Did You Know “Gadar” Was Inspired By Real Story Of Boota Singh?

Anil Sharma’s directorial Gadar: Ek Prem Katha is one of the most celebrated films in Indian cinema. Featuring Sunny Deol and Ameesha Patel, Gadar became the first Indian film to achieve a gross box office collection of over Rs 1.3 billion worldwide. Fans loved the intense chemistry of Tara Singh and Sakina in Gadar and consider it one of the best love stories of Bollywood. But did you know that the film is based on a real-life man named Boota Singh?

The character of Tara Singh in the film “Gadar: Ek Prem Katha” is said to be loosely inspired by the real-life experiences of Boota Singh. Boota Singh was a Sikh soldier who served in the British Army during World War II under Lord Mountbatten’s command. He played a significant role in rescuing people during the partition of India in 1947.

During the Indo-Pak partition riots, Boota Singh helped transport people from the dangerous areas of Punjab to safer zones, risking his own life in the process. He is known to have saved numerous lives by providing transportation to those seeking to escape the violence and chaos of the partition.

During the Hindu-Muslim riots, he encountered Zainab, a Muslim girl whom he rescued and subsequently fell in love with.

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Following the partition, Zainab was forcefully deported to Pakistan due to her religious identity. Determined to reunite with her, Boota Singh is said to have converted to Islam and clandestinely entered Pakistan. However, the love story between Boota Singh and Zainab took a tragic turn. Under immense family pressure, Zainab refused to accept Boota as her husband, leaving Boota heartbroken. Consumed by despair, he tragically took his own life by jumping in front of a running train.

Although Boota Singh had expressed his desire to be buried in Zainab’s village of Nurpur, her family denied the request. Consequently, he was laid to rest at Miani Sahib, where his grave became a shrine commemorating the love between the two. He came to be known as Shaheed-e-Mohabbat, meaning the martyr of love. Some of his followers sought to honor him further by constructing a brick shrine around his mud grave. However, due to disagreements and concerns regarding the glorification of a Sikh figure by the Muslim community, the shrine’s construction was not realized.

While the character of Tara Singh in the film is fictional, the filmmakers drew inspiration from the bravery and selflessness displayed by individuals like Boota Singh during that tumultuous period in Indian history. The film aimed to showcase the courage and resilience of ordinary people in extraordinary circumstances.

Director Anil Sharma is returning with the sequel of Gadar after 22 years. Gadar 2 brings back the iconic jodi of Sunny Deol and Ameesha Patel. The film will be released in theatres on August 11.

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