Sholay at 50 | 8 interesting facts about the cult classic that changed Indian Cinema forever

Ramesh Sippy's Sholay, starring Amitabh Bachchan, Dharmendra, Hema Malini and Jaya Bachchan, was released in theatres 50 years ago on 15 August. 

Published on: Aug 14, 2025 6:56 PM IST

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Amitabh Bachchan and Dharmendra played Jai and Veeru respectively in Sholay. Jai and Veeru were named after Salim Khan's college friends, Veerandar Singh Bias and Jai Singh Rao Kalevar. Both have passed away.

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The shoot of Sholay was filled with many challenges and delays. The train robbery sequence in Sholay took about 20 days to film on the Mumbai-Pune line. (source: IMDb)

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Did you know writers Salim-Javed were initially keen to name the film ‘Aangarey’? Later on they decided on Sholay. That title was Salim Khan's idea.

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Javed Akhtar had proposed Amjad Khan's name for the film after having spotted him and his brother Imtiaz in the play Ai Mere Watan Ke Logo in 1963. Amjad had acted in a few films before, but Sholay was his first major film. (Hindustan Times) (HT_PRINT)

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Did you know that there was actually a dacoit named Gabbar Singh? He lived around Gwalior in the 1950's. Reports say, he used to cut off the noses and ears of policemen.

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Actor Jaya Bachchan, who played Thakur's widowed daughter-in-law was pregnant with daughter Shweta Bachchan during the shoot of Sholay. She was pregnant with son Abhishek Bachchan during the premiere of the film. 

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Sholay was inspired by Sergio Leone's westerns, as well as Akira Kurosawa's Seven Samurai and Bandidos. Some critics at the time even began calling it a curry western. (IMDB)

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Sholay was the first film in the history of Indian cinema which went on to mark a silver jubilee (25-week) initial release at over 100 theatres across India.