Ameesha Patel is on a nostalgia trip as Gadar: Ek Prem Katha nears its 25th anniversary. The actress, who played the iconic Sakina opposite Sunny Deol’s Tara Singh, has opened up about the film’s massive impact across borders. In a recent chat, she dropped some jaw-dropping claims that are sure to get the box office debate going again.
Pakistani Parents Named Daughters Sakina
Ameesha revealed that Gadar gave her a massive fanbase in Pakistan. Women would call her secretary, emotional elderly ladies would say, ‘Kya Ameesha ji, Pakistan ko apne rula diya, Sakina ne rula diya.’ She added that the love was so real that parents actually named their daughters Sakina. ‘Humne apne beti ka naam Sakina rakh diya hai. They loved Gadar,’ she recalled.
The actress admitted she was juggling multiple films back then—actors used to do five films a year in those days. So she barely had time to process what a ‘humongous, monstrous hit’ the film had become. The single-screen audience lapped it up from day one with 100% opening all over India.
The Tsunami Called Gadar 2
Fast forward to 2023, and Gadar 2 created a tsunami at the box office. Ameesha said the journey 25 years later is surreal—both films are iconic. She feels blessed to have been chosen to play Sakina, her most esteemed and toughest character. ‘It just feels surreal,’ she said.
But here’s where it gets spicy. Ameesha made a bold claim about the franchise’s theatrical footfalls. She stated that the combined footfalls of Gadar 1 and Gadar 2 are bigger than the combined footfalls of Dhurandhar 1 and 2. ‘Just purely on footfalls—that means the amount of people that have actually entered the cinema houses to watch both films. It is so heartening,’ she said.
Footfalls vs Box Office Collections
Of course, this comparison is sure to raise eyebrows. While Gadar 2 did massive business, the Dhurandhar (read Dhoom) franchise has its own loyal fanbase. Ameesha didn’t talk about money—she stuck to footfalls, which is a metric that often gets overlooked. But yaar, it’s a fun claim to stir the pot.
For now, Gadar fans are loving the nostalgia trip, and Ameesha is soaking in the love. The silver jubilee of Gadar is just around the corner, and it looks like the actress is ready to celebrate in style.