Amitabh Bachchan and Dharmendra were not the original Jai-Veeru in Sholay casting. Who were the original heroes chosen?

Nearly five decades after it first set Indian cinema ablaze, Sholay remains a timeless cultural juggernaut—its dialogues, characters, and scenes etched into the nation’s collective memory. As the fully restored, uncut version of the 1975 classic prepares for its world premiere at Italy’s Il Cinema Ritrovato Festival on June 27, intriguing behind-the-scenes stories about the film’s casting choices are coming back into the spotlight. Turns out, the beloved Jai-Veeru duo—now iconic thanks to Amitabh Bachchan and Dharmendra—almost looked very different.

In a fresh revelation, Dharmendra told IANS that he was originally offered the role of Thakur and even the menacing Gabbar Singh. He, however, knew exactly what he wanted, and it was Veeru. His instincts paid off—Veeru went on to become one of the most charismatic and loved characters in Bollywood history.



How did Amitabh Bachchan land the role of Jai?
The story behind Amitabh Bachchan landing the role of Jai is even more fascinating. In an interview with ANI, Dharmendra said he recommended Amitabh Bachchan to director Ramesh Sippy. The Deewar actor used to drop by Dharmendra’s sets, and something about his quiet intensity caught Dharmendra’s eye. Impressed by Bachchan’s voice, presence, and raw potential, Dharmendra nudged Sippy to give the rising star a shot—and the rest, as they say, is cinematic history.


What many don’t know is that Bachchan was far from the first choice. In fact, the role of Jai had initially been offered to Shatrughan Sinha. In a 2023 interview with Aaj Tak, Sinha confirmed he was approached for both Sholay and Deewaar but had to turn them down due to creative differences and packed shooting schedules. He even recalled holding onto the Deewaar script for six months before backing out.


About Sholay
As the restored version of Sholay prepares to screen with its original ending and deleted scenes intact, nostalgia is running high. Directed by Ramesh Sippy and written by Salim-Javed, Sholay blended every genre into a masterclass in storytelling—revenge, comedy, romance, and action, all underscored by R.D. Burman’s unforgettable music. With a cast including Sanjeev Kumar, Hema Malini, Jaya Bachchan, and Amjad Khan, the film became more than just a hit—it became a landmark.