Utkarsh Sharma is gearing up for the release of his upcoming film Gadar 2. The young actor's first brush with the limelight was in 2001 when he essayed the role of Sunny Deol and Ameesha Patel’s child Jeete in the first film Gadar: Ek Prem Katha. In the sequel, he will be taking forward his part with a 17 year leap. 

In an exclusive interview with PeepingMoon, Utkarsh spoke about reprising the role after 22 years and working with Sunny and Ameesha. He reminisces his memories from the sets of Gadar Part 1 as a child and compares it with shooting for Gadar 2. 

On reprising the role after 22 years, Utkarsh shared, "I think it's a blessing in a way. I think very few to none have got such a chance to reprise their childhood character after 22 years. I feel thankful that I am a part of this film and got the chance to share the screen with Sunny Deol and Ameesha Patel again. As people, they have not changed at all. Sunny Sir is still the same. It is phenomenal that he still carries that power and persona he has always been known for that. When Sunny Sir and Ameesha came on the sets in their getup on the first day, I just felt like a 5-year-old kid again who used to watch them in awe and admire their characters. I just feel like I was transported back to those times."

Utkarsh, who is the film's director Anil Sharma's son further elaborated, "We shot some major sequences of Gadar 2 in Lucknow and the funny thing is we shot in the two of the same locations where we filmed Gadar 1. Although we were actively trying to avoid the same locations, for some reasons then we saw certain aspects and logistics and we decided on them. We were about to film at one of the sets but the next day it was declared as an ASI monument. Since it became a historic monument, we couldn't get access to film there and then we had to shift locations. So, we found one of the older locations that we had used in Gadar 1 where I gave my first-ever shot. It was the very first time when I performed as an actor. It was a mid-close-up shot and was taken by  Nazeeb Sir, who is our DOP in Gadar 2, he was our DOP in Gadar 1 as well. I was literally transported back because it was the same shot that they took after 22 years in the same spot. I felt weird that where destiny is taking me and I asked myself if this is what we manifested. I thought if I am living in an inception or a dream (laughs)." 

Ask Utkarsh how he remembers everything as a 5-year-old, to which he answered, "It isn't a sharp memory I have but it was like a PTSD - I would say it was quite a shock for my system because I was never exposed to such things. As a 5-year-old kid, it was literally a shock waking up three nights in a row; you don't know what it means to run on a train at such a height while your brain is constantly telling you that it's a danger. Shooting in Lucknow and Rajasthan's searing heat was another thing. I never experienced that heat as I never stepped out of Bombay. All that remains in you and it becomes your sense memory. So, I can say it's PTSD, but in a good way," he concluded.

Gadar 2 releases on August 11.

(Source:PeepingMoon)