4 decades of Sholay: Salman, Abhishek remember the ageless classic

Salman Khan watched ‘Sholay’ in his school uniform while Abhishek Bachchan was not even born when it released but the movie, which turns 40 this month, was a defining part of their childhood.

Salman's father Salim Khan co-wrote the script of the cult movie with Javed Akhtar, which stars Amitabh Bachchan as Jai, Dharmendra as Veeru, Hema Malini as Basanti, Amjad Khan as the dreaded Gabbar and Sanjeev Kumar as Thakur.

The movie, helmed by Ramesh Sippy was released on August 15, 1975. Recalling his earliest memories about the film, Salman said he attended the premiere with brother Arbaaz in Minerva theatre, Mumbai.

"I remember we went to see the premiere. 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 that "the film, surprisingly for two weeks, was a huge disaster."

"Apparently, they went back to shoot the climax to make Bachchan saab relive in the movie but after two weeks, it just went to the next level,” he said. ‘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, 49, said this is one film where “informatory lines" became hit dialogues. He also said he always wanted to get lines like ‘Sholay’ in his films.

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 ‘Sholay’. "The thing I love about ‘Sholay’ is even if you see it today, it's very contemporary.

A lot of films age, but 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, 39, said.

"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 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 make a film 40 years ago, that even today's youth can connect with, I think that would be something all of us would aspire to do at some point," he concluded.