Sholay@40: Celebs talk about the film

Bollywood's iconic film, Sholay, completes 40 glorious years on August 15, 2015. The film has achieved cult status over the years and is one of the most-watched Bollywood films ever. The film had all the makings of a Bollywood potboiler. From heavyweight dialogue to songs and emotions - the film featured the best of all worlds and set a benchmark in the industry. It is ironic then that the film wasn't successful at the box-office during the first week of its release. However, the positive word-of-mouth helped the film grow. So much so, that it is now impossible to talk about the glorious history of Hindi cinema without citing Sholay as an example. Even Bollywood actors agree. Let's take a look at what they have to say about the film...

Like many others, even Abhishek Bachchan is in awe of the iconic film. According to a PTI report, Abhishek, who was in Delhi to promote his upcoming film, All Is Well, said he was actually in his mother's womb when he went for the premiere of the film. "The thing I love about Sholay is even if you see it today, it's very contemporary. A lot of films age; I feel Sholay is ageless. It is as close to what we can get to a perfect masala potboiler that we have. Even if you see it today, it's very believable. It's an iconic film," Abhishek, was quoted as saying. He further added, "My entire childhood has been full of hearing stories of Salim-Javed uncle, Ramesh uncle, my parents; and those were such wonderful stories. I believe that the film was shot over three years. There were great anecdotes. Rohan, Ramesh uncle's son went to school with me and we did films together as well. Sholay is the greatest film we have ever made and we are very happy that it is here, 40 years down the line. To have made a film 40 years ago, that even today's youth can connect with is something that all of us would aspire to do at some point."

According to a PTI report, filmmaker, Karan Johar, remembered a childhood episode when he tried dancing on broken glass shards to the song 'Main nachungi...,' after seeing Hema Malini shake a leg on-screen. At the trailer launch of Shandaar, the Student Of The Year director was quoted as saying that, "Shahid and Alia were not even born when we all saw Sholay. I saw the film when it was in its sixth year. I saw two back-to-back shows. I saw it at 3 pm and cried because I wanted to see it again. So I saw the 6 pm show as well. I saw it nearly 100 times. My memory take away of Sholay is Hema Maliniji’s dance to ‘Jab tak hai jaan main nachungi’ on pieces of glass. I did attempt to dance on glass till my mother slapped me."

Karan thinks Sholay should be used to define Hindi cinema.

“Whenever I speak of Sholay internationally, I think we should not be called 'Bollywood' but Sholay as that is what defines us. We should rather say films of “pre-Sholay” and “post-Sholay.” It’s a textbook,” Karan said.

Salman Khan, whose father, Salim Khan, is one of the writers of Sholay, recently recalled his earliest memories about the film and said that he had attended the premiere with brother Arbaaz in Minerva theatre wearing his school uniform, reports PTI. "I remember we went to see the premiere of Sholay. Arbaaz and I were in Scindia School, so we were still dressed in our school blazers when our father took us there," Salman said, adding, "The film, surprisingly for two weeks, was a huge disaster. Apparently, they went back to shoot the climax to make Bachchan saab live in the movie. But after two weeks, it just took it to the next level. Sholay has some of the most memorable dialogues ever written in a Hindi film. Be it ‘Kitne aadmi the?’ by Gabbar, or ‘Tumhara naam kya hai Basanti?’ by Mr Bachchan and Dharmendra's ‘Basanti, in kutton ke saamne mat naachna’.” Salman further added that this was one film where "informatory lines" became hit dialogue. He also said that he always wanted to get lines like Sholay in his films.

Amitabh Bachchan played one of the most memorable characters of his career in Sholay. His Jai was the silent, brooding, simmering young man of the film. Many have tried to imitate his cool demeanour down the years but with little success. Talking about the film, Big B stated in a report that Sholay was a landmark film in every aspect. Right from stereophonic sound to the way to it was being shot in 70 mm; everything was being done in an attempt to bring Western production values to an Indian film. They also apparently had British coordinators for the action sequences.

From the lively Basanti of Sholay to a parliamentarian and a dynamic stage performer, Hema Malini has many feathers in her cap. The actress was quoted as saying in the report that, the film should not be remade and that they were born to be a part of Sholay. "I'm okay with every other movie being remade except Sholay. Sholay cannot and should not be remade ever. It is a classic, just like Mughal-E-Azam. I think we all were born to do Sholay. Each and every character in Sholay, especially the six main characters - I, Dharamji, Jaya, Amitji and Sanjeev Kumar - were born to do our respective parts in that movie, and the magic which the movie created at that time, cannot be repeated. Also we don't have such times now. Who will believe a village setting with dakus running around, destroying villages? And which girl would now like to wear a ghagra-choli? Even the so-called small town girls want to look modern and stylish. And people now travel by aeroplanes, tanga kahan chalta hai. Also, who will the director fit in our roles? No one will look convincing. I have no issues with any of my other films being remade, but not Sholay. The beauty of it will be lost."

Akshay Kumar: He modelled his last film Gabbar is Back around one of the dreaded villains of Hindi cinema in Sholay, but Akshay Kumar says it would be an injustice to remake the cult classic, which turns 40 this month. According to a PTI report, Akshay said Gabbar is Back was his way of paying a tribute to the 1975 hit, starring Amitabh Bachchan, Amjad Khan, Dharmendra, Sanjeev Kumar, Hema Malini and Jaya Bachchan. The film, directed by Ramesh Simppy, released on August 15, 1975. Asked whether he would like to play any particular role if the film was remade, Akshay said, "It will be injustice to remake Sholay. No actor can do justice to the roles played by Bachchan ji and Dharmendra ji. The film is very close to my heart and Gabbar is Back was the result of my attachment to Sholay."