Ameesha Patel, whose recent release ‘Gadar 2’ was a runaway hit, recently reflected on her Bollywood debut opposite Hrithik Roshan in the 2000 film ‘Kaho Naa… Pyaar Hai.’ Patel shared that their launch faced significant skepticism, as there was little faith in their potential compared to contemporaries Abhishek Bachchan and Kareena Kapoor Khan, who were also debuting around the same time.
In an old interview with Pinkvilla, Patel recounted that people had urged Rakesh Roshan to change the release date of their film due to the upcoming releases of Shah Rukh Khan’s ‘Phir Bhi Dil Hai Hindustani’ and Aamir Khan’s ‘Mela.’ She recalled, “People asked Rakesh, ‘How can you bring these two nobodies in between two hurricanes of films?’ To which Rakesh uncle responded, ‘I’m not going to change. I have faith in my film.’ That assurance from our director was everything for me and Hrithik.”
Patel expressed her gratitude for Rakesh Roshan’s risk in casting a newcomer like her, which bolstered her confidence. She said, “Listen to the world’s opinions, give your best to your film, and that’s all. The rest is history.”
In a chat with ETimes, Patel also mentioned her desire to collaborate with Hrithik Roshan again, expressing interest in a “cute, fun love story with a touch of comedy, great music, and lots of dance,” since both of them excel in dancing.
In other news, ‘Gadar 2,’ a blockbuster hit, is set to celebrate its first anniversary on August 15. The film, one of the biggest hits of 2023 alongside ‘Pathaan’ and ‘Jawan,’ grossed over Rs 500 crore at the domestic box office. The sequel to the iconic ‘Gadar’ came more than two decades after the first part, generating an unexpected and overwhelming response. In its anniversary month, ‘Gadar 2’ is set to be re-released in theatres on August 4, featuring Indian Sign Language interpretation. This initiative, aimed at catering to deaf audiences, will see the film screened at selected PVR cinemas across the nation. The producers, Zee Studios, were approached for this initiative by a Mumbai-based organization for the deaf.
Reacting to the re-release, Sunny Deol said, “Gadar 2 is a film that has, and always will have, a special place in my heart. So, it’s overwhelming to see the continued love and support from audiences one year after its release. This re-release with Indian Sign Language interpretation will allow the film to touch the hearts of even more audiences this time.”
Ameesha Patel added, “Being a part of the Gadar films has been an incredible journey for me. It feels great to be able to bring the story of Sakina back on the big screen for a special audience that does not get enough opportunities to fully enjoy cinema as the rest of us, and I hope this initiative will inspire other filmmakers to make cinema more inclusive and accessible.”
