Filmmaker Ramesh Sippy Reveals In KBC 13 How Dream Cast Of Iconic 'Sholay' Was Assembled

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Mumbai, October 16 - Legendary filmmaker Ramesh Sippy along with dream girl Hema Malini appeared in Amitabh Bachchan hosted Kaun Banega Crorepati 13 as special guests for the 'Shaandaar Shukravaar' episode. The iconic trio remembered the good old days of "Sholay" which is considered a benchmark film in Indian cinema.

During the special episode, Sippy, who directed the iconic "Sholay" (1975) revealed that why he chose Hema Malini for the role of Basanti and how did he think about 'Jai-Veeru' played by Amitabh Bachchan and Dharmendra respectively.



"See, Hema Ji in her first film with me had portrayed the role of a young widow and in the second film, 'Seeta Aur Geeta', she surprised us. So, for the role of 'Basanti', I felt that no one can do it apart from her", the filmmaker told Big B.

"Also, there was one more thing. When we completed 'Seeta Aur Geeta' and it became successful, it is then when we decided whatever I make after this, Dharam Ji, Hema Ji, and Sanjeev Ji must be there. And as the script of 'Sholay' was shaping up, it was fitting perfectly", he added.

Ramesh Sippy, who directed Big B in three more films after "Sholay", further revealed how he thought of Jai-Veeru and who suggested him to pick Amitabh Bachchan who wasn't a big star at that time. "We had 'Veeru', he was there in the last film, too. So, there was one thing that I had thought about is that we have three superstars and if I get one more superstar, it would be difficult for me, only".



"So, then I thought I need a good actor, who does good work and becomes a team. Because when Salim-Javed suggested Amit Ji for this role, saying there's one 'Amitabh Bachchan' who's doing good work and is working with us in 'Zanjeer'. I said ok, that's good. And, then I thought that he's not a star at the moment so I won't have that problem that there's one more star on the set", he said.

The filmmaker also said that Big B did a great job in "Anand" and then "Bombay to Goa". He also remembered the dance by Big B in a bus in the film "Bombay to Goa" and got the idea of picking Big B. "I felt this seems to be an actor who can do anything. So, he will be able to give us what we want. That's how the casting was done", he added.

To all that Sippy said, Amitabh acknowledges and responded: "Thank you very much, Sir". Replying to this, Sippy shared: "You proved it. And by the time the film released, you became the biggest star".

"Sholay" was released on Independence day in 1975 and was the highest-grossing Indian film at that time. It also starred Sanjeev Kumar as Thakur Baldev Singh, Amjad Khan as Gabbar Singh, Jaya Bhaduri, Iftekhar, Asrani, Jagdeep, Leela Mishra, among others.

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