Ramesh Sippy Revisits Sholay’s Making And Mourns The Icons It Lost

MUMBAI -Filmmaker Ramesh Sippy, the visionary behind Bollywood’s landmark film Sholay, revisited the iconic classic at the 56th International Film Festival of India (IFFI) on November 27. Speaking at a session titled “50 Years of Sholay: Why Sholay Still Resonates”, Sippy opened up about the film’s creative choices, unforgettable characters, and the stars the industry has lost over the years.

One of the highlights of the session was Sippy’s revelation about how Amjad Khan came to play the legendary dacoit Gabbar Singh. “Amjad Khan himself was a discovery,” he said, recalling that he had once seen him perform in a play but had forgotten about him until writers Salim–Javed suggested his name. Amjad landed the role only because Danny Denzongpa, originally cast as Gabbar, was in Afghanistan shooting with Feroz Khan and couldn’t return in time. “Danny’s absence gave birth to Amjad Khan as Gabbar, and the rest is history,” Sippy remarked, adding that Amjad’s natural UP-style accent suited the character perfectly.

Sippy also discussed the film’s now-iconic rocky terrain that became synonymous with Gabbar’s territory. Breaking away from the traditional Chambal and Rajasthan backdrops used in earlier dacoit films, the team ventured south and discovered a stark, rugged landscape about 50 km from Bangalore. “I just stood there and felt, ‘this is the right place.’ No set could have created that,” he said, crediting art director M.R. Achrekar for suggesting the location.

The filmmaker then turned emotional as he remembered Dharmendra, who passed away on November 24 after a prolonged period of ill health. “Three out of six great actors of Sholay — Sanjeev Kumar, Amjad Khan, and now Dharmendra — are no more. We definitely miss them,” Sippy said.

Released in 1975, Sholay featured an iconic ensemble including Amitabh Bachchan, Dharmendra, Sanjeev Kumar, Amjad Khan, Jaya Bachchan, and Hema Malini. Five decades later, its characters — Jai, Veeru, Basanti, Thakur, and Gabbar — continue to remain etched in Indian cinema’s collective memory. (IANS)