'Don't Cast Amitabh Bachchan': Sholay Director Was WARNED Of Big B's Flops At Seeta Aur Geeta Jubilee Bash
This month marks 50 years since the release of Sholay, the 1975 film that became a milestone in Hindi cinema. While the movie is celebrated for its action, unforgettable dialogues, and iconic characters, one cannot overlook Amitabh Bachchan, who played the calm and composed Jai in the legendary Jai-Veeru duo.
Before Sholay, Bachchan had yet to make a mark at the box office. Many industry insiders even warned director Ramesh Sippy against casting him. 'When we were celebrating the jubilee of Seeta Aur Geeta (1972) with a party at home, a lot of people came there. They were whispering and advising me not to take him because he had a row of flops before that. They said, 'Don't make that mistake, young man! Don't do it,'" Sippy recalled.
Despite the warnings, Sippy felt Amitabh was the right choice. 'There was something about him that he felt right. There were a couple of good films in those that didn't work. In Anand (1971), Rajesh Khanna's role was far more expressive, and he (Bachchan) was the quiet man. But I don't think it would've worked if either of them hadn't worked. It's because he worked as the silent man that the other character got to take off," said Sippy.
Sippy also praised Amitabh's versatility. Recalling Bombay To Goa (1972), he said, 'Being such a huge guy, you could still see how his body movement was so free. He was so overpowering you might not remember the song, but you remember him because of the way he moved around, there was no awkwardness. There should've been because he could feel it. But he had to blend himself, look right, and have the rhythm while singing away."
Javed Akhtar also noticed Amitabh's talent during his comic action sequences. 'So when I saw these two contrasting characters and films, I felt here's a person who has the potential. Now, I already had so many accomplished stars… So let me take a chance with one, and it paid off," Sippy added.
By the time Sholay released, Amitabh had already found commercial success with hits like Zanjeer (1973) and Deewaar (1975). Yet his understated performance as Jai proved that subtlety could shine, leaving an indelible mark on Hindi cinema history.
Sholay (1975) tells the story of two friends, Jai and Veeru, who are hired by a retired police officer, Thakur Baldev Singh, to catch the feared bandit Gabbar Singh. Set in the village of Ramgarh, the film mixes action, drama, and comedy, and its characters, dialogues, and songs have made it a timeless classic in Hindi cinema.
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