Unknown facts about the making of Ramesh Sippy’s Sholay, secret British stuntmen to Amjad’s salary
Sholay (1975), one of the most iconic films in Indian cinema history, has long captivated audiences with its unforgettable characters, gripping narrative, and epic scale.
However, beyond what viewers saw on screen, the making of Ramesh Sippy’s magnum opus was filled with lesser-known stories, hidden efforts, and intriguing behind-the-scenes decisions that shaped the masterpiece.
Over the years, details have emerged from interviews, memoirs, and archives — including those from Hindustan Times — revealing some truly fascinating facts about how Sholay came to life.
One of the most surprising elements of the film’s production was the involvement of secret British stuntmen, brought in discreetly to choreograph and execute many of the complex action sequences.
At a time when Bollywood did not yet have a robust infrastructure for advanced stunt coordination, Sippy chose to bring in foreign experts to raise the film’s scale to match Western epics.
READ ALSO: Meet the Actor Who Played a Key Role in Sholay: A star-studded family legacy
These stunt professionals worked behind the scenes without much credit, ensuring the thrilling train robbery scene and the climactic gunfights achieved international standards. Their presence gave the action a level of realism and precision that Indian audiences had rarely seen before.
Another incredible anecdote centers around Amjad Khan, who portrayed the legendary villain Gabbar Singh. Interestingly, he was not the first choice for the role. Initially, Danny Denzongpa was cast, but had to step away due to scheduling conflicts.
When Amjad was selected, his unfamiliar voice and theatrical style made some in the crew doubtful about whether he was right for such a pivotal role. Screenwriter Javed Akhtar even initially objected to his casting. However, once Amjad embodied the character and delivered lines that would become immortal — like “Kitne aadmi the?” — those doubts evaporated.
Ironically, despite playing the most unforgettable character in the film, Amjad Khan was paid a modest fee compared to his co-stars. His salary reportedly stood at just ₹10,000 — a pittance considering the cultural legacy Gabbar Singh would come to define.
The film itself was a gamble for its makers. It was the most expensive Indian movie at the time, with a budget that crossed ₹3 crore — an enormous sum in the 1970s.
READ ALSO: Bollywood Actresses Who Converted Religion for Love: Love knows no boundaries
Shot in the rugged landscape of Ramanagara in Karnataka (which fans now fondly refer to as “Ramgarh”), the production spanned over two years and was riddled with technical delays, reshoots, and artistic conflicts. Cinematographer Dwarka Divecha shot the film in the 70mm format with stereophonic sound, a first for Indian cinema, giving Sholay its epic, immersive feel.
Ramesh Sippy’s vision was to make an Indian Western that could match the storytelling depth of Hollywood while staying rooted in Indian culture and values. It’s said that he watched classics like The Magnificent Seven and Once Upon a Time in the West for inspiration.
Another layer of lore surrounds the original ending of Sholay. In the theatrical version, Thakur Baldev Singh (played by Sanjeev Kumar) captures Gabbar Singh and leaves him for the police.
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However, in the film’s original cut, Thakur was to kill Gabbar with his iron-fitted arms in a moment of poetic justice. But the censors intervened, demanding a change that aligned more with the rule of law, prompting the more restrained finale that audiences saw.
From the meticulous attention to detail in the costumes and sets to the emotional depth brought by the music composed by R.D. Burman, Sholay was a film ahead of its time.
What also helped elevate its status was the impeccable casting from Amitabh Bachchan’s brooding Jai to Dharmendra’s mischievous Veeru and Hema Malini’s talkative Basanti.
But it was the combination of daring decisions, secret collaborations, and underappreciated efforts like those of the British stuntmen and Amjad Khan that ultimately turned Sholay into a cinematic legend whose influence endures to this day.
READ ALSO: The Making of a Bollywood Icon: How Amitabh Bachchan landed the role of a lifetime in Sholay
Farhan Akhtar shares Sholay`s unknown incident
The actor who came on Prakhar Gupta`s podcast to promote his upcoming biopic, 120 Bahadur, shared an unknown anecdote about the iconic Bollywood film.
He said, “The emotional core of the film was very strong, the entire narrative of Thakur plotting his revenge after his hands were cut. We get lost in the Jai Veeru conversation, but the spine of the film was the honest police officer who goes after a dacoit after he kills his family. He hires these two good-for-nothing people, and in the original ending he actually kills Gabbar.
“They had to change it due to the emergency, and the original ending is now available. That is actually when he cries, after crushing Gabbar with his own feet. The film was written by Salim-Javed, who were rather unhappy with the revised climax.”
The Rock On actor added, “When Dad and Salim Sahab had to change the ending, they were wondering about everyone showing up, including the villagers, the police, and the protagonists.
“They joked that the only person missing now is a postman. The ending and the police showing up didn’t make sense to them, but they had to change it; they had no choice. Even the supporting characters left a magnetic mark,” he said, explaining, “The film just leaves a huge impact on you. The way it was mounted and all the characters were fun. It wasn’t as if it was just Jai and Veeru who were exciting. The jailer, Surma Bhopali, Gabbar, and Basanti were all great characters. It was a massive hit.”
Sholay will complete five decades of its release on August 15, 2025.
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