Gadar: Ek Prem Katha, directed by Anil Sharma and starring Sunny Deol and Ameesha Patel, was released in 2001 and is one of the most loved Hindi movies. The story is set against the backdrop of the partition of India. The cross-border love story resonated deeply with audiences due to its powerful performances, patriotic themes, dialogues and action sequences. In 2023, the much-anticipated sequel, Gadar 2, was released, reigniting the same fervour among audiences.
Directed by Anil Sharma, the film became one of the biggest hits of the year, drawing in fans both old and new. Watching Sunny Deol reprise his role and deliver classic action sequences left many feeling nostalgic. The decision to continue the story was met with widespread acclaim, with fans thrilled to see the characters they loved returning to the big screen. Anil Sharma has always seen Sunny Deol as a superstar and advised him to charge what he truly deserves. In an interview with Bollywood Hungama, the director mentioned that when he approached Sunny with the idea of Gadar 2, he told him that he should be charging Rs. 50 crores per project, believing that the film would help him reach that milestone.
Further, Anil Sharma said that the demand for Gadar 2 was so immense that special screenings were held as early as 3 am. Anil shared a touching moment when he woke up at 7:30 am, unaware of the frenzy, and his wife informed him about the tremendous response and showed him videos of the cheers in cinema halls, with tears in her eyes. The director was moved by such a great response, and he immediately called Sunny Deol to share the moment. He told Sunny, "It's done, right?" to which Sunny responded, "Yes, it's done!" Sharma reflected on this as an emotional moment, noting that the Border actor has always been a superstar, though people often measure stardom by box office success.
Despite the doubts from others in the industry, Anil Sharma remained confident about the film's success. He revealed that even a week before the release, he informed Zee Studios that Gadar 2 would collect Rs. 500 crores. The director stated that while humans might feel responsible for their achievements, it's ultimately God who grants success.
