Fact Check: No, President Murmu Did Not Request Special Screening of Gadar 2

Several media outlets reported on Friday that a special screening of the Bollywood film Gadar 2 was being arranged at the Rashtrapati Bhavan upon the request of President Droupadi Murmu. The reports quoted the film's director and producer, Anil Sharma, stating that they received a call from the censor board informing them of the President's desire to watch the film. The director expressed happiness over this "special request" and confirmed that the screening would take place on Sunday.

However, on Sunday, the Indian government's fact-check unit refuted the claims made in these media reports. The fact-check clarification categorically labeled the film's screening as a routine occurrence at the Rashtrapati Bhavan and additionally stated that President Murmu would not be attending the event.

In a tweet, the Press Information Bureau's (PIB) fact-checking unit labeled the claim as 'fake,' stating, "It is a regular screening that happens in Rashtrapati Bhavan and President had not wished for any such special screening." The tweet also included a screenshot of one of the media reports and highlighted that the President would not be present at the screening.

Gadar 2 is the sequel to the 2001 blockbuster film Gadar: Ek Prem Katha. The movie, starring Sunny Deol and Ameesha Patel, has gained considerable success at the box office. The film delves into the legacy of the protagonists Tara Singh and Sakeena, set against the backdrop of the tumultuous Crush India Movement of 1971. Tara Singh embarks on a journey to Pakistan to rescue his son, Charan Jeet Singh (played by Utkrash Sharma), from the clutches of the Pakistani Army.

In 2001, Anil Sharma directed the romantic-action drama Gadar: Ek Prem Katha, which was set during the Partition of India. The film was a massive success at the box office and featured the late Amrish Puri in a significant role. The story revolves around Tara Singh (portrayed by Sunny), a Sikh truck driver from Amritsar, who falls in love with Sakina (portrayed by Ameesha), a Muslim girl from a political family in Lahore, Pakistan.