Sunny Deol justifies Gadar’s hand-pump scene: Emotional strength, God's miracle can make such acts possible

Apart from his dialogue ‘Dhai kilo ka haath' from Damini (1993), Sunny Deol is also known for the iconic scene hand-pump scene in Anil Sharma’s Gadar: Ek Prem Katha (2001). In the scene, he pulls out a hand pump from the ground to thrash the baddies and ensure he, his wife (Ameesha Patel) and son (Utkarsh Sharma) are able to flee. 

The scene has become the butt of jokes on social media. It references are made not only in comedy shows and also in Deol’s own film Yamla Pagla Deewana (2011). 

While speaking about his latest release Yamla Pagla Deewana Phir Se, Deol recalled the scene and justified it. 

According to Deol, such acts can be made possible with emotional strength and god's help. “At that time it was basically the emotional strength. The situation where I take the pump off is where a family’s life is at stake. That’s the time when I always believe that God comes in and a miracle happens, which gives you that extra something to do something to save your family, your child and wife,” he said. 

“It was basically that emotional move that was brought into play for that. If it wasn’t for this situation, he wouldn’t have been able to do that,” Deol added. 

The Ghayal (1990) actor also recalled another action scene from Gadar and spoke of its importance. “There is again another sequence where I cut a soldier’s head and the others run away and I shout. Again that is the reality in wars. When you kill the main leader, others don’t know what to do and they run away; they are clueless,” he said. 

Gadar: Ek Prem Katha went onto become one of the biggest blockbusters in Hindi cinema despite being released alongside Ashutosh Gowariker’s much loved Lagaan (2001).