'Sholay' turns 50: How it shaped Farhan's passion for films
What's the story
The iconic Bollywood film Sholay, which was released on August 15, 1975, has left an indelible mark on the Indian film industry. The action drama, directed by Ramesh Sippy and written by Salim Khan and Javed Akhtar, starred Amitabh Bachchan (Jai), Dharmendra (Veeru), Sanjeev Kumar (Thakur), Hema Malini (Basanti), Jaya Bachchan (Radha), and Amjad Khan (Gabbar). On its 50th anniversary in 2025, several celebrities, including Farhan Akhtar and Salman Khan, have spoken about its legacy and impact.
Farhan Akhtar's statement
'Influenced by it on a subconscious level...': Akhtar
Actor-director Akhtar said that the movie had a lasting impact on his love for mainstream cinema. "All of us who have seen 'Sholay' have been influenced by it on a subconscious level. Our love for mainstream movies came from 'Sholay'. Also, it's very rare for films to come along where you remember every single character, down to a guy who says one line." "So, it's now become a part of our collective consciousness."
Salman Khan's view
'Sholay' dialogues became part of everyday conversations in India
The film's dialogues, written by Salim and Javed, have become a part of everyday conversation in India. Speaking about it, Salman said, "We've seen 'Sholay' four to five times. There was a record of the dialogues of 'Sholay', which was in two parts." "I remember we would keep listening to that often. Wherever we went, we would often hear songs or dialogues from 'Sholay' being played around many people in their homes."
Abhishek Bachchan's statement
The Bachchans don't discuss the movie's past glory
Actor Abhishek Bachchan, whose parents starred in Sholay, called it a "seminal moment" in Indian cinema. He said both his father and mother rarely talk about its past glory at home. "With my father, I know that he's convinced he's not done yet, so he doesn't want to sit back on his rocking chair and talk about our times. His time is right now," he said.
Filmmakers' admiration
How the movie influenced Sooraj Barjatya, Karan Johar
Filmmakers Sooraj Barjatya and Karan Johar also spoke about how Sholay influenced them. Barjatya remembered the initial failure of the film and the makers' conviction in it. "What I take back from Sholay is pure passion and conviction; like they made action into poetry," he told PTI. Johar said, " I believe we are empowered because of these masters who gave us that legacy."