Latest news with #Asrani
News18
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- News18
When Asrani Was Asked To Act Like Hitler By Ramesh Sippy In Sholay
Asrani shared how Ramesh Sippy guided him to craft Sholay's eccentric jailer, taking inspiration from Hitler's style of delivery. Ramesh Sippy's 1975 blockbuster Sholay turned 50 on August 15, solidifying its place as one of India's all-time classics. It has transcended the decades to become a larger-than-life cultural phenomenon. Every line, song, and shot remains alive in public memory, recalling generation after generation. Among its most unforgettable parts is Asrani's eccentric jailer, a character who became iconic despite having limited screen time. Speaking to BBC News Hindi, Asrani revisited how he landed the role and the unusual direction he received from filmmaker Ramesh Sippy. How Asrani Got The Role The seasoned thespian remembered the first encounter. 'I was called by Ramesh Sippy. I didn't know what role he was calling me for. In fact, I didn't even know that they were making a film called Sholay," Asrani remembered. At the office, he met Salim-Javed with a script. Sippy defined the role: 'This fellow is a jailer. He's a foolish guy, he imagines himself to be very clever, but he isn't. So he attempts to boast and play the part of a very authoritarian jailer. How would you do it?" At first, Asrani proposed wearing the uniform to discover the character. But Sippy had other plans. Hitler As An Unexpected Reference Asrani remembered how Sippy had given him a book with World War II pictures. 'He opened a book on the Second World War that contained nine poses of Hitler. I said, 'Oh my god, is this a role of Hitler?' They said, 'No, it's not Hitler, but this man acts like him, speaks like him,'" he told. Sippy continued: 'Forget about the wardrobe, just hold this in mind: Hitler, when he was around, was inspiring one whole generation of youngsters through his speeches and words. People were willing to kill themselves for him. That's the sort of influence this character has to leave. The director then turned his attention to the voice. 'Hitler's voice recordings are used in acting schools everywhere. The most important thing is the rise and fall in his voice. Ramesh Sippy said to me, 'We have to introduce that rise and fall in these dialogues,'" Asrani said. Legacy Of The Performance Once he had put on the wig, moustache, and uniform, Asrani delivered a monologue in character, and Sippy approved of it then and there. To this day, he attributes his performance to the director's imagination and Salim-Javed's script. Today, August 15th, as Sholay is celebrating 50 years, I must tell you—there has not been a single function or event where I have not been requested to deliver those dialogues. It's all because of Sippy Saab's direction and Salim-Javed's writing," he said. In another line with the same intent, Asrani added that no party he ever goes to fails to have people asking him to repeat those lines. He called the job a masterclass in preparation and acting's lifetime lesson. view comments First Published: Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
Indian Express
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Indian Express
Ramesh Sippy told Asrani to take inspiration from Hitler for his role in Sholay: ‘He's a foolish character…'
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. Exclusive | Dharmendra says Sholay is not his all-time favourite, chooses this lesser-known film '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.' Also Read | Sholay turns 50: Thakur's consuming obsession with vengeance destroyed so much and yielded so little 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.'
Time of India
08-08-2025
- Entertainment
- Time of India
50 years of 'Sholay': When the screen went dark during its screening at Minerva theatre in Mumbai and how director Ramesh Sippy saved the day
Bollywood's timeless classic, 'Sholay,' is celebrating its 50th anniversary this year. The film, which was released on August 15, 1975, forever changed Indian cinema and remains a cultural touchstone. Director Ramesh Sippy recently shared some fascinating behind-the-scenes stories about the film's early days, including a near-disaster that he personally averted. The iconic movie, which was initially met with slow ticket sales before becoming a phenomenal success through word-of-mouth, faced an unexpected technical glitch on its opening day. H ere's a walk down the memory lane as 'Sholay' completes 50 years this year. Screen goes blank during screening of 'Sholay' In a throwback interview with NDTV, Sippy recalled the film's initial premiere at Mumbai's iconic Minerva Theatre. He recounted a day when the screen suddenly went dark, though the audio continued to play. Surprisingly, the audience remained completely engrossed, listening intently to the dialogues. Upon investigation, Sippy discovered that the projector's carbon wasn't being changed on time, causing the frequent blackouts. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like The Most Beautiful Women In The World Undo To ensure uninterrupted screenings, Sippy took it upon himself to personally visit the theater daily to deliver fresh carbon. During an appearance on the chat show The Invincibles, the director also discussed the film's duration and box office performance. Sholay was released during the Emergency, when four-show schedules meant that the first screening had to start at 9 a.m. and night shows had to end by midnight. Sippy also shed light on the initial struggles of 'Sholay,' which was first considered a box office failure. However, it was positive word-of-mouth that turned the tide. Unauthorized cuts and backlash from the audience for 'Sholay' Sippy also revealed a little-known fact about the film's initial run. The director spoke about a tough decision to cut 20 minutes from the film to shorten its runtime, which was a common request at the time. Sippy revealed that comedy tracks featuring Asrani and Jagdeep were removed, a move that did not sit well with the audience. People who had seen the original cuts began demanding the scenes back. "We were told to chop out 20 minutes from the film, but we were perplexed as to what can be cut from the film," Sippy added in reference to the movie's length impacting collections. "We did decrease the length of the film by 20 minutes, as we were told to remove the comedy tracks of Asrani and Jagdeep." The runtime was reduced to 180 minutes after the edits. The changes, however, did not sit well with the audiences. According to Sippy, "There were some people in the audience who had seen these tracks in earlier shows." "When they discussed it with their friends, and the latter didn't see it in new shows, they started demanding those scenes," he continued. About 'Sholay' The film's ensemble cast, featuring cinematic legends like Amitabh Bachchan, Dharmendra, Hema Malini, Jaya Bachchan, and Sanjeev Kumar, along with Amjad Khan in his career-defining role as the villain Gabbar Singh, created an unforgettable cinematic experience.
Yahoo
28-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Mimico residents vow to keep pressure on Metrolinx to make local GO station accessible
South Etobicoke residents are vowing to continue the pressure on Metrolinx to make the GO station in their area more accessible, despite reassurances from the provincial transit agency that improvements are coming. On Tuesday, residents gathered near the Mimico GO station to demand that Metrolinx begin work as soon as possible. A Metrolinx representative told residents at the demonstration that the Ontario government has awarded a contract to begin the design phase of planned accessibility upgrades at the station. There is no start date for construction. Rozhen Asrani, president of the Mimico Residents Association, said Tuesday that residents have been waiting for Metrolinx to break ground on accessibility updates to the station for about a decade. Previous projects to make the station more accessible were linked to larger developments of the area that included housing. Two projects collapsed, one in 2023 and one in 2012. "The community is very frustrated. Patience has run out. It's been a decade of a lack of accessibility and multiple failed promises by Metrolinx," Asrani said. There is no elevator at the station. "It's difficult to get to," said Asrani. "There are all kinds of issues for people who use strollers, have mobility constraints, bicycles they are trying to get up and down the stairs. There are lots of barriers." Asrani said residents were promised by Metrolinx that the station would be fully accessible by 2023 but that did not happen. Now, she said, there are no new project completion dates and no clear timelines. Asrani said that's unacceptable and is violation of the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA). The community is growing and residents deserve to have an accessible transit station, she added. "An announcement of a contract is great, but what we really need is shovels in the ground and actual timelines," Asrani said. Contract awarded to begin planning, Metrolinx says In a statement on Tuesday, Metrolinx noted that the Ontario Ministry of Transportation announced on May 14 that a contract was awarded for "design development and construction management services to support accessibility upgrades and other enhancements at Mimico GO." Metrolinx added: "The station improvement project will provide better connections and improved amenities to ensure a seamless and barrier-free experience for customers travelling across the GO network. When the development phase is complete, Metrolinx said the contractor will submit a proposed construction schedule and associated costs. If approved, a construction contract will be awarded, at which point project timelines will be more clearly defined, Metrolinx said. Metrolinx said it is "fully committed" to meeting its obligations under the AODA and the Integrated Accessibility Standards Regulation. 'People are feeling a bit disappointed,' MPP says Lee Fairclough, MPP for Etobicoke Lakeshore, said the community is concerned because accessibility upgrades have been delayed for years. A person who arrives at the station in a wheelchair would not be able to get down from the platform, she said. Someone using a walker or crutches would have to navigate steep stairs, she said. "People are feeling a bit disappointed," Fairclough said. "Glad that we're moving ahead... But as a community and as a representative, we're going to keep on making sure there is pressure to make it happen." Fairclough said Metrolinx is taking full responsibility for ensuring that the station will be accessible. "I think that gives some encouragement to the community that this is going to happen," she said. The residents association has gathered nearly 1,000 signatures on a petition to have Metrolinx start construction this year, and Fairclough says she plans to table the petition formally at Queen's Park on Wednesday. Improvements overdue, says councillor Coun. Amber Morley, who represents Etobicoke-Lakeshore, said collaboration is needed and the accessibility improvements are overdue. In the past three years, Morley said she has told Metrolinx repeatedly that the community is frustrated and pointed out that previous agreements with private developers have been ineffective. "We've all come to a space where we understand and appreciate those challenges but are very focused on moving forward and delivering for community," she said. In its statement, Metrolinx said the proposed improvements at the station include: A new east connection with elevator and stair access to the platform level, with customer access from both sides of the rail corridor. A new south entrance at Manchester Street and Blue Goose Street with elevator and stair connections to the platforms. Platform upgrades, including "tactile walking surface indicators" at the edge of the platform. Accessibility and customer experience upgrades to platforms and shelters.
