Dharmendra 'Recommended' Amitabh Bachchan For Sholay: 'Maine Unko Role Dilaya'
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Amitabh Bachchan was not the first choice for the role of Jai in Ramesh Sippy's Sholay.
Amitabh Bachchan and Dharmendra's 1975 movie Sholay remains one of the classics and most loved films to date. However, do you know that Big B was not the first choice for the role of Jai in Ramesh Sippy's movie? Instead, the film was first offered to Shatrughan Sinha. In a recent interview, Dharmendra talked about the same and revealed that it was he who helped Amitabh bag this role.
'It has already been mentioned. Yes, I recommended him. Mai to kehta nahi maine unko (Amitabh Bachchan) role dilaya. Ye mujhe milne aate the Amitabh sahab (He used to come to meet me, Mr Amitabh). He used to sit next to me. To maine Ramesh Sippy ji ko kaha yeh naya ladka hai usko awaaz se to lagta hai bahut acha kaam karega. Unki jo andar se chahna thi. Jo khud se pyar karne ki khoobsurati thi vo achi lagi..maine kaha inko lelo (So I told Ramesh Sippy that this is a new boy. Judging by his voice, he will do a great job. I liked the desire he had from within. The beauty of loving oneself. I said take him)," Dhramendra told news gency ANI.
The veteran actor further recalled working in Sholay and shared that he really enjoyed it. 'Yeh film mere khyayal se sadiyun ke liye ban gayi hai (this film will be there for centuries)," he added.
Released in August 1975, Sholay revolved around two ex-convicts, Jai and Veeru, who are hired by Thakur Baldev Singh, a retired policeman, to help nab a notorious dacoit named Gabbar Singh.
Meanwhile, Dharmendra was last seen in Shahid Kapoor and Kriti Sanon's Teri Baaton Mein Aisa Uljha Jiya. He will soon be seen in Sriram Raghavan's 'Ikkis', which will star Amitabh Bachchan's grandson, Agastya Nanda in the lead.
When asked about his upcoming movie, Dharmendra refused to share much details and simply said, 'Now my film is coming, Ikkis. Sriram Raghavan director hai (Sriram Raghavan is the director). Very good director. And very good subject. I won't talk about it now..vo 2 October ko release ho rahi hai (Film will releases on October 2)."
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