25 years on, Gadar director says Sunny's iconic hand-pump scene was called illogical
At the film's 25-year milestone, director Anil Sharma said Gadar's hand-pump scene almost stalled because many in the team found it illogical. He said Sunny Deol backed the idea, and the moment went on to become a cultural landmark.
Few moments in Bollywood history have attained the kind of legendary status that Tara Singh uprooting a hand pump enjoys. Twenty-five years after Gadar: Ek Prem Katha shattered box-office records and became a cultural phenomenon, the scene remains one of the most iconic visuals in Hindi cinema. But according to director Anil Sharma, the now-famous sequence almost didn't happen, with several people involved in the film dismissing it as "illogical" during production.
On the film’s silver jubilee celebration, the director sat down for an exclusive conversation with India Today and revealed how the scene faced considerable resistance from team members. They felt audiences would find it unrealistic. However, it was Sunny Deol's conviction that made the scene what it is today.
"People were not ready to do this scene. I remember we had to halt the shoot for three hours, trying to convince people. Everyone thought it was illogical, but I told them there is no logic beyond emotion," he said, adding that the scene was never meant to be judged through the lens of practicality.
It was about capturing Tara Singh's emotional breakdown at a moment when everything he stood for was being challenged.
"I told them, Tara Singh is not Hanuman. But when it was needed, Hanumanji lifted the mountain. Did anyone question his emotions? I wanted Tara Singh to uproot something. He is saying 'Pakistan Zindabad', and is also ready to accept Islam, but he cannot put down his motherland. He will never say 'Hindustan Murdabad'. And when he's asked to do it, he channels his anger into something. I wanted him to be so furious that he could demolish a building," the 68-year-old director said.
"We got it installed, and while many continued to find it illogical, Sunny sir agreed. He had faith in me, and his conviction helped us pull that scene so beautifully. It became such a rage and a cultural phenomenon," he added.
The hand-pump sequence became the film's most famous visual and brought Gadar's world to life. Set against the backdrop of Partition, the film required Sharma and his team to recreate a version of Punjab that no longer existed.
Recalling the mammoth production effort, the director said much of the film was shot on real locations rather than elaborate studio sets: "We shot a lot on real locations from Dalhousie to Punjab. We actually coloured the entire Amritsar station in yellow, because that's how it looked in 1947. We took due permission and changed the look completely. But almost 400,000 people turned up, there was pathar bazi (stone pelting) and it was chaos. The station was actually warded off, and no train passed. Those were such different times, and yet we managed to pull those stunts."
He added that the locals were also given a chance to be part of the shoot. "We also did an open call and announced that anyone could be part of the film, all they needed was to wear a kurta and pyjamas. The stores ran out of stock in the city as everyone bought kurta-pyjamas and were on set,” Anil recalled.
And while he carried on the success of Gadar with Gadar 2 in 2023, we wondered if the plans for the third part are in the works. Sharma confirmed that work on the story is underway, but insisted that there is no official announcement yet.
He said, "It's the same struggle of finding a great story. When I feel I have gotten something worth carrying the legacy, I will announce Gadar 3. I have Sunny, Ameesha, Jeete (Utkarsh Sharma), Zee and everyone. It is very easy for me to start. But there should be a story to match that level. I need to be excited as a viewer with the story; only then will we make the sequel. We are working on it, and it may happen by the end of this year or next year."
And as we wrapped up our conversation, we posed a hypothetical question to director Anil Sharma: if Tara Singh and Sakina were to suddenly step into present-day India, what would surprise them the most? "I have never thought about this. It’s a different question altogether,” he said.
Adding, “They were not political people; they believed in love. They will see things around, but they would like to live in their own world. I don't think they would be bothered by anything happening around them. They are the people who saw the partition, so what worse can happen to them? They will still be the same people."
Gadar: Ek Prem Katha released in theatres on June 15, 2001.
Few moments in Bollywood history have attained the kind of legendary status that Tara Singh uprooting a hand pump enjoys. Twenty-five years after Gadar: Ek Prem Katha shattered box-office records and became a cultural phenomenon, the scene remains one of the most iconic visuals in Hindi cinema. But according to director Anil Sharma, the now-famous sequence almost didn't happen, with several people involved in the film dismissing it as "illogical" during production.
On the film’s silver jubilee celebration, the director sat down for an exclusive conversation with India Today and revealed how the scene faced considerable resistance from team members. They felt audiences would find it unrealistic. However, it was Sunny Deol's conviction that made the scene what it is today.
"People were not ready to do this scene. I remember we had to halt the shoot for three hours, trying to convince people. Everyone thought it was illogical, but I told them there is no logic beyond emotion," he said, adding that the scene was never meant to be judged through the lens of practicality.
It was about capturing Tara Singh's emotional breakdown at a moment when everything he stood for was being challenged.
"I told them, Tara Singh is not Hanuman. But when it was needed, Hanumanji lifted the mountain. Did anyone question his emotions? I wanted Tara Singh to uproot something. He is saying 'Pakistan Zindabad', and is also ready to accept Islam, but he cannot put down his motherland. He will never say 'Hindustan Murdabad'. And when he's asked to do it, he channels his anger into something. I wanted him to be so furious that he could demolish a building," the 68-year-old director said.
"We got it installed, and while many continued to find it illogical, Sunny sir agreed. He had faith in me, and his conviction helped us pull that scene so beautifully. It became such a rage and a cultural phenomenon," he added.
The hand-pump sequence became the film's most famous visual and brought Gadar's world to life. Set against the backdrop of Partition, the film required Sharma and his team to recreate a version of Punjab that no longer existed.
Recalling the mammoth production effort, the director said much of the film was shot on real locations rather than elaborate studio sets: "We shot a lot on real locations from Dalhousie to Punjab. We actually coloured the entire Amritsar station in yellow, because that's how it looked in 1947. We took due permission and changed the look completely. But almost 400,000 people turned up, there was pathar bazi (stone pelting) and it was chaos. The station was actually warded off, and no train passed. Those were such different times, and yet we managed to pull those stunts."
He added that the locals were also given a chance to be part of the shoot. "We also did an open call and announced that anyone could be part of the film, all they needed was to wear a kurta and pyjamas. The stores ran out of stock in the city as everyone bought kurta-pyjamas and were on set,” Anil recalled.
And while he carried on the success of Gadar with Gadar 2 in 2023, we wondered if the plans for the third part are in the works. Sharma confirmed that work on the story is underway, but insisted that there is no official announcement yet.
He said, "It's the same struggle of finding a great story. When I feel I have gotten something worth carrying the legacy, I will announce Gadar 3. I have Sunny, Ameesha, Jeete (Utkarsh Sharma), Zee and everyone. It is very easy for me to start. But there should be a story to match that level. I need to be excited as a viewer with the story; only then will we make the sequel. We are working on it, and it may happen by the end of this year or next year."
And as we wrapped up our conversation, we posed a hypothetical question to director Anil Sharma: if Tara Singh and Sakina were to suddenly step into present-day India, what would surprise them the most? "I have never thought about this. It’s a different question altogether,” he said.
Adding, “They were not political people; they believed in love. They will see things around, but they would like to live in their own world. I don't think they would be bothered by anything happening around them. They are the people who saw the partition, so what worse can happen to them? They will still be the same people."
Gadar: Ek Prem Katha released in theatres on June 15, 2001.
