As ‘Sholay’ completes 50 years next week, no one can question its enduring legacy. Over the past five decades, countless filmmakers have spoken about how the 1975 blockbuster has had a profound impact on their careers, often calling it a “true classic”. But perhaps no one has paid such a direct tribute to the film as director Ram Gopal Varma.
In 2007, Varma released a controversial remake of ‘Sholay’, ‘Ram Gopal Varma Ki Aag’, which was heavily criticised. What made it even more special was that Amitabh Bachchan played the iconic villain Gabbar Singh in it, a character he always wanted to play in the original. During the announcement of the remake, in an old interview with Wild Films India, Bachchan had expressed his excitement about finally playing the legendary bandit.
He said, “When the story of Sholay was first narrated to me, I wanted to play Gabbar Singh and I had asked Ramesh Sippy (director of Sholay) to let me play the character. But unfortunately it didn’t happen. But now it’s finally happening and I’m very happy.” When asked if it was challenging for him to play such an iconic character, he replied: “Absolutely. As an artist, every character we play has its own challenges. So whether it’s Gabbar or anyone else…” Bachchan also came out in support of Varma amid the criticism at the time: “I think every creative artist should have the freedom to present his work the way they like. Then the audience also has the freedom to criticise or appreciate it. But I think that freedom should be given to him.”
Ram Gopal Varma also spoke candidly to Wild Films India during the announcement of the film and spoke about his inspiration behind the Sholay remake.
RGV said, “I was a huge fan of the original film. I watched it 27 times in four months. The first 5-6 times I watched it just for the story, screenplay and dialogues. But later, I watched it to understand its technical nuances, shooting methods and sound design, though at that time I wasn’t even sure if I would become a filmmaker. But I watched it very carefully, and I think that’s what made me the filmmaker I am today. I have always believed that ideas never get old, only the packaging gets old. Technology changes, presentation changes. So if you take an idea that worked very well 30 years ago, what if you present it in a new way with today’s technology? That’s how the idea of making the film started.”
Despite his passion, Ram Gopal Varma’s film ‘Aag’ failed miserably at the box office and was panned by both fans and critics. Many even called it the “worst film ever made”. In the years following the film’s release, both Amitabh Bachchan and Ram Gopal Varma admitted that the film was a mistake in their careers.
