I've been a devoted fan of Sunny Deol and his movies since the days of 'Betaab' and 'Arjun.' While I admire Sunny, I acknowledge that he has limitations when it comes to dancing and comic timing. With age, his ability to perform high-intensity action sequences has also diminished. 'Gadar: Ek Prem Katha' was a blockbuster, featuring a compelling storyline, strong performances, memorable dialogues, and great music. However, the same cannot be said for 'Gadar 2,' which felt like a rip-off, despite its impressive box office earnings of Rs. 500 crores.
Regarding 'Gadar 2,' I wasn't excited about it from the moment the trailer was released, so I decided to wait for its OTT release, and my reservations were confirmed. Both Sunny and Amisha have aged, and the villain's loud dialogues and excessive cigar-puffing were irritating. The director seemed focused on promoting a younger actor, which detracted from the overall experience. The plot was predictable, with Sunny's character bashing through Pakistan and returning home with his family. The dialogues lacked the memorable impact of the original, with repeated use of phrases like 'Jitte,' 'Pappe,' and 'Tara.'
I've seen various reviewers mention that when asked to recall a memorable dialogue, all they could think of was 'Hindustan Zindabad.' I would classify this as another one of Sunny's underwhelming films. Sunny should consider the career paths of actors like Anil Kapoor, Dilip Kumar, and Sanjeev Kumar during their golden years. While he is fortunate to have a lease on his career for at least another 10 years, I hope his upcoming movies offer more substance. I'm looking forward to 'Soorya,' as I've seen the original and expect it to be good. However, I anticipate that 'Baap' will be a disappointment, I'm not expecting any magic from Ahmed Khan. My hopes are pinned on his new collaboration with Aamir Khan's production and 'Border 2.' I'd like to send a message to Sunny to please consider toning down the yelling.
One of the most astute aspects of this entire project is Zee Studios' ability to manage the budget, taking into account the star power of the cast and the director's credibility, which has waned since the first 'Gadar' movie. It appears to be a calculated risk where even if the movie only collects 50 crores, they can recoup another 50 crores from OTT and music rights. Therefore, spending 80 crores seems like a worthwhile gamble.
However, I can't help but wonder if these are the types of movies that resonate with the Indian audience. Personally, I would only watch such movies for free on OTT.