When Bengaluru rolled out red carpet for Sholay and Dharmendra-Hema Malini’s romance

Long before its granite outcrops became a popular weekend getaway, the landscape of Ramanagara served as the iconic backdrop for one of Indian cinema’s most enduring tales, the 1975 blockbuster ‘Sholay’. The film’s deep-rooted connection extends far beyond those rocky hills, weaving a rich tapestry of local lore and cinematic history right into the fabric of Bengaluru itself.

For months, the city was a home away from home for the film’s legendary ensemble cast, including Dharmendra, Amitabh Bachchan, Hema Malini and Sanjeev Kumar. The stars were lodged in two city hotels — Hotel Ashok, now known as The Lalit Ashok and Hotel Bangalore International — from where they would embark on a daily 60km commute to the Ramanagara set.

This daily journey itself became a spectacle for the city’s film enthusiasts. According to a TOI report, crowds would gather along Mysuru Road and near RV College of Engineering, where the actors were known to occasionally pause for tea. Every vantage point, from the hotel entrances to the makeshift set camp — later christened Sippy Nagar — would be thronged by fans hoping for a glimpse of their favourite stars.

Beyond the public adulation, the shoot is also credited with nurturing one of Bollywood’s most celebrated love stories. While Dharmendra and Hema Malini had already shared the screen several times, it was during their extended stay in and around Bengaluru that their relationship is believed to have deepened significantly.

The city’s charm seemingly left a profound impression on the couple. Anecdotal accounts sourced and cited by TOI suggest they explored the idea of putting down roots here, even going so far as to jointly purchase a plot of land in Arekere. At the time a quaint village on the city's outskirts, the area is now a bustling locality dominated by upscale apartments. Though their dream of a Bengaluru home never fully materialised, the property remains a tangible link to what might have been.

The excitement of ‘Sholay’ permeated other parts of the city as well. The film’s raw footage, or rushes, were screened at the famed Chamundeshwari Studios, drawing keen interest from industry insiders. When the film finally premiered, Bengaluru’s significance was further cemented; alongside its Mumbai release, the city hosted a simultaneous grand premiere, with Baldwin Girls’ School serving as the prestigious venue.

Fifty years on, the stories of ‘Sholay’ are not just confined to the screen. They live on in the memories of a city that briefly hosted a cinematic revolution, the echoes of which can still be felt in its streets and the enduring legends of the stars who once walked them.