SHOLAY final line up- Amitabh, Ajay, Mohit, sushmita, Nisha, Abhishek & others
One of the greatest hits of Indian movie history ‘SHOLAY’ BY GP Sippy is going to be screened again. Director Ram Gopal Verma ; well known for his experimental works is taking the risk of bringing back the spark & tragedy of the ancient one. Facing injunction from the producer of the film GP Sippy’s grandson Sascha, the remake will be named ‘Ram Gopal Varma Ke Sholay’, instead of using the original title.
Himesh Reshammiya might be opting out as the composer. Ganesh Hegde (yes, the choreographer) has composed the new Mehbooba O Mehbooba track, and Sunidhi Chauhan has taken over vocal duties from Asha Bhosle — with Bachchan himself apparently chipping in from time to time.
Nisha Kothari quite a new face; will play Hema Malini’s character Basanti and Shushmita Sen will essay the role portrayed by Jaya Bachchan.Model Katrina Kaif was first choice of Ramu for this role,lately she was replaced.However, their names and settings would be different. The original film had a rural background while Ramu’s movie is based in Mumbai.Basanti will be Ghunghroo in RGV’s version and will ride a autorickshaw and not ‘tanga’. The autorickshaw will be called Laila while Hema Malini’s horse was called ‘Dhanno’,who became equally famous like the Basanti character in the original.Sen’s character will be called Devi while Jaya was Radha,the widowed daughter-in-law of Thakur (Sanjeev Kumar). Sen is the widowed sister-in-law of Inspector Ranbeer (Mohan Lal).In the original, Basanti and Radha have never met. But, in Ramu’s film, both women are best of friends.Giving the character sketches of the two women, Varma’s spokesman said Ghungroo is Mumbai city’s only woman rickshaw driver. She calls her vehicle ‘Laila’ who is her best friend and confidante. She often solves a dilemma by voicing it to Laila.Ghungroo lives adjacent to Inspector Ranbeer’s house with her mother who is an agressive,hard nosed fisherwoman,locally known as Gangu Mummy. Her father who himself was rickshaw driver has lost his leg in an accident.She spends most of her money she earns, into doing up the interior of her rickshaw. With all the accessories it has accumulated so far, it resembles a room rather than a rickshaw. A large image of Durga is stickered to the back window of the rickshaw.Devi’s happiness proved to be shortlived as just few months after her marriage to Ranbeer’s brother,the inspector’s entire family is massacred by a ruthless gangster (Gabbar played by Amitabh Bachchan).Devi who is a trained nurse runs a clinic and understands Ranbeer’s need to take revenge on the gangster but she feels he is very impractical in expecting someone else especially two seemingly good for nothing nobodies to take his war as their own.
Ramu said one of the two men (Jai played by Mohit Alawat) is drawn to her stoic dignity and silent strength. Her focus on things makes him see purpose. He is awed with her larger than life perspective towards life and her ability to see positiveness in most of the negative of things. The character of Viru has been asigned to Ajay Devgan.The first schedule of the film shooting is already complete.
As for the role of Thakur that was immortalised in the original film by Sanjeev Kumar,Varma has cast Malayalam superstar Mohanlal, who plays vengeance-seeking Inspector Ranbeer whose entire family was wiped out by Gabbar.
Abhishek Bachchan will play a cameo in ‘Sholay’ remake by Ram Gopal Varma. As per reports, Jr. Bachchan will be seen dancing with Urmila Matondkar in the chartbuster ‘Mehbooba o mehbooba’. Abhishek’s role was originally played by Jalal Agha with Helen. To be remembered here, Abhishek was initially offered the role of Veeru; however he refused the role because of his date problem. But after listening to the number, remixed by Ganesh Hedge, Abhishek himself approached Ram Gopal Varma to perform in the song.
Get set for a clash of titans when Mohanlal and Amitabh Bachchan come face to face in Ramgopal Varma Ke Sholay. As for Sushmita Sen cast opposite Mohit Ahlawat and Nisha Kothari opposite Ajay Devgan - well, what can we say, let’s just hope Varma knows what he’s doing!