[6] The film received mixed to positive reviews from critics, garnered praise towards the dramatic and confrontation sequences, soundtrack and the performances, particularly of Deol, Patel and Puri.

[11] A sequel titled Gadar 2 was released on 11 August 2023 with Deol, Patel and Sharma reprising their roles, and the film became a commercial blockbuster at the box office.

In retaliation, radical Hindus and Sikhs attacked Muslims migrating from India by train to West Punjab in Pakistan.

During the Hindu-Muslim riots that erupted soon after the partition, a truck driver named Tara Singh also plans to kill Muslims but stops after recognizing his college friend Sakina Ali from the little Taj Mahal antique in her hands.

Tara Singh defends Sakina by applying blood (implying Sindoor) to her forehead to make her his Sikh wife.

When performing on the music show, Sakina announces that she will not do her act and instead gives a chance for Tara to sing despite being against the seniors' will at the college.

While returning home after completing the final year, Tara gives Sakina a Taj Mahal antique as a farewell present.

The bewildered twins ask them about the pouches, and Jaideep tells them that the sisters should not hesitate to give up their lives lest any Muslim attacks.

Tara's sisters hastily try to eat the poison, but two men throw it from their hands and kill them after cruel physical abuse.

Enraged, the Hindus and Sikhs formed a strong squad in East Punjab and retaliated in the same manner along with Tara and massacred every Muslim in Amritsar station trying to flee to Pakistan.

After reaching the border and realizing her love for him, Sakina proposes to Tara, and they get married and become parents of a baby boy named Charanjeet "Jeete" Singh.

Their life seems like a bed of roses until Sakina sees an old newspaper during Holi festival which has a photograph of her father Ashraf Ali and realizes that her parents are alive.

However, Tara and their son Jeete, who is supposed to accompany her to Lahore, are told at the last minute that their visa formalities have not been completed, which compels them to stay in India.

After some time, Sakina says that she wants to return to India, but her mother tells her that she is about to be disowned as people are babbling about her staying with an Indian Jatt.

Tara tries to take shelter in Gulkhan (Mushtaq Khan), his step-brother's house but leaves the place with Jeete and Darmiyaan.

Tara, Sakina, Jeete, and Darmiyaan manage to escape from the city and hide in a poor couple's cottage near the border forest.

[15] Ruchi Sharma of Rediff wrote "Gadar - Ek Prem Katha comes close to being fantastic, even though it is overheated in bits.

[16] Taran Adarsh gave 3 out of 5 stars and wrote "On the whole, GADAR is worth the watch for its brilliant dramatic and confrontation sequences, splendid performances and touching moments that overpower the two flaws in the film ?

Actress Shabana Azmi defended the film's right of exhibition stating, "The movie reinforces the canard that every Muslim is a Pakistani.

[22] An uncut and extended version remastered in 4K resolution and Dolby Atmos sound was given a limited theatrical re-release by Zee Studios on 9 June 2023.

[23][24] A sequel titled Gadar 2 was announced on 15 October 2021 with the release of a motion poster starring Sunny Deol, Ameesha Patel and Utkarsh Sharma in the lead roles.