Ameesha Patel has revealed how her family's history shaped her emotional connection to the blockbuster film 'Gadar: Ek Prem Katha', which marks 25 years since its release. The actor stated that both sides of her family carry direct links to the Partition of India and the country's freedom struggle, making her character Sakina's story deeply personal.
Family Roots in Partition and Freedom Movement
Speaking exclusively to Variety India, Patel explained that her mother's Sindhi family originally came from Lahore and Karachi before migrating to India. Her maternal grandfather carried a lasting longing for the places they left behind. "There was always that craving, which my maternal grandfather felt till his last day," Patel said.
On her father's side, Patel's grandparents played active roles in India's independence movement. Her grandmother, Sushila Gokhale-Patel, helped establish Gandhi museums at Mani Bhavan in Mumbai and Gandhi Bhavan in New Delhi before donating them to the Government of India. Her grandfather, Rajni Patel, served as a Congress president and was imprisoned during the freedom struggle.
Patel also shared that her paternal grandmother initially opposed her decision to enter films. However, after learning about the subject of 'Gadar', she became very proud of her granddaughter.
Why 'Gadar' Felt Personal to Ameesha Patel
In 'Gadar', Patel played Sakina, a young woman whose life is transformed during Partition before she builds a family with Tara Singh, portrayed by Sunny Deol. The actor noted that the role required her to understand the emotional journey of someone displaced from home and country.
Patel began filming 'Gadar' while still working on 'Kaho Na... Pyaar Hai'. Her first scene featured Sakina confronting her father, Ashraf Ali, played by the late Amrish Puri. She had to imagine Sakina's entire life before filming many earlier scenes, a challenge heightened by her inexperience as a newcomer.
Describing 'Gadar' as "a gut-wrenching love story that's so raw and sincere," Patel believes the film's lasting appeal comes from Tara and Sakina's innocence, vulnerability, and devotion. She emphasized that Partition stories resonate when filmmakers treat the subject sincerely rather than using history as a gimmick. For Patel, 'Gadar' remains tied not only to cinema but also to her own family's past.
