What Makes Gadar a Milestone in Indian Cinema? Ameesha Patel Reveals Shocking Stats!

As Gadar celebrates its 25th anniversary, Ameesha Patel shares remarkable statistics that highlight its monumental success in Indian cinema. The film, featuring Sunny Deol, has surpassed attendance records of other notable films, including Dhurandhar. Patel expresses her gratitude for being part of this cinematic milestone and discusses the film's emotional impact, particularly in Pakistan. With over 50 million admissions for the original and impressive figures for the sequel, Gadar continues to resonate with audiences. Read on to explore the legacy of this iconic film and its enduring popularity.

By Narendra Chaudhary Jun 14, 2026, 15:09 IST

Celebrating 25 Years of Gadar

The iconic film Gadar, directed by Anil Sharma, marks its 25th anniversary on June 15. Featuring Sunny Deol and Ameesha Patel, this film is celebrated as one of the highest-grossing movies in Indian cinema history. Ameesha, who plays the role of Sakeena, highlighted that the film's attendance figures have surpassed those of Dhurandhar from 2001. To support her claim, she shared screenshots of publicly available data on her X account (formerly Twitter). Expressing her gratitude, Ameesha stated that she feels ‘blessed’ to have been part of such a successful project.

Ameesha Patel Validates Gadar's Record-Breaking Footfall

In her shared screenshots, Ameesha revealed that Gadar garnered over 50 million admissions in India upon its release in 2001. In comparison, Gadar 2, which premiered in 2023, recorded an estimated 34.0 to 34.5 million admissions. According to her tweet, the first Dhurandhar film had approximately 32.2 to 35.6 million domestic admissions, while Dhurandhar 2 reportedly achieved 43 million admissions.

Ameesha Patel Discusses Gadar's Impact

In a conversation with a Media House, Ameesha shared that she has garnered a significant fan following in Pakistan due to Gadar. She recounted how her secretary received heartfelt calls from older women expressing, “Kya Ameesha ji, Pakistan ko apne rula diya, Sakina ne rula diya” (Ameesha, you made Pakistan emotional. Sakina made Pakistan emotional). Additionally, she noted that some parents have named their daughters Sakeena, inspired by her character.

During the interview, Ameesha emphasized that the combined admissions of Gadar 1 and Gadar 2 surpass those of both Dhurandhar films. She expressed her joy at being part of cinematic history, stating, “The number of people who have actually entered the cinemas to watch both films is incredibly uplifting, and to feel that I am part of cinematic history, to be privileged, to be blessed.”

Overview of the Gadar Franchise

Gadar (2001) is set against the backdrop of the Partition of India in 1947, telling the love story of Tara Singh (Sunny Deol) and Sakeena (Ameesha Patel). Despite their different religions, they marry, but Sakeena’s politically active family intervenes, separating them. Tara Singh crosses the border to bring her back. In the sequel, Tara is in Pakistan, and his son Charanjeet seeks his help. However, Tara must cross the border again after Charanjeet is detained and mistreated by Major General Hamid Iqbal.