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Dharamji, did you ever expect Sholay to be such a milestone in your career?
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No, I didn’t. Of course, we worked very hard on the film. The shoots on the outskirts of Bangalore were gruelling. There were no hotels around. We had to drive down to the location 50 kilometers away from Bangalore every day. But it was a lot of fun. Lots of memories. Hema was there with me. Jaya was there; she was expecting her first child.
What was Sanjeev Kumar like as a co-star?
He was exceptional in every sense. What a human being and what an actor! I had the privilege of working with him in another exceptional film, Satyakam, where we played friends.
Satyakam or Sholay, which is your preferred film?
That is very hard to answer. Hrishida (Mukherjee) and Ramesh Sippy were very different directors. It is like comparing Lata Mangeshkar with Asha Bhosle.
Does Sholay’s magnitude of success surprise you?
I will tell you one thing. In 1975, just two months before Sholay, I had another release which no one is talking about. I love Dulal Guha’s Pratiggya the most because it was a really tough role. I had to play a truck driver who masquerades as a cop. It was like playing a role within a role. It was a layered character with lots of emotions and drama. I had made to make people laugh all the way. But there was an undercurrent of emotions. It was a challenge. And people loved me in it.
So, is Pratiggya a bigger personal favourite?
Though Satyakam and Sholay are among my favorites, my all-time favorite is Pratiggya. It came during the same year 1975 as Sholay, so it went unnoticed. But let me tell you, Pratiggya was a super hit in spite of competition from Sholay. Just like in 1971, when Naya Zamana clicked despite a blockbuster like Mera Gaon Mera Desh. They were such different films. I am very fond of Naya Zamana because it was based on Bengali literature .The film had beautiful dialogues.
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Dharmendra with director Dulal Guha on the set of film Pratiggya. (Express archive photo)
Bachchan Saab says you recommended him for his role in Sholay?
(laughs) It is sweet of him to remember. Yes, I did put in a word for him to Ramesh Sippy. But he finally got the part on merit.
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Bachchan Saab wanted to play Gabbar Singh. Did you also want that part?
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No, I was very happy playing Veeru. It is the part that chose me , more than I chose it.
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