Ameesha Patel opened up about Sanjay Leela Bhansali asking her to retire post the phenomenal success of Gadar: Ek Prem Katha
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Ameesha Patel is truly on cloud nine these days, thanks to the massive hit of her latest film, Gadar 2. It's quite a special moment for her as she's reprised her beloved character Sakeena after more than two decades, and the audience seems to have fallen for it all over again. And let's not forget the amazing chemistry she shares with Sunny Deol in the film, which has become one of its major highlights. They've even managed to recreate some of the iconic songs from the original film, bringing back that wonderful sense of nostalgia.
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This kind of success isn't entirely new for Ameesha, though. Gadar: Ek Prem Katha was only her second Hindi film, and it was a huge hit. It feels like history is repeating itself in the best possible way.
Recently, Ameesha Patel opened up about something pretty interesting that happened after the release of the first Gadar film. She shared that Sanjay Leela Bhansali, the acclaimed director behind movies like Devdas and Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam, had an unusual suggestion for her. Apparently, he told her to consider retiring after watching Gadar. Now, you might be wondering, what on earth prompted such a suggestion? Well, Ameesha was just as baffled as anyone else when she heard it. "Why?" she wondered at the time.
Ameesha recounted her conversation with Bhansali, revealing his perspective on this whole retirement thing. "He said, 'Because you have already achieved in two films which most people don’t achieve in their entire career. Once in a lifetime a Mughal-e-Azam, Mother India, Pakeezah, Sholay get made, you had it in your second film, so what next?' I didn’t understand it at that time because I was a kid, I was so new to the film world (to know) what he meant by setting the bar high," she shared. In hindsight, though, Ameesha realized what Bhansali was getting at. Her subsequent films, regardless of their success, were inevitably compared to the towering achievement of Gadar. And let's face it, that's a tough act to follow.
Ameesha Patel's journey in the world of Bollywood has been nothing short of a rollercoaster ride, marked by surprising twists and reflective moments. From her stunning debut in Kaho Naa Pyaar Hai to the recent triumphs of Gadar, her story encapsulates the unpredictable nature of showbiz, the lasting influence of early accomplishments, and the challenges of living up to sky-high expectations.