Sholay Turns 50: One of Bollywood’s most iconic films, Sholay, has clocked 50 years since its release. The film starred Amitabh Bachchan, Dharmendra, Hema Malini, Amjad Khan and Jaya Bachchan, among others,
in iconic roles. To this day, only a rare few Indian films have matched the cult status that Sholay has achieved over the years. Given the film’s legacy, should there be a remake? Hema Malini thinks that while a remake is possible, it won’t be able to replicate the success of the original film.
Sholay Can Be Remade, But Its Success Cannot Be Repeated: Hema Malini
Hema Malini told the Hindustan Times, “Remake ho sakte hai, kyun nahi ho sakti (A remake can happen, why not). But woh aage 50 saal chalega ya nahi chalega woh guarantee nahi hai (But whether it will stand the test of time for the next 50 years or not, there’s no guarantee).”
She added, “Sholay has a legacy, and it is iconic. People remember each and every dialogue of the film. New actors also wish to perform those roles, so they should.” However, Hema cautioned that while the film can be remade, its success cannot be replicated.
Hema explained, “Just like you can’t repeat Godfather, you can’t repeat the success of Sholay. You can repeat the story, but not the success. Whether people are going to accept and how they are going to accept is something to be seen.”
A Film Like Sholay Is Made Only Once: Hema Malini
Citing Ramayana and Mahabharata as examples, Hema said, “They are all great epics. So many interpretations have been made on the same, some for the big screen and some for the small screen. BR Chopra’s Ramayan worked so well, but that is not true for every version. Some came and vanished without even being noticed. So, it depends on the mood of the people at that time and how well you have made it. Sholay jaisi film sirf ek baar banti hai.”
Sholay Has Become An Iconic Film: Hema Malini
Recalling the time she shot for the film, Hema said, “I have such fond memories of working with everyone. People ask me about my best memories, but we never thought that we were supposed to remember anything. We all worked in Sholay like we do in other films. We have worked in several films, and Sholay was also one such film. Today, Sholay has become an iconic film… So when we look back, there are many pleasant and beautiful memories of working with all those stalwarts.”
Hema shared, “At that time, we all were just starting (our careers)… Like Amitji was also upcoming in those days. Except for Dharmji and Sanjeev ji, all the other actors were upcoming. Today, we all have achieved so much… It shows how things change and where we all have reached today from the Sholay days.”
Sholay: Cast, Plot, Box Office Collection
The 1975 Indian epic action-adventure was directed by Ramesh Sippy, produced by G. P. Sippy, and written by the acclaimed duo Salim–Javed. The story follows two criminals, Veeru (Dharmendra) and Jai (Amitabh Bachchan), who are hired by a retired police officer (Sanjeev Kumar) to capture the notorious dacoit Gabbar Singh (Amjad Khan). The film also stars Hema Malini and Jaya Bhaduri as the love interests Basanti and Radha, respectively. The music score was composed by R. D. Burman.
Filming took place over two and a half years, starting in October 1973, in the rugged landscapes of Ramanagara, Karnataka. After the Central Board of Film Certification required cuts to several violent scenes, Sholay was released with a runtime of 198 minutes. The original director’s cut, running 204 minutes, became available on home media in 1990.
Upon its initial release, the film received mixed critical reviews and modest box office returns. However, strong word-of-mouth helped it gain popularity, eventually turning it into a major commercial success. Sholay set records for continuous screenings across Indian cinemas, notably running for over five years at Mumbai’s Minerva Theatre. The film also found success internationally, especially in the Soviet Union. At the time, Sholay was the highest-grossing Indian film ever and remained so until the release of Hum Aapke Hain Koun..! in 1994.
