mughal-e-Azam. Nargis is synonymous with Mother India. Dharamji is remembered first for Sholay, and Shah Rukh Khan for Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge. That’s the kind of impact an iconic film makes.”
Ameesha Patel is on the other side of presenting a blockbuster film
Amisha believes that only the lucky few in the industry can be a part of a film that becomes a truly cultural phenomenon. “There are certain films that not every actor gets. So, we are lucky that we get them in our lives, and that we have an iconic film to our credit. And for me and Sunny, not once but twice. I have reached those heights even with Kaho Naa… Pyaar Hai,” she said. At the same time, she pointed out the flip side of achieving such massive success – that every project he follows is measured against such a towering standard.
“What happens is that people set the bar of expectations so high that even when you give hits like Bhool Bhulaiyaa, Humraaz, Honeymoon Travels Pvt. Ltd., or come up with Salman in Yeh Hai Jalwa, you get many hits, but there is always that comparison because the audience wants it again,” she explained.
Ameesha Patel says it took ‘Gadar 2’ to break ‘Gadar’s record’.
She was clear that holding every film to the standards of a once-in-a-generation hit is simply unfair.
“Now, not every film can be an iconic, blockbuster, innovative blockbuster. I mean, it took Gadar 2 to break Gadar’s record. So that’s what we’re talking about. How do you expect any other film to do that? It’s going to be tough,” she said.She also noted that audiences tend to stick with certain characters and moments from popular films long after they have left theatres, and compared this to some of Bollywood’s biggest stars. “Even today, for Shahrukh, when you put him on stage, you still want him to do his signature pose with his arms spread wide. You still love him as Raj. You still love him.”
Kajol
Like Simran. You still love Madhuri as a “dak-dak” girl. “Even today, she is known as the Duck Duck Girl everywhere,” she said.The actress added, “You keep thinking about Hum Aapke Hain Koun..! and those special moments from the film. So, you have these things with your stars, with the actors you love. You put them in a certain place in your mind, and you keep wanting to see them that way.”
says Amisha Patel Tom Cruise You will always be “Top Gun” to her
Ameesha took her argument beyond Bollywood, pointing to Hollywood to show that the phenomenon is global. “For me, Tom Cruise is always Top Gun.
Julia Roberts
“She is always a beautiful woman, no matter what great work she has done before or after,” she said.