Ishika Gagneja, who has done films like Dangal and Dhadak, will be seen next in a pivotal role in Sunny Deol, Diljit Dosanjh, and Varun Dhawan’s Border 2. Ishika plays Sukhminder Sekhon, the sister of Nirmal Jit Singh Sekhon, who is portrayed by Diljit Dosanjh, in the film. Sharing her experience on the first day on set she says, ”We shot the film in Amritsar, and before starting the shoot, I went to Golden Temple to seek Waheguru Ji’s blessings. It gave me a lot of peace and positivity while going into the project.” She adds, “I was extremely nervous and excited on my first day on the set. We shot my introduction scene that day, and it was an incredible experience. Diljit Sir was very supportive and kind throughout the filming. He is a superstar in his own right, an incredible singer, and at the same time, he is an extremely down-to-earth person, which makes him special.” Sharing more about her role in the film, Ishika says, “I had an amazing experience working on this project. Being part of the sequel to such an iconic film was incredibly special. Playing a member of an Indian Air Force officer’s family is both an honour and a huge responsibility, and I gave my best to do justice to the part.”
When JP Dutta’s Border was released, Ishika was not even born. Talking about her earliest memory of the film, she says, “Border was released before I was born, but I remember listening to its songs while growing up. I watched the film a few years ago and remember feeling so many emotions at once. It makes you cry with pain and feel immense pride at the same time. Since then, I have watched the film multiple times.” Ishika is portraying a young girl from Punjab in the 1970s. The look was kept simple and authentic to the time and place. After three rounds of auditions, Ishika got this role through casting director Mukesh Chhabra. When asked about her experience of working with director Anurag Singh, Ishika says, “Anurag Sir is an incredibly talented director. He is very clear about what he wants, while also giving his actors a lot of space to bring their own creativity to the role. He is a genius, and I cannot wait for the world to see the masterpiece he has created. I know there will be comparisons between the two films, but according to me, Border is an iconic film, and Border 2 is not competing with it. Instead, it is taking its legacy forward by telling the stories of Indian Armed Forces officers and their families. I truly hope people love our film as much as we loved creating it for them. This film is made to honour and celebrate the Indian Armed Forces and inspire generations to come.”
