Ramesh Sippy reacts to Dharmendra–Hema Malini’s famous ‘Sholay’ rumour ahead of film’s Re-Release; 'I’m sure he did a lot of things'- Exclusive

As Sholay gears up for a grand re-release in theatres, director Ramesh Sippy revisited one of the most endearing behind-the-scenes stories from the making of the 1975 classic , the legendary romance between Dharmendra and Hema Malini.In an exclusive interview with ETimes, Sippy was asked about the long-standing rumour that Dharmendra would bribe the film’s light boys and assistants to deliberately goof up shots so he could spend more time with Hema Malini during filming. The filmmaker responded with his trademark calm and humour, saying, “I’m sure he did a lot of things, but it did not hamper my work. It took time for me to take my shots. So he had plenty of time to romance. I didn’t have to do anything. I just had to do my work and take my time doing my kind of work, which gave them enough time, I guess, to be together.”Sippy’s lighthearted response adds another charming layer to the enduring legacy of Sholay, which not only became one of Indian cinema’s biggest blockbusters but also gave rise to one of Bollywood’s most iconic love stories both on-screen and off it.The film, starring Amitabh Bachchan, Dharmendra, Hema Malini, Jaya Bhaduri, Sanjeev Kumar, AK Hangal, Sachin, Helen, Asrani, Jagdeep and Amjad Khan, remains a benchmark in Indian filmmaking for its storytelling, characters, and unforgettable dialogues.

Sholay was recently restored in the 4K version and had its screening at the prestigious Toronto International Film Festival which was also attended by Bobby Deol. In the interview he also shared that in the last 50 years he has seen the film only thrice and one was with the birthday girl Hema Malini and recently it was in Toronto where the restored version was screened with the original climax.