Gadar director Anil Sharma marks 46 years since debut shot with Rakhee Gulzar
Synopsis
Forty-six years after canning his first shot as a director, Gadar franchise helmer Anil Sharma marked 14 July as the defining date of his life — the day his debut film Shradhanjali with Rakhee Gulzar began, and the birthday of his daughter Kairvina. The post is a rare, personal window into the origins of one of Bollywood's most commercially potent careers.
Key Takeaways
Anil Sharma took his first directorial shot on 14 July 1980 for debut film Shradhanjali starring Rakhee Gulzar .
Shradhanjali was released in 1981 and also featured Suresh Oberoi and Deepak Parashar .
Sharma shared the milestone on Instagram , alongside a birthday post for his daughter Kairvina , who was born on the same date.
His latest film Vanvaas stars Nana Patekar and Utkarsh Sharma , exploring modern family dynamics.
Gadar 2 was the fourth highest-grossing Indian film of 2023 and the tenth highest-grossing Hindi film of all time .
Veteran filmmaker Anil Sharma, best known for directing the blockbuster Gadar franchise, has called 14 July the 'best day' of his life — a date that marks both the anniversary of his first directorial shot and his daughter's birthday. On this day in 1980, Sharma canned his opening scene as a director for his debut film Shradhanjali, starring Rakhee Gulzar.
The Instagram Post That Started It All
Sharma took to Instagram to share the occasion, posting the film's poster alongside a photograph of himself cutting a birthday cake with his daughter Kairvina, who shares the same birth date. In his caption, he wrote: '14 July best day of my life .. this day two most beautiful things happened .. first 46 year back 14 July 1980 I took first shot as director .. #SHRADHDHANJLI with Rakhee Gulzar ji .. god willing became big HIT...' He added: 'n also 14 July is my little daughter kairvina's birthday... a best moment god has given me. Happiest birthday my love... little laughter @ Kairvina...'
About Shradhanjali
Shradhanjali, released in 1981, also featured Suresh Oberoi and Deepak Parashar in key roles. The film centres on a woman who leaves a painful past behind and remarries, only to face a wrenching choice — aborting her own child to raise her husband's younger brother. The debut went on to become a hit, setting Sharma on a path that would eventually lead to some of Hindi cinema's biggest commercial successes.
Anil Sharma's Recent Work
Sharma's most recent directorial venture is Vanvaas, a family drama starring Nana Patekar, Utkarsh Sharma, Simrat Kaur, Rajpal Yadav, Khushbu Sundar, and Ashwini Kalsekar. The film explores themes of sacrifice, emotional bonds, and the pressures modern families face in staying united.
The Gadar Legacy
Before Vanvaas, Sharma delivered Gadar 2 — the sequel to the iconic Gadar: Ek Prem Katha — featuring Sunny Deol, Ameesha Patel, and Utkarsh Sharma reprising their original roles, alongside Simrat Kaur, Manisha Wadhwa, and Gaurav Chopra. Set against the backdrop of the Indo-Pakistani War of 1971, the sequel follows Tara Singh as he returns to Pakistan to rescue his imprisoned son Jeete. Gadar 2 ranked as the fourth highest-grossing Indian film of 2023, the tenth highest-grossing Hindi film of all time, and the fifth highest-grossing Hindi film in India. From a debut shot in 1980 to a record-breaking sequel four decades later, Sharma's career arc remains one of Hindi cinema's more remarkable stories.
Point of View
But it quietly underlines something the industry rarely acknowledges: the long, unglamorous runway between a debut and a blockbuster. Shradhanjali in 1981 and Gadar in 2001 are separated by two decades of mid-tier films — a reminder that overnight success in Hindi cinema is almost always a retrospective illusion. That Gadar 2 then broke box-office records in 2023 makes the arc even more instructive. The more interesting question mainstream coverage skips is what the Gadar formula — patriotism, family, spectacle — says about the audience that keeps returning to it.
NationPress
14 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Shradhanjali and why is Anil Sharma talking about it?
Shradhanjali is Anil Sharma's 1981 debut directorial film starring Rakhee Gulzar, Suresh Oberoi, and Deepak Parashar. Sharma marked 14 July 2025 as the 46th anniversary of shooting his first scene as a director on that film, calling the date the 'best day' of his life.
Who stars in Anil Sharma's debut film Shradhanjali?
Shradhanjali stars Rakhee Gulzar in the lead role, alongside Suresh Oberoi and Deepak Parashar. The film was released in 1981 and was a commercial hit.
What is Anil Sharma's latest film?
Anil Sharma's latest directorial release is Vanvaas, a family drama featuring Nana Patekar, Utkarsh Sharma, Simrat Kaur, Rajpal Yadav, Khushbu Sundar, and Ashwini Kalsekar. The film explores sacrifice and emotional bonds within modern families.
How did Gadar 2 perform at the box office?
Gadar 2 was the fourth highest-grossing Indian film of 2023, the tenth highest-grossing Hindi film of all time, and the fifth highest-grossing Hindi film in India. It stars Sunny Deol, Ameesha Patel, and Utkarsh Sharma.
Why does Anil Sharma consider 14 July the best day of his life?
Anil Sharma considers 14 July the best day of his life because it marks two personal milestones: the day in 1980 when he took his first shot as a film director for Shradhanjali, and the birthday of his daughter Kairvina.
