Ramesh Sippy recalls choosing Sholay over completed script of Majboor: “My father said don’t waste time” : Bollywood News

Legendary filmmaker Ramesh Sippy, known for directing the iconic Sholay, recently shared a fascinating behind-the-scenes story about the film's development. In a conversation with Arbaaz Khan on his show The Invincibles, Sippy revealed that he had to choose between directing Sholay and another project titled Majboor, which also starred Amitabh Bachchan.

Ramesh Sippy recalls choosing Sholay over completed script of Majboor: “My father said don’t waste time”

A Difficult Choice: Script vs. Potential

While Majboor had a complete script ready for production, Sholay was still in its early stages. Despite his initial desire to make both films, Sippy's father, G.P. Sippy, recognized the immense potential in Sholay and urged him to prioritize it.

"Meri temptation alag thi. Maine kaha ki dono banate hai. Let's make Majboor, scripted in a way that it goes straight into production aur tab tak Sholay pe kaam karte hai (My temptation was different. I said let's make both the movies. Let's make Majboor as it was scripted in a way that goes straight into the production and till then, we could work on Sholay). My father said don’t waste time, do this (Sholay)," Sippy explained.

However, his father's advice proved to be pivotal. "He saw the potential in that and it was something else," Sippy said, acknowledging his father's foresight.

Sippy also addressed the pressure of living up to the immense success of Sholay. He stated, "I don't think so. I always wanted to do something different. So for me, it was not like I again have to make such a film."

Sholay, released in 1975, went on to become a cultural phenomenon in India. The film's characters, dialogues, and music continue to resonate with audiences even today. While Majboor was eventually made by director Ravi Tandon, it did not achieve the same level of success as Sholay.

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