Veteran filmmaker Anil Sharma is showing no signs of slowing down. After delivering one of the biggest blockbusters of recent years with 'Gadar 2', the director has now shifted his focus to an ambitious new period drama titled 'Arjun Naga'. At the same time, he has also confirmed that work on 'Gadar 3' is progressing behind the scenes.
Having spent more than four decades in the film industry, the director has built his career around larger-than-life entertainers such as 'Hukumat', 'Tehelka', 'Gadar: Ek Prem Katha' and 'Gadar 2'. Now, he believes his upcoming venture has the potential to stand alongside those landmark films.
'Arjun Naga' Takes Shape
Speaking to Variety India about his next directorial project, Anil Sharma revealed that the film has already completed its initial shooting schedule. While details regarding the full cast remain under wraps, he described the film as a grand period spectacle mounted on a massive scale.
“Right now, I am working on a very big project. I have already finished my 10 to 20-day schedule. I am yet to announce the cast. The movie is called ‘Arjun Naga.’ It is a period film set on a massive scale. I would like to say that very few times in life one gets a script so solid. Just like ‘Hukumat,’ ‘Tehelka,’ ‘Gadar,’ ‘Arjun Naga’ is exactly like that and I am now working on it. I will talk about this in detail soon.”
The film reportedly features Utkarsh Sharma in the lead role, while Arjun Rampal is expected to play the antagonist. However, the makers are yet to officially unveil the complete cast lineup.
High Expectations from 'Arjun Naga'
Anil Sharma's confidence in 'Arjun Naga' stems from the screenplay, which he considers among the strongest he has encountered in his long career. The filmmaker compared the project to some of the defining titles in his filmography, suggesting that it possesses the same scale, emotion and mass appeal that audiences have come to associate with his work.
The director's comments have naturally heightened curiosity around the project, particularly because it marks another collaboration with his son Utkarsh Sharma after the success of 'Gadar 2'.
'Gadar 3' Is Officially in Development
While 'Arjun Naga' currently occupies most of his attention, Sharma also shared an encouraging update for fans of the 'Gadar' franchise. Following the phenomenal theatrical run of 'Gadar 2', speculation about a third installment has remained constant. The filmmaker confirmed that the writing process for 'Gadar 3' is currently underway and that production will begin only after the team is fully satisfied with the screenplay.
“As for ‘Gadar 3,’ we are right now working on the script and once we are satisfied and the story is blocked is when we begin production, hopefully by the end of this year.” The statement is likely to excite fans who have been eagerly awaiting the return of Tara Singh and Sakina after the massive success of the franchise's second chapter.
Why the 'Gadar' Franchise Endures
Reflecting on the enduring popularity of the franchise, Sharma explained that the emotional connection audiences formed with 'Gadar: Ek Prem Katha' has played a major role in its longevity. Released in 2001 and starring Sunny Deol and Ameesha Patel, the film went on to become a cultural phenomenon and continues to enjoy a loyal fan following.
“What makes pop culture? Things we like and enjoy become part of pop culture. The names have been changing over the years, people have aged, but the soul has been the same. Who is 40 years old now was 18 at some point. When ‘Gadar’ came, it managed to make space in the hearts of its audience. It has managed to stay there. The fact that it was relevant regardless of time is why it managed to stay and is still sampled to date.” According to him, the film's themes and emotional core have allowed it to resonate across generations.
Cinema Must Be Made for the Audience, Says Anil Sharma
The director also opened up about his filmmaking philosophy, stressing that he always approaches a story from the perspective of a moviegoer rather than a filmmaker.
“I know what the audience wants because I am a part of the audience. I have always prioritized the audience. I never write my films like a filmmaker. I am a man sitting in a single-screen theatre, not even a multiplex. If the story excites that man sitting in the single screen, that is what makes it into my film. The filmmaker has to be the first audience.”
Sharma believes that understanding the pulse of the masses has been one of the biggest reasons behind the success of many of his films over the years.
Emphasising the importance of theatrical audiences, the filmmaker argued that cinema ultimately belongs to those who buy tickets and support films in theatres. “You make films for them to come to the cinema halls to watch your work. If you make a film thinking it is for you, why spend crores? Instead, upload it on YouTube and keep watching it.”
With 'Arjun Naga' moving steadily through production and 'Gadar 3' advancing in the writing stage, Anil Sharma appears determined to continue delivering the kind of large-scale entertainers that have defined his career for more than forty years.
