Few actors in the history of Bollywood could play a villain like this Amrish Puriwhose stellar performances include Mogambo and Ashraf Ali has etched itself permanently in the memory of moviegoers. However for amisha patelThe late actor represented much more than his on-screen dominance, and his warmth and humanity left a deep and lasting impression on her.
Ameesha Patel on Amrish Puri: ‘He’s a doll to work with’
Amisha looks back fondly on her time shooting “Gadar: Ek Prem Katha” and paints a very different portrait of Amrish from the menacing character he is known for, describing him as a truly warm and hilarious presence on the sets. She told India Today: “Oh, I miss Amrish Ji so much. It’s not that he was terrible – he was a doll to work with. He was very witty, funny and had a biting sense of humour, which you would never guess from his roles as Mogambo and Ashraf Ali.“
Ameesha Patel’s first scene in ‘Gadar’
What makes Amisha’s fond memories even more remarkable is that her first scene in the film was anything but easy. Given that movies are rarely shot in chronological order, she found herself thrust directly into an intense behind-the-scenes confrontation scene with Puri. “That confrontation scene was my first scene in Gadaar, opposite Amrish Ji. I was very nervous. I was shaking. But it was great to work with him. He made my job so easy. He never made me feel like he was a super accomplished actor and I was just a dumb newcomer. No one knew about Kaho Naa Parar at that time;
Ameesha Patel as Sakina
Amisha went on to explain the immense emotional pressure that came with playing the role of Sakina in that pivotal scene, revealing how she mentally absorbed the character’s entire journey before facing the camera. “Mentally, I had to tell myself that Sakina had graduated from school, gone through Partition, been separated from her family and thought they were dead. She had married and settled in India with a man who was very different from her – an uneducated Jat who didn’t speak English. She has adapted to the Hindu lifestyle and has a seven-year-old child. I got to stand opposite Amrish ji with all these transformations within me. So it becomes more difficult. “
Ameesha Patel on working with Amrish Puri
Despite the nerves of facing such a seasoned performer, Amisha admits that working with someone of Puri’s caliber ultimately pushed her to give her best. “But great actors elevate your scenes. Because they act so well, they give you the enthusiasm to perform better. Honestly, you’ll be shaking, but they make it so easy,” she added. Apart from remembering Puri himself, Amisha also had some warm words for his wife, who gave her a sense of reassurance during the Lucknow leg. “His wife was also lovely. She was on the set in Lucknow when we shot those scenes and she always made everyone feel at ease,” she recalls.
Ameesha Patel recalls Amrish Puri’s sweet gesture on the sets of ‘Gadar’
The memory that still brings a smile to Amritsar’s face is a relaxing moment in Amritsar’s schedule, Director Anil Sharma Concerns were expressed over the actor’s slender figure amid the chaos of the crowd. “The Amritsar station was crowded and there was even a crowd of lathi outside because people came to see us. Anil Sharma walked into the vanity van with a big box of sweets and said, “Sakina ma’am, eat these ladoos.” You should gain some weight. Sakina looked happy, so a heroine should look like this and that,” recalls Patel.
Ameesha Patel on Amrish Puri: ‘It’s like a father protecting his daughter’
She recalled that actor Lillet Dubey and others were sharing a vanity van when Amrish Puri walked in and made a well-timed remark that left everyone in splits. “Amrish ji quietly patted Anil Sharma on the back and said, ‘Yes, yes, the heroine should eat ladoos, but Sakina is fine. Come on, shoot. I burst out laughing. Just like a father protecting his daughter in real life – “Leave her alone, let her be.”Very cute. These are beautiful moments I shared with the cast and they will stay with me forever. If I could rewind time and go back to those scenes, I’d love to,” she said.
What’s next for the “Gadar” series?
“Gadar 2” is released 22 years after the original “Gadar: Ek Prem Katha” was released. The franchise doesn’t stop there, director Anil Sharma recently confirmed that Gadar 3 is also in the works.
