Sachin Pilgaonkar Reflects on 'Sholay' Journey at 50th Anniversary

Mumbai, Aug 15 (PTI): Sachin Pilgaonkar was just 16 when he stepped into the world of "Sholay" as Ahmed, the doomed son of Rahim Chacha, in Ramesh Sippy's 1975 cinematic masterpiece. This experience, as he fondly recalls, was an amalgamation of exhilaration and bittersweet moments.

“I'm very proud to be a part of ‘Sholay’. Anyone who was involved with ‘Sholay’ carries that pride,” Pilgaonkar shared with PTI while celebrating the 50th anniversary of the iconic film. "Sholay" redefined the dimensions of Indian cinema through its grandeur, storytelling prowess, and unforgettable characters.

In his early career, Pilgaonkar had the opportunity to work alongside titans like Amitabh Bachchan, Dharmendra, Hema Malini, Jaya Bhaduri, Sanjeev Kumar, and Amjad Khan, in this action-adventure epic scripted by Salim Khan and Javed Akhtar.

In the film, Ahmed's tragic demise at the hands of Gabbar, the fearsome dacoit terrorizing the fictional village of Ramgarh, is a pivotal moment.

It sets the stage for one of the film's most poignant sequences as Rahim Chacha, played by A K Hangal, grapples with the haunting stillness in the village, giving voice to the immortal line: “Itna sannata kyun hai, bhai?” This dialogue has been etched indelibly in the annals of Hindi cinema.

Remembering the shoot, Pilgaonkar mentioned, “In that particular scene, not only me but also Dharam Ji, Amit Ji, and Hema Ji had no dialogues, yet we performed it with fidelity to Ramesh Ji's vision. We dedicated three days to that scene,” the seasoned actor, now 67, explained.

The actor also shared that he initially filmed a scene with Gabbar that didn't make the final cut.

“At the time, I was quite upset. At that age, my understanding was limited, and I was very disappointed. Yet, the decisions were justified. One factor was the film's length, and another was that Ramesh Ji believed the depiction of Gabbar killing a 16-17-year-old appeared exceedingly brutal.” Pilgaonkar’s association with Sippy began in 1966. As a child artist in "Brahmachari," he caught Sippy's eye. That film marked Sippy's initial foray into the industry with his father, G P Sippy. Years later, this connection paved the way for Pilgaonkar's role in "Sholay.”

“My name first appeared in ‘Brahmachari’. I played one of the 12 orphans adopted by a couple,” he reminisced.

“When Ramesh Ji wanted to meet me, I was thrilled. He told me, ‘I'm working on a significant film with many well-known actors, and I want you to be part of it, portraying a villager who meets his end at the hands of the villain, Gabbar. I agreed instantly,” Pilgaonkar recounted.

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