No Gadar sequel without Sunny Deol, now Jeete has also grown up: Anil Sharma
Mumbai: Director Anil Sharma, who is known for films like ‘Gadar: Ek Prem Katha’ that proved to be a stupendous success at the box office, is coming with a film titled, ‘Genius’ with his son Utkarsh Sharma in the lead.
Utkarsh is not new to facing the camera as he played the pivotal role of Sunny Deol and Ameesha Patel’s son Jeete in the iconic film ‘Gadar: Ek Katha’. Utkarsh has now grown up as a handsome adult and plays the hero of his dad’s film.
“Being a father, I have to launch my son,” Anil Sharma says unhesitatingly, “My son always wished to work on the celluloid. He has played the son’s role in ‘Gadar….’ After returning from America, where he trained in acting, writing, direction and marketing from a film institute, I had a script ready with me. Thus, I decided to cast him in ‘Genius.’. Ek baap apne bete ko launch nahi karega toh kaun karega? (If a father doesn’t launch his son, who will?) Nepotism exists in every profession. Actually, there is no harm in supporting your near and dear ones, provided they have talent. My son is talented and has learned his lessons in every sphere of film making too. Without an iota of doubt, I had to cast him as the script too suited him as well.”
"Utkarsh told me that he would like to work with some outside banner. But I coaxed him, ‘I have a script for a young lad like you. Why not cast you?’ He then responded in the positive, but told me to take his audition. However, I too was not going to cast him without auditioning. And here we are with our film.”
‘Gadar…” still leaves an impression on audiences whenever it airs on TV even today, and no prizes for guessing, Sharma is keen to make the sequel soon.
“Why not? I will definitely love to make the sequel of ‘Gadar’ soon. We are yet to pen the script, though. But we need to have a story which will showcase something more, in addition to what was shown in ‘Gadar.’ We are working and planning on this. Right now we are busy with the release of ‘Genius.’”
So will Sunny Deol be cast as lead in ‘Gadar...’ sequel? Pat comes the reply, “Sunny ke bina Gadar ban hi nahi sakti. Aur abhi toh Jeete bhi bada ho gaya hai! (Gaddar sequel cannot be made without Sunny Deol and now toh Jeete is a grown up lad) (holds his breath for a while) and says,” Working with Dharm ji (Dharmendra) will also happen, apne toh apne hi hote hai (own people are own), he concludes.
‘Genius’ is all set to release on 24th August.
