Gadar 2 Review: Silly attempt to cash in on cross-border conflict
This overly long movie seems solely aimed at those who hate Pakistan, with a story that makes little sense and has holes big enough to drive a truck through
By Pooja Choudhary Aug 17, 2023
WHEN Gadar: Ek Prem Katha was released in 2001, the tensions between India and Pakistan were higher than usual and it resulted in the Partition-set action drama clocking up recordbreaking numbers at the box office.
The sequel, set against the backdrop of the Indo-Pakistan war of 1971, is another attempt to cash in on the cross-border conflict between the two countries. This time around, lead protagonist Tara disappears during the 1971 war and his son goes looking for him in Pakistan. What follows is a father and son caught in a conflict zone.
This overly long movie seems solely aimed at those who hate Pakistan, with a story that makes little sense and has holes big enough to drive a truck through. It isn’t based on any kind of reality or true story, so is powered by jingoism and over the top action. There are also recycled songs and moments from the first part.
From silly fighting sequences to caricature-like villains to shouted dialogues, there are unintentionally funny moments from start to finish.
Lead star Sunny Deol also disappears for large chunks of the movie as director Anil Sharma attempts to give his not so talented son Utkarsh Sharma centre stage.
The style of storytelling and messaging belongs to another era, where audiences weren’t so exposed to more intelligent cinema.
Producer/director Sharma shows just why he hasn’t delivered a blockbuster since Gadar became a surprise hit 22 years ago and seems to solely rely on hate to sell his film.
The fast dwindling fans of Deol will find plenty to like and of course, those who have a deep hatred for Pakistan, may also enjoy this leave your brains at home movie.
Ultimately, this is a sequel that wasn’t needed and is targeted at a limited audience.
The actress defended her claim that acting demands more than desk jobs in a recent interview.
She said office workers can "chill out" during work hours, unlike film stars.
Fans and working professionals called her comments privileged and out of touch.
The backlash started after her appearance on Amazon Prime's Two Much with Kajol & Twinkle.
Critics pointed out the financial gap and support systems actors have compared to regular employees.
Kajol probably didn't expect this reaction when she sat down with Twinkle Khanna on Two Much. But her comments about actors working harder than people with 9-to-5 jobs have blown up, and not in a good way.
Fans slam Kajol after she says actors work harder than regular employees sparking online outrage Getty Images
The comments that started it all
Kajol was speaking out about her earlier comments on Two Much with Kajol & Twinkle on Amazon Prime, where she said actors work harder than most people. This time she was explaining why she thinks that.
She told The Hollywood Reporter India that her days are full of shoots, events, and very early flights. One day involved waking at 5 AM to catch a flight to Jaipur for a 3 PM event.
But it was her take on regular jobs that got people talking. She claimed desk workers don't need to be "100% present" and can take breaks, "chill out," and relax while working. She kept coming back to the unending scrutiny actors face like the feeling of always being watched or something as simple as how you cross your legs or who's snapping a picture in the background becomes a constant calculation. You have to be switched on, she insisted, all the time.
The internet, frankly, was having none of it. YouTube and Reddit exploded with responses. "For the kind of remuneration actors are paid, they shouldn't have a problem working 12 hours a day for 4 days a week," one user wrote. Another pointed out that films typically take 3-4 months to shoot, while regular jobs run year-round.
The responses got more pointed. "Vanity mein naps or massages bhi toh hum lete hain," a Reddit user commented, referencing the comfort of vanity vans. Someone else joked: "If you work poorly, you get fired. If you act poorly, you get a Filmfare award."
The bluntest response yet? "Respectfully, Kajol, shut up."
Nobody denies acting is demanding. Long hours, public pressure, and constant judgement are very real. But comparing it to regular employment ignores some major differences.
Most people work 12 months a year with two weeks' holiday if they're lucky. They don't have spot boys fetching drinks or vanity vans for rest breaks. One netizen nailed it: "A working parent's schedule is continuous, every single day, with no wrap-up party or off-season."
Online erupts as Kajol defends claim that acting demands more than everyday 9-to-5 workGetty Images
There's also the money. While her fee for a single film is probably more than most people earn in a year, she says that doesn’t make the work easy. Still, it does provide a comfort that regular employees don’t have. Kajol has not yet replied to the backlash.
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