Ameesha Patel how his family history shaped his emotional connection with ‘Gadar’ as the film turns 25 years old. The actress said that both sides of her family had a direct connection to Partition and India’s freedom struggle, making Sakina’s story very personal. Her mother’s family had roots in Lahore and Karachi, and her paternal grandparents played an active role in preserving and supporting the Indian independence movement.
Ameesha Patel tells about her family Partition connection
Speaking exclusively to Variety India, Patel said that her mother’s Sindhi family came from Lahore and Karachi before moving to India. My maternal grandfather had a persistent longing for the places his family had left behind.“There was always that yearning that my maternal grandfather felt until his last day,” Patel said.His father’s family also had strong ties to the freedom struggle. Patel said his 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. His grandfather, Rajni Patel, was the president of the Congress and was jailed during the freedom movement.Patel added that his paternal grandmother initially opposed his decision to enter films. However, his reaction changed after Patel brought up the subject of ‘Gadar’. “When I told him about the ‘Gadar’ theme, he was very proud,” said the actor.
Why ‘Gadar’ felt close to Ameesha Patel
Patel played Sakina, a young woman whose life changes during Partition, before starting a family with Tara Singh, played by Sunny Deol. He said the role required understanding the emotional journey of someone displaced from their home and country.The actor started shooting for ‘Gadar’ while still working on ‘Kaho Na… Pyaar Hai’. Her first scene had Sakina confronting her father, Ashraf Ali, played by the late Amrish Puri.Patel said he had to imagine Sakina’s entire life before shooting many of the earlier scenes. It felt more challenging because it was still new to acting.He further described “Gadar” as “a touching love story that is so raw and honest”. According to Patel, the film’s enduring appeal comes from Tara and Sakina’s innocence, vulnerability and devotion.He believes that Partition stories work when filmmakers treat the subject honestly, rather than using history as a gimmick. For Patel, ‘Gadar’ remains connected not only to cinema but also to his family’s past.
