Anil Sharma, a name synonymous with exceptional storytelling, has left an indelible mark on the Indian film industry with his incredible filmography. Over the course of more than four decades, he has crafted movies that resonate with audiences, evoking feelings of patriotism, excitement, and profound satisfaction. This article is essentially a celebration of all the directorial ventures of this extraordinary filmmaker. From timeless classics like Gadar: Ek Prem Katha to epic historical dramas like Veer and the latest addition, Gadar 2, this article delves into the cinematic gems that you shouldn’t miss. Read on to know more about his 5 films that you must stream on ZEE5 Global.
1. Gadar: Ek Prem Katha
Sharma’s seminal magnum opus, Gadar: Ek Prem Katha, is an emotional and gut-wrenching film that took moviegoers by storm during its theatrical run. The story of this highly successful film is loosely based on the tragic love story of Boota Singh, a real life Sikh soldier who served the British army during World War II under the command of Lord Mountbatten. Gadar is the tale of a tractor driver, Tara Singh (Played by Deol), who rescues Sakeena, a woman of Pakistani origin (Patel), out of the goodness of his heart. But, in a short span of time, the two fall in love, get married, and have a son, Charanjeet, aka Jeete.
However, things get complicated when Sakeena’s father, Ashraf Ali (Played by the late Amrish Puri), learns about his daughter’s living and marital status. This leads to all of the drama, action, and moments of patriotism that helped Gadar earn the blockbuster status it has today.
2. Gadar 2
Set during the Indo-Pak war of 1971, Gadar 2 sees Sunny Deol, Ameesha Patel, and Utkarsh Sharma reprise their roles from the 2001 smash hit. But this time around, Utkarsh Sharma’s character, Jeete, gets a much more prominent role to play as the son who will do whatever it takes in order to rescue his father from the clutches of a vengeful individual. This film, given that it is a follow up to the biggest blockbuster of the early 2000’s, gives an utmost sense of satisfaction to the fans of the first film’s leading pair, who had been waiting with bated breaths to find out how the story of Tara and Sakeena Singh (Played by Deol and Patel, respectively) panned out after the events of Gadar: Ek Prem Katha came to a conclusion.
Gadar 2 also touches upon topics such as undying love, familial bonds, and the collateral damage caused by the horrific war that ensued in the early 1970s. The film will make its ZEE5 Global streaming debut on October 6, 2023.
3. Ab TumhareHawale Watan Saathiyon
Ab TumhareHawale Watan Saathiyon is emotionally charged family drama and thriller movie is about family legacy, self discovery and the soured relationship between India and Pakistan. The story of the film sees a young lad, Kunal (Bobby Deol), join the army out of the compulsion of maintaining the family tradition, only to find himself fighting a set of highly dangerous people who are planning to fracture the relationship India and Pakistan have even further. This epic drama has several notable actors, such as the likes of Akshay Kumar, Ashutosh Rana, Amitabh Bahchan, Danny Denzongpa, and Divya Khosla Kumar, among others.
4. Genius
Genius is stylized thriller film served as a debut movie for Sharma’s son, Utkarsh Sharma, who can also be seen playing the character of Jeete in the films that are now a part of Sharma’s Gadar franchise. This film is about love, revenge, and the determination to attain victory against all odds. Not to mention that the antagonist of the movie is played by none other than Nawazuddin Siddiqui himself.
5. Veer
Veer is undoubtedly one of the biggest films that have been made by Anil in terms of production value. The movie is set in British colonial times and sees its protagonist, Mahendra (Played by Salman Khan), exact revenge on behalf of his father but, interestingly, fall in love with the daughter of the very man his father loathes. This premise in itself makes Veer a fairly engaging story. Not to mention that the movie is a visual spectacle as well.