director Anil Sharma revealed that the actors kajal And Aishwarya Rai Before the newcomers were among the actresses approached for Ghadar: Ek Prem Katha Amisha Patel Finally Sakina was cast. The filmmaker also explained why several established actresses chose not to be a part of the film and how Amisha’s dedication made her the perfect choice.Speaking to Subhankar Mishra, Sharma dispelled the belief that Kajol was the first and only choice for the film.
‘We spoke to Kajol and Aishwarya Rai’
Asked if Kajol was in fact supposed to star opposite Sunny Deol, Sharma said, “Not really. There is a theory that Kajol is going to play Gadar. We have spoken to Kajol. We have also spoken to Aishwarya Rai. In fact, many actresses were in talks.”He added that several actors and actresses had heard the script but were hesitant to come on board.“Many heard the story, but they didn’t understand. Some didn’t want to work with me, some didn’t want to work with Sunny Deol and some didn’t want to do a period film.”
‘People wanted glamorous foreign films’
Explaining the mindset of the industry in the late 1990s, Sharma said films set abroad dominated Bollywood.“In 1998, everyone wanted glamorous films shot in Switzerland or London. The foreign market had become very important. Since Ghadar revolved around India and Pakistan, many people were hesitant. At that time period films were not considered commercially attractive. Everyone wanted glamor and glitzy romantic films. So many films, including actresses, artistes, were rejected.”
Why did you choose Anil Sharma? Amrish Puri On top of a big heroine
The filmmaker revealed that budget constraints also affected the casting process.“Ji told me, ‘Sunny Deol is already on board. We only have a fixed budget.’ In this amount, you can either cast Amrish Puri or a big heroine.’Sharma said his decision was immediate.“I said, ‘I will choose Amrish Puri because this film is Pakistani Amrish Puri. The heroine can be a fresh newbie. The role is so powerful that whoever plays it will become a star.’After that decision, the team auditioned around 400-500 aspiring actresses before selecting 12 finalists.“Amisha Patel was among those 12 girls. At that time Kaho Na… Pyaar Hai is yet to release. Its shooting has just started.”
‘People still call her Sakina’
Sharma was all praise for Ameesha Patel’s commitment to the role, saying her dedication was unmatched.“Amisha worked incredibly hard. She was one of the most dedicated actresses I’ve worked with. For six months, she came to meet me every weekday from 2pm to 5pm to prepare for the role.”He added, “She completely transformed herself into Sakina. Because of her hard work, even today, people don’t call her Amisha Patel – they call her Sakina.”
‘An actor doesn’t control everything’
Reflecting on Amisha’s career after Gadar and Kaho Na… Pyaar Hai, Sharma said that success in the film industry depends on a combination of talent, circumstances and luck.“No one knows what life will take. Sometimes it’s because of your own mistakes, sometimes because of circumstances and sometimes just because of destiny.”He also points out that actors have limited control over how a film ultimately shapes up.“We identify films by actors, like we identify songs by singers. But the truth is that neither has complete control. If a director chooses a bad move during editing or makes the film bad, what can the actor do? The actor can only give the best performance.”Praising Amisha again, Sharma concluded, “Kaho Na Pawa… Pyaar Hai and Gadar were destiny. Those films were phenomenal. What Amisha did justified that belief through hard work. Both these films will always have a place in the history of Indian cinema.”
