Sunny Deol almost skipped this blockbuster, its songs were once rejected — but the film became a cult classic, movie name is…

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Before it became a national craze, Gadar: Ek Prem Katha was seen with doubt, even its songs were dismissed by the industry.

Published: August 24, 2025 1:38 PM IST

Sunny Deol’s Gadar: Ek Prem Katha is today counted among Bollywood’s most iconic films. But surprisingly, before its release in 2001, insiders weren’t convinced about its success. In fact, Sunny recently revealed in an interview with Zoom that the film — including its now-legendary songs — was initially rejected.

He said, “Whenever I played the songs for people, they didn’t like them. But then, the film takes its own journey. Nobody can stop it. This happens because the industry and the audience are not on the same page. When you get too much, you forget. You start losing touch with your art.”

His words clearly hint at how disconnected Bollywood was — and perhaps still is — from the audience’s pulse.

What made Sunny Deol say yes to Gadar?

When director Anil Sharma first approached Sunny with the script, the actor wasn’t sure. But everything changed after the narration.

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Sunny recalled, “When he narrated the story, I fell in love with it. We spent the whole night discussing it. My only wish was that the film should look like that era. If the period wasn’t shown authentically, the story wouldn’t feel real. Working on the film was a beautiful experience. I enjoy every film I do because they hold so many memories for me.”

That one night of storytelling turned hesitation into passion — and history was written on screen.

How did the film perform at the box office?

Directed by Anil Sharma, Gadar paired Sunny Deol with Ameesha Patel in leading roles. The film not only became a rage in theatres but also created an emotional storm across India.

In 2001, it collected Rs 133 crore at the box office — an unheard-of figure at the time. Two decades later, its sequel Gadar 2 repeated history. Released in 2023, the film went on to collect Rs 691.08 crore, joining the league of India’s all-time blockbusters.

Why is Gadar remembered even today?

The rejection of its music, the doubt around its theme, and the disbelief within the industry only add to the legend of Gadar. The film, however, connected directly with the audience — and that connection proved unshakable.

More than two decades later, the songs once dismissed are sung as anthems, and the story continues to echo. Sunny Deol’s words sum it up best — the film carried itself forward, because when the people choose, no power in the industry can stop it.

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