As Sholay celebrates its 50th anniversary since its release on Independence Day 1975, Bollywood luminaries including Salman Khan, Sunny Deol, Bobby Deol, Farhan Akhtar, and Abhishek Bachchan reflect on the film’s profound influence on their lives and Indian cinema. Directed by Ramesh Sippy and written by the legendary duo Salim Khan and Javed Akhtar, Sholay redefined Hindi cinema with its gripping narrative, unforgettable characters, and iconic dialogues that remain etched in India’s cultural fabric.

The film, featuring Amitabh Bachchan as Jai, Dharmendra as Veeru, Sanjeev Kumar as Thakur, Hema Malini as Basanti, Jaya Bachchan as Radha, and Amjad Khan as Gabbar Singh, is celebrated as a cultural milestone. Salman Khan, son of screenwriter Salim Khan, recalls his childhood obsession with the film, listening to its dialogue records on loop. “Wherever we went, Sholay’s songs or dialogues were playing,” he told PTI, highlighting its omnipresence.

For Sunny Deol, whose father Dharmendra delivered a stellar performance as Veeru, Sholay is a source of immense pride. “It’s India’s most-watched film, and every character is iconic,” he said, noting its slow start at the box office before becoming a phenomenon. His brother Bobby Deol, who visited the Bengaluru sets as a child, cherishes memories of watching the unedited four-hour version and idolizing Jaya Bachchan. “Those days on set were magical; Sholay is a landmark,” he told PTI.

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Farhan Akhtar, son of co-writer Javed Akhtar, credits Sholay with shaping his love for mainstream cinema. “It’s rare for a film where every character, even with a single line, is unforgettable,” he said, emphasizing its place in India’s collective consciousness. He praised its technical superiority, noting that it remains timeless even after five decades.

Abhishek Bachchan, whose parents Amitabh and Jaya Bachchan starred in the film, calls Sholay a “seminal moment” in Indian cinema. He shared that his father, still focused on future projects, rarely dwells on past glories. “He believes his time is now, and that’s the attitude every actor should have,” Abhishek told PTI.

The film’s impact extends to filmmakers like Sooraj Barjatya, Karan Johar, and Prakash Jha. Barjatya, inspired by the filmmakers’ passion, recalled their conviction despite Sholay’s initial lukewarm reception. “They turned action into poetry and took bold risks, like portraying a dacoit so vividly and letting one hero die,” he told PTI. Johar, who watched Sholay at age seven in 1979 at Minerva cinema, credits it for shaping his cinematic roots. “We’re empowered by the legacy of such masters,” he said. Jha, enchanted by Salim-Javed’s world-building, noted the enduring craze for Gabbar’s dialogues, like “Tera kya hoga Kaalia?” still used in everyday conversations.

Sholay’s blend of action, emotion, and unforgettable lines continues to resonate, connecting generations and cementing its status as a cinematic legend.

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