Showbiz

How Sholay director Ramesh Sippy cast Amjad Khan in the role of Gabbar Singh

Director Ramesh Sippy had seen Amjad Khan in a theatre play when he was casting for the role of Gabbar Singh in Sholay. The actor’s face and personality fitted well with the way the character had been imagined.
Ramesh Sippy’s Sholay is considered a cult classic in Hindi cinema. Each of its principle characters is remembered even today, 46 years after its release. Veeru, Jay, Basanti and Thakur are household names. Gabbar Singh, played by Amjad Khan, remains one of the most popular villains in Hindi cinema history.
But did you know how the selection of Ajmad Khan actually happened? Ramesh Sippy had seen Amjad perform on stage. His personality and voice fitted the role well, Ramesh had thought.
Talking to PTI in 2020, Ramesh had revealed how he got down to casting Amjad for the role. “I remember seeing a play of him (Khan), in which my sister was there, he was very impressive on stage. His face, built, personality, voice everything felt right. We told him to grow beard, got him in the costume, took pictures and he just felt right as a rough-and-tough guy,” he said, revealing that Amjad prepared for the part by reading Abhishapth Chambal, a book on Chambal dacoits.

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