There are super-hits and blockbusters that Bollywood has produced from time immemorial, brilliance with its music, furnished with flawless acting skills, detailed direction and amazing cinematography. But there has been one film, the pioneer of blockbusters, a replacement of which has never been found and that is – SHOLAY. This G.P. Sippy classic broke all the previous records and became the first silver jubilee of Indian Film Industry. Every single actor did justice to their characters. But what if, for an instance, the film was remade with world cricketers? Who would’ve got which role? Let’s find out-
1) Jay- Chris Gayle
The 6 feet tall angry young man of Bollywood, dashing mr. Bachchan sahab made Jay look like the role was meant for him. A miser with words, still cracking one-liners with a blank face which made others laugh won hearts all over. Thinking of a replacement, the first name that comes to mind is – Christopher Henry Gayle! The Windies opener has that all- efficient image and for a reason. Whenever he’s there standing strong with the bat, his team men feel relieved and assured of a great knock, just like Jay with a gun and unfailing tip to save the back of his pack.
2) Veeru- Sarfaraz Khan
And here comes the sweet, good with words and more of a younger brother to Jay, Veeru. He has lesser accuracy and skills than Jay but is full of confidence and determination, and there is one thing that he loves like anything- that is the friendship with Jay. Jay also, despite all the faults in Veeru, loves him like his younger brother and they both can’t stay apart. Searching with a magnifier in hand, our casting crew bumped into the young yet talented Sarfaraz Khan. This young lad of 17 played so well in the Indian Premier League that it made even his captain hot-head Virat Kohli do a bow to him. His talents may be raw, yet to be finessed, but his determination to take his team to a total of 200. And as far as his friendship with our Jay is concerned, tweeted pictures of the two having fun together suggests a match straight away with the on-screen buddies. Their bond is so strong that the Jamaican invited the emerging Indian player to his marriage.
3) Thakur Sahab- Kieron Pollard
A retired police officer with amber inside, with a job that he couldn’t execute during his active days- this is Thakur Sahab briefly. But what took our breath away were his skills with his feet. All his life he kept on using more his hands to fight his enemies but, in the end, it was his feet doing the miracles in the climax and as we looked for such a cricketer any guesses whom we find? It’s Kieron Pollard. Though cricket is more of a sport that involves hands, this Caribbean all-rounder just loves his football skills on field for hitting the stumps with the ball or to save a boundary.
4) Rahim chacha : Inzamam-ul-haq
The visually impaired old man of the village, with divine quotes- no one could match it as well as Inzy. It was so many times, just so many times that he was run out and in hilarious ways that it seems like he depended more upon other senses than his visuals. He even got hit wicket by falling over the stumps. Though a legendary Pak cricketer, his compilation of run outs and hit wickets make him fit for the role of Rahim chacha, his spiritual quotes supporting it further.
5) Angrez ke zamane ka jailor : Navjot Singh Sidhu
How can we forget Asrani, and his popular quote ‘Hum Angrez ke zamane ka jailor hain!’ that added that correct bit of laughter inside the dark world of prisons. The oh-so-talkative, bragging about his past achievements and entertaining people with his remarks and body-language- who else to do justice than our own Sidhu paji? The ‘gagan-chumbi chhakka’ or the ‘thhoko taali’ after all his shayeris or jokes sure reminded us of this unforgettable role that he deserves in the movie.
6) Gabbar : ?
He is the one that everyone fears. No one wants to have an encounter with him because he’s the spoiler of all the goods. Thinking of spoilers, the biggest spoiler in the world of cricket is not a person, it’s a natural attribute that no one can counter and that is RAIN!
So many good and important matches, deciders or play-offs have been washed away with rain in such a way that it has changed the fate of the game entirely eventually changing the fates of the teams concerned. It is cricket lovers’ nightmare on a match day, and with that status, it gets itself casted as the most infamous villain of Bollywood.
Hopefully, our Jai and Veeru along with Thakur Sahab will find out a way together to defeat our Gabbar and live happily ever after, Jai being alive safe and sound for long for a change!
The film came alive with all these characters along with few others unmentioned, of which one that was an iconic role and that is Basanti. The cheerful, happy-go-lucky chatterbox could not be better portrait by anyone else than the dream girl of Bollywood, Hema Malini. Looking at the fatal accident the diva has faced lately, we wish her a speedy recovery.