71. Sholay - Interesting tidbits on the Characters

Sholay was written in such a way that every character that you find in the movie leaves you with memories.  These author-backed characters acted as if the part was specially written for them only! A majority of them had a very small part in the movie, but thanks to the dialogues that they had to mouth, the have been heralded in fame!! 

I have provided below some interesting tidbits of some of the characters from the movie below.  I hope you too would have the same enjoyment as I had in collating these!!  The sources are the same as my previous blogs.

Once Viju Khote was walking on a road with his son.  Some people pointed out to him and began calling him as Kaalia, Kaalia.  The son got angry and told his father that he does not like that.  Viju Khote told him, because of Kaalia only we have refrigerators and TV’s in our home!! Without Kaalia, we would not have been where we are now!!  Viju Khote was immortalized by the dialogue – “Ab Tera Kya Hoga, Kaalia?” 

McMohan had to travel 27 times from Bangalore to Ramnagaram where Sholay was shot!!  Just for one major scene and other scenes where he just sits on the rock!!  His only dialogue in the movie – “Poore Pachchas Hazaar”!!

Jagdeep had never been to Bhopal before Sholay.  He had seen Javed Akhtar mimicking Bhopali women and picked his mannerism to enact his role as Soorma Bhopali!!  

Dhanno – I think, first time in the history of Indian cinema, the horse’s name became as famous as the other characters in the movie!!

When Hema Malini listened to the story, she asked the director, Ramesh Sippy, “why only 5-1/2 scenes for me?”  She had been the leading lady in Andaz and Seeta Aur Geeta, which was hemmed by the same director and she had excelled in both the movies.  Ramesh Sippy told her that this movie is of Thakur and Gabbar but don’t worry your role is interesting.  Later on, Hema Malini agreed to do the role with the knowledge that Ramesh Sippy would be fair to her!!

Hema Malini was also not able to learn the long dialogues that were to be delivered.  She was apparently hassled by it.  Javed Akhtar had to perform it for her and she simply copied Javed Akhtar!!

Apparently Shatrughan Sinha was being considered for Amitabh Bachchan’s role.  Amitabh had given about 9 consecutive flops and distributors did not want him in their movies.  Zanjeer had still not released by then.  Shatrughan had given 2 back-to-back hits and was of the opinion that he will get Amitabhs’ part.  But Salim-Javed were confident and told Ramesh Sippy that they believe in Amitabh and he has to play the second hero in the film.  Dharmendra also put in a word for Amitabh to Ramesh Sippy as a kind gesture. Ramesh Sippy agreed with Salim-Javed and Amitabh was given the role!!

Danny Denzongpa was selected to play Gabbar, after his performance as the wheel-chaired husband in Dhundh.  After the success of Dhundh he signed a lot of films.  This included Sholay and Dharmatma (unofficial Hindi remake of Godfather).  Unfortunately for him, the shooting for both films were to shoot from the same month.  Since Dharmatma was being shot in Afghanistan, Feroz Khan had secured all the necessary visas and bureaucratic permissions.  If the shooting did not start on time, it will be difficult to complete the film and he refused to let Danny go for Sholay.  Danny was also Feroz Khan’s friend and he understood the situation.  He refused Sholay and went to Afghanistan for shooting Dharmatma, thereby giving up becoming the Gabbar!!

When the story was narrated to the actors, all three, Sanjeev Kumar, Dharmendra and Amitabh wanted to do the other character’s role.  Sanjeev Kumar said he would do anything to do Gabbar’s role. But Ramesh Sippy had considered him to be the Thakur seeing his performances in Khilona, Koshish and Parichay.  During the course of the narration, it dawned on Sanjeev that there is too much violence in Gabbar’s behavior.  He disliked violence and he then agreed to stick with Thakur’s role.  

Dharmendra wanted to do Thakur’s role.  After the success of Seeta Aur Geeta, Ramesh Sippy wanted Dharmendra-Hema Malini pairing up in the movie. At that time, the real-life romance of Dharmendra and Hema Malini was blossoming.  Also, Sanjeev Kumar had proposed to Hema Malini once for marriage.  Ramesh Sippy told Dharmendra that if he wanted to act as Thakur then Sanjeev Kumar will play Veeru and in the film’s end, Veeru gets Hema Malini!!  That closed the chapter!! Dharmendra agreed to play Veeru!!   

Jaya Bhaduri had a lesser role than Hema Malini in the movie.  She was also not happy with such a miniscule role! Ultimately, she said Yes, as she would be with Amitabh Bachchan as they were dating each other that time!!

During the shooting, when Ramesh Sippy was in London, he chanced to hear Demi Roussos’s Say You Love Me.  He immediately contacted RD Burman to see if he can work on it to use in the film.  There was no place in the movie where the song could be fitted.  Then it was decided that since Gabbar was a dacoit, he had to purchase arms and ammunitions from somewhere.  So, they introduced a character called Hira who will supply the arms.  This will pave the way to include the song.  When it was told to Javed Akhtar, he said no way another song can come in the film as the continuity would be lost.  When he heard the song, he liked the song very much and suggested that since it is a very nice song, let it be picturised on Dharmendra and Hema Malini!!  Ramesh Sippy stood his ground and had the song introduced where it was meant to be.  The song went on to become Mehbooba-a Mehbooba!! As they say, the rest is history!!

Cheers!!  

Today’s Daffy Definition

Umbrella – A shelter for one and a shower-bath for two!!