Gadar 2 star Sunny Deol teared up at the 54th International Film Festival of India in Goa on Tuesday during a conversation on his film journey with his three frequent collaborators — filmmakers Rahul Rawail, Anil Sharma and Rajkumar Santoshi.

“I just get very emotional,” said the 66-year-old actor, with tears welling up in his eyes as he responded to a remark from Rajkumar Santoshi, with whom he has worked in several superhit films like Ghayal and Damini. “The story is so tough, it needed the strength to melt iron. But Sunny remained the same emotional person that he is. And I think I’ve done a good job at utilising this aspect of his personality in my films,” said Santoshi.

“I still remember when I met the army and air force officers. They expressed their sheer belief in me and that made me look at my career with positivity,” Sunny recounted during his interaction with Gadar 2 director Anil Sharma. “I always thought that when Tara Singh’s character would return to the big screen, flames would erupt in the hearts of Indians,” Sharma added.

The conversation took on a lighter note with the three directors and Sunny speculating on a third instalment of Gadar raking in Rs 5,000 crore. “You’ll see, I’ll make such a film that it will mint Rs 5,000 crore!” quipped Sharma. Santoshi, who joined in the banter, later added: “Whenever I discuss making a film with Sunny, my only aim is for it to be a good film. Figures follow.”

Gadar 2 marked Sunny’s return as Tara Singh and Ameesha Patel as Sakina after the 2001 film Gadar - Ek Prem Katha.

The 54th International Film Festival of India began in Goa on November 20 and will wrap up on November 28.