When Amitabh Bachchan recalled how he went to Sholay set with Dharmendra by autorickshaw

When Amitabh Bachchan recalled how he went to Sholay set with Dharmendra by autorickshaw

Bollywood superstar Amitabh Bachchan has told countless stories from the sets of Sholay over the years, but every time he shares one, it still feels like stepping into a time capsule.

During the premiere episode of Kaun Banega Crorepati season 17, he found himself revisiting one of those memories after a viewer asked him about his best behind-the-scenes moment from the iconic film. That simple question opened the door to a charming little anecdote that has now gone viral.

Big B smiled as he heard the question and said, “There are many BTS, tell me which ones, because the shooting took place there for many years.” Sholay wasn’t shot over a few months. The schedule stretched long enough for stories to pile up like treasures, each one tied to the dusty lanes of Ramgarh, the film’s fictional village.

The viewer mentioned an incident involving Dharmendra, and that was all the cue Big B needed. He described Dharmendra with genuine affection, calling him someone who carried an easy, carefree spirit.

“Dharam Paji is very carefree, he lived life to the fullest,” Big B said. He went on to explain how, during long shoots, Dharmendra would often lose track of the clock. If the production got delayed, he would simply shrug and say, “You guys go, I will sleep here.”

Then came the highlight of the story. Amitabh Bachchan recalled a day when crowds had gathered outside their Bangalore hotel.

As he and Dharmendra tried to leave, fans began chanting Dharmendra’s name loudly and excitedly. With their car surrounded and no way to move an inch, Dharmendra made a spur-of-the-moment decision.

Amitabh Bachchan remembered it with fond amusement: “Once, when both of us were coming out of the Bangalore hotel, the fans surrounded the car and started calling ‘O Dharmendra’. Then Dharam Paji got out of the car, stopped an auto and both of us reached the sets of Sholay by that auto.”

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Two of the biggest stars of Hindi cinema, riding through Bangalore in an auto-rickshaw to reach the set of what would become a defining film. It speaks to the era, the simplicity of the actors, and the spontaneity that makes legends feel human.

Sholay, directed by Ramesh Sippy and released in 1975, remains one of Indian cinema’s most loved films. With Dharmendra as Veeru, Amitabh Bachchan as Jai, and Hema Malini as Basanti, the film’s story of friendship, courage, and the battle against Gabbar Singh has endured for generations. And as it approaches its 50th anniversary on August 15, 2025, stories like these remind fans why the film refuses to fade from memory.