50 years of Sholay: Director Ramesh Sippy thinks the iconic film is not perfect

It`s been 50 years since Sholay released, and over the glorious decades it has been considered as a classic film that set the benchmark for films to come. As every scene etched in the memories of the viewers, the film is often considered as the perfect cinema. But the director of the film, Ramesh Sippy does not think so.
Something better than Sholay can be made: Ramesh Sippy
Ramesh told PTI, "I think you always want to better Sholay. That`s how you keep your spirits up. Otherwise, how will you carry on?" He futrther added that if he had told himself "Oh, I can`t make another film like Sholay," then that would have been the end of it. "But there is no end to it. Otherwise, Sholay would not have been made if there was an end to it," he notes.
The filmmaker adds, "The fact that Sholay was made, that means something better than Sholay can also be made and people will learn to like that kind of film as well," he said.
Talking about the love the film has received all these years, the 78-year-old says, "It feels good that people still love everything about it, and I`m amazed that we`re talking about it after 50 years. It`s still not gone. It`s there in everyone`s heart. We have a new generation and a new generation coming up. All that has also happened, but that`s the beauty of masterpieces and those beautiful moments that are captured."
Ramesh Sippy reveals Danny Denzongpa was to play Gabbar
Heaping praises on his cast, he said, "You can`t think of any of these characters being played by any other actor or actress. It was just simply so good. They did their best. I was able to get performances which were amazing because they are such fine artists and because, as a script, it was very satisfying and promising, and everybody worked towards achieving what they could in their own capacities."
He added, "At the end we had a fine film in our hand which till today we are here talking about it 50 years later, it`s amazing." Further revealing the story behind Gabbar played by Amjad Khan, he says, "Danny Denzongpa was to play Gabbar; he could not make it to the shoots because at that time he was in Afghanistan shooting for `Dharmatma`. We had to make a last-minute dash for another actor, and fortunately, we found Gabbar in Amjad Khan, the son of another fine actor, Jayant. So, it was wonderful to have him in. And I think the way Amjad worked for Gabbar is a completely historic thing now. I don`t think anybody can imagine anybody else but Amjad Khan in that role."
Sippy says nothing stands out like Sholay
Interestingly, Sippy`s filmography includes other hit titles such as Seeta Aur Geeta, Shaan, Shakti and Saagar. But nothing beat Sholay in terms of popularity. Sippy agrees, saying, "I have tried my best to make good films before and after Sholay and I have succeeded as well, but somehow nothing stands out like Sholay."
"I do hope that one day there comes a film that beats Sholay. That`s the way the world is. You need to be better than what was. So everybody has to strive to do that, and I`m sure one of these days, one will come across that kind of film that everybody would love to see, " he added.
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