Did you know Dharmendra helped Amitabh book 'Sholay'?
What's the story
The 1975 classic Sholay is still loved by fans. The film, starring Dharmendra and Amitabh Bachchan, was reportedly made possible because of He-Man's insistence on casting Big B. In an old interview with Rajat Sharma, Dharmendra had confirmed this. He noted that he had never spoken about it before, but now Bachchan was saying, "Dharam ji got me this role," so he could affirm. As the entire nation mourns Dharmendra's demise, here's a look at the great man's large heart.
Tribute
'I think he'll do a splendid job': Dharmendra about Bachchan
Dharmendra had told Sharma that Bachchan used to come to him in those days, and this led him to recommend the Anand actor's name to Ramesh Sippy. "To maine Ramesh Sippy ji ko kaha yeh naya ladka hai uski awaaz se to lagta hai bahut acha kaam karega..." and the rest is history. During previous events, Bachchan had extended his gratitude toward his senior star for this generosity.
Gratitude
'Dharam ji is the most wonderful friend...'
Big B had said at an awards show about the Dharam Veer star: "The most important and truly touching quality about Dharam ji is that he's the most wonderful friend and the most wonderful human you can ever come across." "If it wasn't for Dharam ji, I'd never have been working with him in Sholay. It was he who recommended my name for the film Sholay." Bachchan paid his last respect to Dharmendra by calling him the "epitome of greatness."
Film restoration
'Sholay - The Final Cut' to feature uncut climax
The iconic film is set to return to theaters in a fully restored 4K version, titled Sholay - The Final Cut. This nationwide re-release on December 12, 2025, commemorates the film's 50th anniversary and will be screened across 1,500 theaters. A major highlight of this release is the restoration of the original uncut climax sequence - the first time it will be seen publicly in five decades.