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January 19, 2006
RGV'S SHOLAY CAST
Among the Bollywood fans who read this blog, no post has caused more speculation than this one where the comments section quickly mutated into a forum for people to post their dream casts of Ram Gopal Varma's upcoming SHOLAY remake.
Ramu has announced the actual cast to date (or, at least, Naachgaana has) and here it is:
Mohanlal (the cop from RGV's COMPANY) as Commisioner of Police Thakur Baldev Singh who sets the action in motion by releasing two crooks to capture/kill the bandit, Gabbar Singh.
Mohit Ahlawat (the star of RGV's dreadfully dreadful but super-fun JAMES) as Jaidev, one of the two main characters, originally played by Amitabh Bachchan.
Ajay Devgan (one of the star's of COMPANY and also the co-star of HUM DIL DE CHUKE SANAM) as the other crook, Veeru.
Urmila Mantondkar (a longtime RGV fave) plays Hema Malini's role as Basanti the cab driver gal.
Katrina Kaif as the widow (not sure who this is).
Suniel Shetty (the bad guy in MAIN HOON NA) as Gabbar Singh's right hand man Sambhaa
And, most amazingly, Amitabh Bachchan as Gabbar Singh, the Darth Vader of Bollywood.
January 19, 2006 at 09:52 AM in News | Permalink
Comments
First, Gabbar Singh isn't Darth Vader. He's more of a flamboyant villain. Think Toshiro Mifune in a villanous role. Also, he seems kind of a bumhug. When you get your ass kicked by an armless man, kinda ruins your reputation as a bloodthirsty villain. I mean, Darth Vader was armless and yet..
The character of the widow in Sholay is the character of Jill from Once Upon a Time in the West turned into a token Indian widow character. She'll be the love interest of Jai in the film. But only from afar because widows aren't allowed to have dreams of remarriage, least of all love.
Which is why they killed Jai off in the film.
The Bollywood nerds can debate endlessly about whether these roles are the right ones or not, I'll be sitting in the background watching this film go up in flames (no pun intended). RGV hasn't made a decent film since 2002.
Posted by: anangbhai | Jan 19, 2006 5:32:12 PM
But he's produced plenty of good ones. Check out the pretty amazing AB TAK CHHAPPAN from 2004 with a lead role by Nana Petakar who is quickly becoming my favorite actor.
But I also agree that this movie looks likely to go up in flames at any moment.
Posted by: Grady Hendrix | Jan 19, 2006 6:51:40 PM
alright from the very moment i heard someone was trying to remake sholay i couldn't stop laughing. i mean it's a long shot that this man could pull anything decent off but if some how this miracle does occur, no one in india or anywhere else is going for it. i mean i know it worked for devdas three times but sholay is like the ultimate bollywood flick, it's impossible anyone would settle for just ok in a remake of it. i mean this movie wont be a hit, but if the man wants to make back atleast as much money he will put into it then he has to have a disgustingly huge star cast. and somehow i don't think that ajay devgan and and the new loser on the block are going to be able to pull it off, even if RGV really does have amitabh bachchan. they're going to ruin one of my most favorite movies of all time!!!
Posted by: neelam | Feb 19, 2006 11:55:44 AM
Why mess with a classic?
We are seeing so many remakes that it makes you think that no one can come up with a decent story line.
Sholay is regarded as one of the best bollywood films, why taint its reputation with this lame remake?
Posted by: Raj Ali | Mar 31, 2006 12:14:14 PM
I think that the remake of sholay has brilliant cast this time. The actors who will cast this motion picture will surprise bollywood by giving today's sholay. Big B. is alway the hard hitter and wih Ajaydevgan who has made hard hitting movies like, the legend of baghat sighn, Company, Bhoot, Kaal and so on for the last few years; it is going to be Wow. I have a say for Mr.Varma which is, do finish the the project and surprise the world just like you did in "Sarkar"
Posted by: koonfiroow | May 19, 2006 11:53:33 AM
Katrina Kaif was Abhisheks Anglo-Indian girlfriend from Sarkar. And just a minor correction Grady, RGV has singed Urmila to play Helens role and not Hemas role. Helen played the part of the gypsy who entertains and dances for Gabbar and his men (the part is basically just one song - the same thing Urmila did for Company). The Hema role is yet to be decided.
Though about the Sholay remake, I was awfully excited when RGV first announced it but not so much anymore. The casting is truly dreadful. Having said that, the blame cannot be completely put on RGV. RGVs original casting was Randeep Hooda(from D) as Gabbar, Saif Ali Khan(from Ek Hasina Thi) as Veeru and Mohit(from James) as Jai, which were truly masterful casting choices in my opinion. Unfortunately 2 out of the 3 did not work out as Randeep and Saif both turned down their respective parts, for different reasons. Therefore RGV was forced to make some last minute cast changes, including casting Amitabh as Gabbar which has to be his worst casting decision yet, especially considering that Gabbar is supposed to be the same age as Jai and Veeru and not some old man. Fortunately however because of Amitabh’s recent illness Sholay has been delayed, I say fortunately because this might give RGV some time to regroup and put together a decent cast. I wouldn’t be surprised if the cast goes through some more changes before Sholay finally gets underway.
As for RGV not making a decent film since 2002, I find that statement absurd. RGV has made some truly excellent films in recent times including Ab Tak 56, Ek Hasina Thi, D and Shock. He is certainly the most exciting filmmaker working in Indian Cinema today
Posted by: Victor | May 19, 2006 9:35:10 PM
Waiting for Sholay Two Great Actor of Indian Cinema Superstar of Bollywood Amithab Superstar of kerala 5 time national award winner Mohanlal !
It will be great :)
Posted by: randeep | Jun 6, 2006 11:55:08 AM
Dear Mr. Ram Gopal Verma,
I am writing to you out of sheer frustration. As it is life is very challenging. It becomes all the more difficult to take on another avoidable challenge. Following is a plot I conceived from my experience. I wish you find it useful and can make it into a movie. I am certain that almost all members of the male community will identify with the cause.
Ekta Kapoor’s serials have created a big gap between the husband & wife. It is because of these serials that wives do not give quality time to their husbands. Instead they learn all the wrong things. The story is about one such couple. The husband is a taxi driver whose wife is addicted to the “K” serials. She watches every single episode of every such serial because of which the husband gets neglected. One day the husband has a very bad day & comes home with the hope of relaxing. But here too the wife is busy watching her serials and does not realize that her husband needs her. This really “ticks off” the husband & he swears to take revenge from Ekta Kapoor.
After much thought he comes up with a plan. He starts killing the leading negative female characters of her serials. His plan is to first kill these characters & finally Ekta Kapoor. After he kills all the negative female characters he attacks Ekta. But here the police is waiting for him. He gets caught.
Everyone is surprised that such an innocent taxi driver can turn into a serial killer. In the court when the husband is asked to defend himself he narrates his experience. He gives such concrete logics to justify his actions that everyone wants to believe him. But since he has taken law in his own hands he gets punished.
The point he makes in the court case is that in a civil society who decides what is good to watch and what is not. If decisions go by majority then I am sure if put it to vote all of Ekta Kapoor’s serials will not be allowed to be aired. Even otherwise in day to day reviews these serials have been identified to be the causes of many social illnesses. Newspapers & magazines say the same & so do the common man. Then why are these serials still aired. The reason being cited is that legally it cannot be stopped. Pornography is not allowed. But are these serials any better! If there is public demand then all other things should be allowed also. T o earn money people are not bothered about its implications. Some things are legal but are ethically & morally wrong.
Ekta Kapoor’s serials are the worst thing that could have happened to us. It encourages extra marital affairs, characters never grow old, they never die, people are having relationships with wives, their sisters, daughters, etc. Its like the Bold & the beautiful. Sick!
I hope you understand & come out with a movie on this subject.
Prakash Saraf
Posted by: Prakash Saraf | Jun 20, 2006 5:50:50 PM
i don't really think that the star cast of this film is great because i cannot see the actor of James playin JAIDEV and ajay devgan playing VEERU the rest is ok.
However i think that Abhishek Bhachan should hav played JAIDEV and Shahrukh khan to play VEERU or even the other way around.
Posted by: Qasim | Oct 8, 2006 7:23:38 AM
i think the characters you have chosen for Sholay 2 are rocking but don't you think if the generation had done the parts of the characters in sholay 1 would have looked magnificant!!
I mean sunny deol as veeru, abhishek as Jaidev, Katrina Kaif is suitable for jAYA, and for Helen's part you should have chosen preity Zinta who can really entertain Gabbar and his men and at the same time the audiance with her looks and style
please do not think that i am judging the actors but i am just giving an opnion which is part of human nature and is not wrong at all.
Therefore i hope Sholay 2 is a super super hit like sholay 1 and wish the actors the best and are able to the audiance and other directors that "yes we are able to play any type of role and we are surely suitable"
Posted by: Sneha | Oct 10, 2006 8:06:42 PM
jai-abhisekh bachchan
veeru-sanny deol
basanti-priti zinta
radha-rani mukharji
helan-urmila matodkar
Posted by: kartik turi | Oct 17, 2006 7:56:15 AM
Jai : Shah Rukh Khan
Veeru : Saif Ali Khan
Basanthi: Rani Mukherji
Radha : Priety Zinta
Posted by: Tariq | Oct 18, 2006 12:09:00 AM
jai-abhishek bachchan
veeru-shahrukh khan
radha-vidya balan
basanti-rani mukharjee
gabbar-amitabh bachchan
thakur-ompuri
Posted by: duhita more | Oct 30, 2006 2:32:22 AM
mohanlal will excel in the role pf thakur...its sure..
Posted by: vinu | Nov 1, 2006 2:11:06 AM
ramus an idiot hes probably not gonna finish this project n then change his mind and start another one instead just like what he did with srk n nishab 9/10 of his movies r crap. he thinks he can shut off the critics by his sholay. even if it is appreciated it would probably be due to amitabhs performance nothing else
Posted by: john jan | Nov 30, 2006 7:58:38 PM
hey i gotta best story to make a movie , trust me Ramu, just send me mail on my id and ul get to know more aboiut it , its really interesting ubet me, u can b the luckier 1 to get the story just for nothing and trust me itl turn out to b a block buster hit and thts 4 sure , plz do mail me if u find it even a bit interesting , plzzzzz trust me
Posted by: monica sharma | Dec 2, 2006 2:14:18 AM
Wen the film z out...Just look at Takurs role.....It will B Excellently Played By MOHANLAL...(Much Better Than Rajesh Khanna).....MOHNLAL z The Best Actor IN India...But he z not got a role which z suitable for him to show his excellency.......I M sure he 'll b the best in Sholay2
Posted by: Kiranz | Dec 21, 2006 10:12:50 AM
Amitabh will any day excel as Gabbar..he is the best actro indian cinmea has seen...
all other casting is stupid except Big B...only Big B can do it to perfection...
Posted by: Vinay | Dec 24, 2006 5:44:15 AM
Mohanlal will surely rock d role.....lalettan rockz.....
Posted by: Shanadas | Dec 28, 2006 12:10:28 PM
Hey Mr. Ram Gopal Varma,i am also a director. I think that the cast should be changed. u should not use amitabh bachan as gabbar. U should give me a chance hahahahahahahaha. Sorry. actually i m a director i wanted to make sholay 2 why are u making. Just kiddin.Infact i m a true fan of urs i have learnt lot from u. ur excellent and a different film maker. Continue the good work. I hope ur sholay hits the box office soon.
Posted by: Fawad | Jan 2, 2007 9:44:58 AM
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