Although the film turned out to be a major landmark in Bachchan’s career, it was initially a flop at the local box office. PHOTO: FILE
It set a trend of ‘bromance’, redefined the quintessential villain and introduced some epic live action in Bollywood. Top that with iconic dialogues and a memorable cast. Forty years since it hit the screens on August 15, 1975, Sholay continues to entertain due to its evergreen ‘victory of good over evil’ theme, says megastar Amitabh Bachchan, who essayed one half of Jai-Veeru.
During an interview the Bollywood legend took a trip down memory lane as he recollected his experience on sets and sharing his own thoughts about the movie.
Read: Sholay defines Hindi film industry: Karan Johar
Penned by the indomitable Salim Khan-Javed Akhtar duo, the movie is about two petty thieves — Jai (Amitabh) and Veeru (Dharmendra) hired by a police officer (Sanjeev Kumar) to exact revenge on a ruthless bandit (Amjad Khan). Hema Malini and Jaya Bhaduri essayed the love interests of Veeru and Jai.
According to Bachchan, the reason why the film has stood the test of time is its theme. “The victory of good over evil and...most importantly, poetic justice in three hours! You and I shall not get it in a lifetime,” he told.
Read: Big B gives nostalgia-filled photographic tour to fans on Facebook
Apart from that several iconic dialogues and characters also contributed in helping the film attain cult status. “It was a very well-scripted film and credit must go to the writers Salim-Javed first for its content. Ramesh Sippy ji as a director did many unconventional changes in its reproduction and its making - the location, the action coordination, camera work, 70 mm and the scale - I guess it all worked out fine,” he added.
Although the film turned out to be a major landmark in Amitabh Bachchan’s career, it was initially a flop at the local box office before transforming into a ravishing success over time.
“In this profession, we are programmed for failure and success. Yes, when an effort fails, we feel disappointed but get back on the horse to ride again. Our disappointment on this one lasted a day, because after that it converted itself into success.”
Despite delivering other notable hits during the 1970s such as Deawar and Zanjeer it was the writing duo of Salim Khan and Javed Akhtar that recommended Senior Bachchan to director Ramesh Sippy.
“Salim-Javed had just finished Zanjeer with me and recommended me to Ramesh ji. Guess that worked in my favour. I did, though, seek the blessings of Dharam-ji in putting in a word for me.”
Despite several directors and filmmaker – most notably Ram Gopal Varma – trying their hand to remake Sholay over the years all of them have failed. According to Bachchan, all of it boils down to how none of them have been able to recreate or recapture the ‘stature’ of the original.
“I believe several ‘Sholay’ remakes have been ventured into in some form or the other, but I doubt if they were able to create the iconic stature that the original did.”
40 years on from its release fans of the movie are still desperate to see the duo of Dharmendra and Amitabh Bachchan in a movie together. To which Bachchan replied that although that although they have been approached with such offers, none of them have ‘materialised’.
Published in The Express Tribune, August 15th, 2015.
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