In 2013, Indian cinema marked its centenary. The country collectively produces hundreds of films every year, through its multiple regional movie industries. In its 112 years run, if one is to compile a top 10 list of the greatest Indian cinema, one movie that is almost guaranteed a slot in most of those would be Sholay. Released in 1975, this cult movie is marking its 50th year in 2025.
Recently, I sat with the director of the magnum opus, Ramesh Sippy, and spoke about his illustrious career in the industry in a freewheeling chat. Of course Sholay took up a lion’s share of our discussion, but there were other movies and aspects too.
Mr Sippy, born to the legendary GP Sippy and Mohini Sippy, was in his early 20s when he directed his first film, Andaz. The subject of the film, dare I say, was way ahead of its time — a love story featuring a married man and a married woman.
Asked about this choice, he says, “Well, because I wanted to be different.”
Mr Sippy says he wanted something more than song sequences and tree-hugging actors and experimented with the subject. It worked and the film was a super hit.
While he then went on to direct other acclaimed movies like Seeta Aur Geeta, Shaan, Shakti to name a few, nothing even reached the magnitude of Sholay — a film which also won plaudits from cinema icon Satyajit Ray. In fact, Ray was so impressed with the performance, he cast Amjad Khan in one of his movies later, Shatranj Ke Khiladi, along with his Sholay cast mate Sanjeev Kumar.
The film boasted of a stellar cast, led by the duo of Amitabh Bachchan and Dharmendra. Hema Malini, Jaya Bachchan, and the two other actors mentioned above completed the rest of the primary cast members.
Asked about the reactions of the actors upon hearing the script, Mr Sippy says, “Luckily for me, I had two fabulous writers — Salim (Khan) and Javed (Akhtar) — and they were very expressive as you know. So, the three of us would go and the actor, whoever, he or she, when we were face to face with this formidable force of three, got carried away by what we were talking about.
Genuinely, the script was very good and they probably never heard things like this before. So, they were all taken up and very happy, very excited to be able to do the film.
That’s why we managed to get all of them, such big names together in one film. (12:36) Except for Amjad (Khan), who was the new guy. That also happened because Danny Denzongpa was in Afghanistan shooting for Firoz Khan. So, that’s how it happened.”
To know more about the conversation, watch the Spotlight interview here.
