Ramesh Sippy told Asrani to take inspiration from Hitler for his role in Sholay: ‘He's a foolish character…'

Indian Express

2 days ago

Sholay turns 50 today, a milestone for a film that has only grown stronger with time. Since its release in 1975, Ramesh Sippy's cult classic has evolved into a generational phenomenon, transcending the boundaries of cinema to become a cultural touchstone. Even the most trivial line of dialogue, every minor scene, every lesser-known song, each has found its place in the hearts of millions. The moments that were popular back then have only gained more resonance over time, becoming even more beloved with each passing year.
Among those unforgettable moments is actor Asrani's portrayal of the eccentric jailer, a character that has long outlived the screen time he was given. Despite having a prolific career in Indian cinema, Asrani continues to be adored for this brief but iconic role. In a recent conversation with BBC News Hindi, the veteran actor looked back at how the role came to him and how he prepared for it.
Asrani said, 'Ramesh Sippy called me. I had no idea what role he wanted to talk about. In fact, I didn't even know that a film named Sholay was being made. So I went to his office, and there were Salim-Javed sitting there, Ramesh Sippy was there too, and in their hands was a script with dialogues written on it. He told me: 'This character is a jailer. He's a foolish character, he thinks he's very smart, but he's actually not. So he tries to show off and act like a very powerful jailer. How would you do it?'' Asrani recalled how he initially suggested putting on the jailer's uniform to get into character, but Sippy had something more specific in mind.
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'He said, 'No. Look at this book.' He opened a book on the Second World War that had nine poses of Hitler. I said, 'Oh my god, is this a Hitler role?' They said, 'No, it's not Hitler, but this man behaves like him, talks like him. Forget the outfit, just remember this: Hitler, in his time, influenced an entire generation of youth with his speeches and expressions. People were ready to die for him. That's the kind of impact this character needs to have.''
Asrani went on to describe how the character's voice and delivery were developed. 'They then narrated the dialogues to me and asked how I would bring the voice. Let me tell you here, Hitler's voice recordings are played in acting schools around the world. The key element is the rise and fall in his voice. Ramesh Sippy told me, 'We need to bring that same rise and fall into these dialogues.'' After donning the costume, wig, and signature moustache, Asrani was asked to walk around the studio in character. 'Then they asked, 'How will you say the lines?' So I performed the full monologue right there.'
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Even after five decades, the character continues to resonate with audiences. Asrani acknowledges that the role was a masterclass in character preparation, thanks to the vision of the film's makers. 'Today, on August 15th, as Sholay completes 50 years, I can tell you—there has not been a single function or event where I haven't been asked to recite those dialogues. It's all because of Sippy saab's direction and the writing of Salim-Javed. I got a chance to learn how to truly prepare for a role, and what a lesson it was. I salute Ramesh Sippy saab, I salute Salim-Javed saab. Even after 50 years, people still remember that role and those lines by heart.'