Ramesh Sippy Only Shot Amitabh, Dharmendra's Scenes in Sholay, Says Sachin: 'There Were Two Useless...'

Few films have left an indelible mark on Indian cinema like Sholay (1975). More than just a box office success, Sholay, directed by Ramesh Sippy, redefined entertainment in India, showcasing the essence of masala cinema. The film, penned by the legendary duo Salim–Javed, featured an ensemble cast of superstars including Amitabh Bachchan, Dharmendra, Sanjeev Kumar, Hema Malini, Jaya Bachchan, and Amjad Khan.

Even 49 years after its release, Sholay continues to be a subject of fascination for film enthusiasts, unveiling new insights about its production. In a recent conversation with the YouTube channel Khaane Mein Kya Hai, actor-director Sachin Pilgaonkar reminisced about his time on the film as an assistant director. He shared that director Ramesh Sippy was primarily present on set to guide the heavyweights, such as Amitabh, Dharmendra and Sanjeev Kumar.

“Rameshji decided to have a second unit to handle some action sequences that didn’t involve the main stars,” Sachin recalled. He described how the second unit was led by renowned stunt filmmaker Mohammed Ali and action director Azim, along with two Hollywood professionals, Jim and Jerry. “At that time, there were only two ‘bekaar’ (useless) people in the unit: Amjad Khan and me,” he chuckled, highlighting his initial perception of their roles.

Ramesh Sippy recognised the budding directorial interests of Sachin and Amjad, which influenced his decision to involve them in the production. “He asked us if we liked to represent him. Andha maange ek aankh, suddenly usko do mil gaya (the blind man asked for one eye, but suddenly he got two),” Sachin humorously noted. This opportunity allowed him to remain on set even when the second unit wasn’t actively filming.

He also recounted the iconic train robbery scene, filmed along the Bombay–Poona railway route near Panvel. “Ramesh was supposed to come only when Dharamji, Amitji and Hari bhai (Sanjeev) had work. He shot those portions and we handled the remaining scenes,” Sachin added, reminiscing about the collaborative spirit that characterised the making of Sholay.