Dharmendra rewrote Sholay’s destiny! Shatrughan Sinha reaction to Amitabh Bachchan replacing him as Jai; Jaya getting the ‘wasted role’ tag

Sholay (1975) remains a towering milestone in Indian cinema- a film whose characters, dialogues, and emotions continue to echo through generations. At its heart were Jai and Veeru, the unforgettable on-screen partnership of Amitabh Bachchan and Dharmendra.

But behind the camera lay a lesser-known truth: Amitabh wasn’t the first choice for Jai. His casting became possible only because Dharmendra stepped in at a decisive moment that changed the film’s destiny- and perhaps Bollywood’s.

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Ramesh Sippy’s Casting Puzzle

As reported by Scroll in 2015, director Ramesh Sippy initially feared that bringing together Dharmendra, Shatrughan Sinha, and Sanjeev Kumar- three powerful names- could risk creative clashes. Although impressed by Amitabh Bachchan’s subtle performances in Bombay to Goa and Anand, Sippy wasn’t convinced initially.

Amitabh’s quiet request for support, combined with Dharmendra’s personal endorsement, altered the director’s hesitation. The persuasion succeeded, and Amitabh Bachchan stepped into the role of Jai- one that became synonymous with him.

The Role That Nearly Belonged to Shatrughan Sinha

Before Amitabh’s stoic presence defined the character, the role of Jai had been offered to Shatrughan Sinha. He was envisioned by Sippy alongside Dharmendra, Sanjeev Kumar, and Hema Malini.

Must Read: Sholay 2! When Dharmendra imagined a sequel with Abhishek Bachchan & Bobby Deol returning to Ramgarh to avenge Jai’s death

At that point, Amitabh was struggling through consecutive flops, finding it increasingly difficult to land significant roles. In a moment of vulnerability, he turned to Dharmendra- already a superstar and a respected colleague- seeking help. Destiny turned on that single request.

When Dharmendra Broke His Silence

For decades, Dharmendra never openly acknowledged the part he played in Amitabh’s breakthrough. But during a 2018 episode of Aap Ki Adalat, he finally chose to speak.

Dharmendra revealed, “I've never spoken about this, but since Amitabh has started saying that I helped him get the role, I'll say it: yes, I did help him get the role. He used to come to me... But originally, the role was going to go to Shatrughan Sinha.”

Shatrughan Sinha and Dharmendra shared a warm and longstanding bond, dating back to Pyar Hi Pyar (1968), where Shatrughan made his debut as a villain. They went on to appear together in several films including Blackmail, Dost, Ganga Tere Desh Mein, Shehzaade and Taaqat.

Ironically, despite this long association, they never shared screen space in Sholay- because of Dharmendra’s own unexpected recommendation. When the news reached him, Shatrughan confronted his friend.

Dharmendra recalled the moment, saying, “When Shatru got to know he came to me and said, ‘Paaji, you gave my role to him!’ To which I replied, “I wasn’t sure what to do. Amitabh had come to me first, so I thought I should give it to him.”

Shatrughan Sinha’s Dignified Acceptance

Years later, Sinha revisited the episode with characteristic grace during Indian Idol 12. He said, “During those times, I was continuously shooting for films which had two heroes and, somehow, we can call it a human error or my dates were an issue due to which I couldn’t sign the film Sholay. I’m sad but happy at the same time as due to Sholay, national icon Amitabh Bachchan, who is my dear friend, got such a big break.”

His response added a touching layer to a story that could easily have been overshadowed by rivalry.

Ramesh Sippy on Choosing Jaya Bachchan for a ‘Silent’ Role

Jaya Bachchan’s portrayal of Radha remains one of the film’s most emotionally charged performances- a character who says little, yet communicates volumes.

Also Read: Asrani’s iconic ‘Angrezon ke zamane ka jailer’ act in Sholay brought him the darkest phase of his life!

In a conversation with Zoom, Ramesh Sippy shared the criticism he faced for casting her in what some dismissed as a “wasted role.”

He explained, “A lot of people asked me, ‘Why are you working with Jaya Bachchan? It’s a waste… an actress like her.’ I said exactly why I took her. It’s a silent role. Even the silence didn’t stop her from conveying her feelings. In the end, the satisfaction is that after 50 years we are talking about the film. All the hard work has paid off in every way.”

Her performance became one of Sholay’s quiet strengths- an emotional anchor amid its epic scale.