In 2001, when Gadar: Ek Prem Katha, backed by Zee Studios, released, no one had imagined it would set the cash registers ringing then. The film, headlined by Sunny Deol and Ameesha Patel, ran to packed houses for weeks. And now, 20 years later, Sunny and director Anil Sharma, who helmed the original, are gearing up to start shooting its sequel. The duo spoke to BT about their plans and what propelled them to begin Gadar 2 two decades later. Excerpts:

Sunny: For years, Sharma ji (director Anil Sharma) and I would always chat about how we could take the story forward and do it without damaging the legacy of the first outing. We both want to make the sequel better than the first part. Today, when we are ready to embark on this new journey, we just hope ki yeh film Gadar: Ek Prem Katha ke takkar ki ho, if not better. For years, Sharma ji and writer Shaktimaan kept toying with ideas, which they would discuss with me, and finally we found something that sounded apt to take Tara Singh and his family’s story ahead.

Anil: I was under tremendous pressure for the last two decades to make a sequel to Gadar: Ek Prem Katha. People from all over the country and writers of every age and experience bracket have shared stories with me for this sequel. Two years ago, during Navratri, writer Shaktimaan came home, and said that he had an idea for Gadar 2. Sunny saab would often ask me Gadar 2 kaise banegi. Duniya ka sabse mushkil kaam hai inko convince karna. When I told him the idea we had for Gadar 2, his eyes were moist. And that is when I knew that this is the story that will work for him. We’re making this film with the same honesty and truthfulness with which we made the first film. We have to see where Tara Singh’s life goes from the point where we left it 20 years ago.

Sunny: I work on what I instinctively like. When we met and discussed Gadar, I felt I could work with Sharma ji, and since then, we have always tried to find something to team up for. With Gadar, we knew we had a good, solid story. Yes, I had no clue what life in 1947 looked like. I was doing action films at that time, and in this film, I was playing a sarangi and singing love songs. I believe that it’s the story that gives birth to characters. You have to go with the character’s feelings, which creates an imagery for the actor. The deeper you go into the character, the sharper the imagery.

Anil: It was a life-changing experience for me. I was fortunate to have a great team and hardworking actors like Ameesha and Sunny saab by my side. Zee Studios stood by us, they believed in our film.

Anil: We are starting the sequel after careful considerations. Humein pata hai ki ek cult film ke saath chhed-chhad nahi ki jaati. Gadar belongs to everyone and we can’t make a sequel that lacks the qualities of the first film. We have to and we will do our best to take the story forward and keep the legacy of the film alive in every way possible.

Sunny: I will do my best to go back into Tara Singh’s world and capture those emotions again. It has been 20 years. Rarely do these things happen to an actor. I don’t believe in preparation. The moment I have given the nod to a film, my mind starts preparing for the role. If something does not work, one can always sit together with the team and find a solution. When I am on a shoot, I lose myself to the story, character and period. The rest will sort itself out.

Sunny: I think one narrates a story with emotions that feel correct. Patriotism will be patriotism, haan, jatane ka andaaz kuch badal gaya hai. Cinema today has somewhat stopped delivering a package of emotions to the audience. There is a reason South Indian films that are dubbed in Hindi are loved by the audience. They’re so close to their roots and stay true to the emotional context of the story. Our film was not made thinking about the sentiments between India and Pakistan, and how the audience will react to a period film like ours.

Anil: Gadar had a solid footfall. The audience, which was very young then, is all grown up today and is eagerly awaiting the next outing. Back then, we didn’t know how people would react to a period story set in 1947. Today, we don’t know what they will make of the period that we’re entering with the sequel. We trusted the audience then, and we trust them today, too.

Gadar 2, produced by Zee Studios and Anil Sharma Productions, features Sunny Deol, Ameesha Patel and Utkarsh Sharma. Mithoon will compose the music of the film.