Dharmendra Was Highest Paid on ‘Sholay’, Jaya Bachchan Took Home the Lowest Fee
Behind the scenes stories reveal Dharmendra’s initial hesitation to play Veeru and his role in casting Amitabh Bachchan
Mumbai, Nov 14: Legendary actor Dharmendra, celebrated for his iconic roles on screen, was the highest-paid actor on the sets of ‘Sholay’, earning ₹1.5 lakh. In contrast, Jaya Bachchan received the lowest fee among the main cast, taking home ₹35,000.
Interestingly, Dharmendra initially did not want to play Veeru. He was keen on portraying either Thakur or Gabbar Singh. Director Ramesh Sippy revealed in a chat with The Lallantop that Dharmendra said, “This is the story of Thakur and he is fighting against Gabbar. What will we do?” Sippy convinced him by saying, “Fine. Either do Thakur or Gabbar’s role but then you won’t get Hema Malini.” That is when Dharmendra agreed to play Veeru. Eventually, Sanjeev Kumar and Amjad Khan were cast as Thakur and Gabbar, respectively.
Other notable salaries on the film included:
Sanjeev Kumar (Thakur): ₹1.25 lakh
Amitabh Bachchan: ₹1 lakh
Amjad Khan (Gabbar Singh): ₹50,000
Hema Malini: ₹75,000
Dharmendra also played a pivotal role in casting Amitabh Bachchan as Jai, a role initially intended for Shatrughan Sinha. On Rajat Sharma’s Aap Ki Adaalat, Dharmendra shared how he recommended Amitabh for the part, much to Shatrughan Sinha’s surprise.
‘Sholay’ remains one of Indian cinema’s most iconic films, with its legendary cast and unforgettable characters leaving a lasting legacy.
