Reliving 'Sholay': Fifty Years Since Iconic Filming in Navi Mumbai Villages

Mumbai, Aug 15 (PTI) Long before its iconic release on Independence Day in 1975, the cast and crew of "Sholay" had already captivated the residents of Navi Mumbai's villages, drawn by the bucolic charm of these locations. 

Nearly fifty years later, the memories of the film's shoot remain vivid for those living along the Panvel-Uran road, even though urbanization has transformed these memorable film sites. 

The Agris and Kolis, communities that primarily depended on paddy farming and fishing, were regular visitors on the sets when shooting began in 1972. 

“Dharmendra, who portrayed Veeru, often mingled with the locals and enjoyed ‘jawla sukat’ (dry fish) and ‘tandul bhakri’ (rice flour flatbread) that the Agri people shared with him. Dharmendra would often trade his biryani or specially cooked meals with the locals,” recalled Sanjay Shelar, aged 62. 

The camaraderie extended beyond the superstar himself, with crew members swapping drinks and engaging with villagers, who in turn shared home-brewed spirits. Shelar noted how many scenes from the Ramesh Sippy masterpiece were shot along the Panvel-Uran road, although most of the film was filmed in a rocky hill range, about 50 km from Bengaluru.

During filming, actors such as Dharmendra, Sanjeev Kumar, Amitabh Bachchan, Jaya Bachchan, and Hema Malini stayed at Pravin hotel in Old Panvel. 

A dedicated space behind the hotel housed the horses, recalled Shelar. The memorable scene where ‘Basanti’ (Hema Malini) picks up ‘Jai’ (Amitabh Bachchan) and ‘Veeru’ from the railway station en route to Ramgad, was shot near Panvel railway station.

Avid fans, children and youth alike, skipped work and school to watch the action unfold, all eyes particularly on ‘Dream Girl’ Hema Malini. Shelar remembers cycling with friends just to witness the scenes. 

A memorable scene where Veeru aims at mangoes with a pistol while flirting with Basanti was filmed at Chinchpada’s mango grove. A garage replaces the grove today.

The iconic train robbery scene featuring Gabbar Singh’s dacoits was filmed along the Panvel-Uran railway line near ‘Bambavi Pada’, or Bombay Pada, Shelar said. 

Sawmill shots featuring Soorma Bhopali’s exaggerated tales were also filmed in this area; “the sawmill is still functional today” added Shelar. 

Prabhakar Mundkar, a Bambavi Pada resident, reminisced about selling watermelons to locals gathering at the sets. The dramatic scene of the train smashing through logs was filmed in his village.

According to Janardhan Nama Patil, 82, who vividly recalls the film’s shoot, scenes involving horses chasing the train, and Veeru’s duel with dacoits were unforgettable. Naresh Gaikar, a resident of Uran, mentioned that producers created a village near Bambavi Pada for the shoot. Chandrakant Patil, another local, shared that a boy from Owala village led Veeru to rescue Basanti from Gabbar’s gang.

The final shootout between Jai and the dacoits over a wooden bridge was crafted in the area. 

While these memories endure, Patil laments the loss of the idyllic 70s surroundings. “CIDCO (City and Industrial Development Corporation) acquired our land for various projects, erasing our lovely mountains, hills, and water bodies,” he shared.

“Our villages were so picturesque that filmmakers often chose them as shooting locations. Not only 'Sholay', but films like ‘Nastik’, ‘Yadon Ki Barat’, and ‘Papi’ were also filmed here,” noted Patil. 

“Nevertheless, it’s the indelible mark left by ‘Sholay’ that continues to mesmerize generations. The fact that people still visit these locations after 50 years speaks to the lasting success of ‘Sholay’,” he added, beaming that the film remains a staple discussion topic in their villages.

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