Did you know Amitabh Bachchan and Sanjeev Kumar wanted to play ‘Gabbar Singh’ in ‘Sholay’? |

Ramesh Sippy’s ‘Sholay’ remains one of the most loved classics of Indian cinema. From its storyline to performance to songs, everything left a lasting impression. Of course, Jai-Veeru’s ‘ye dosti hum nahi toodenge’ gave friendship goals, but more than the protagonists, the character that stole the limelight was that of ‘Gabbar Singh‘.
However, did you know Amitabh Bachchan (who played Jai in the movie) and Sanjeev Kumar (who essayed the role of Thakur) were both very keen to play the role of the iconic villain, Gabbar?
According to legendary screenwriter Salim Khan, Gabbar was not just another role, it was the role that many actors on set wanted to play. “Everyone wanted to play Gabbar,” he said during the promotions of ‘Angry Young Men: The Salim-Javed Story. ‘
“Amitabh Bachchan, in particular, was keen, as was Sanjeev Kumar. Dharmendra was happy to be Veeru.” This gives insight into the stars of the film and the impact of that character even before production.
Ultimately, it was Amjad Khan who was cast as Gabbar Singh—a decision that would go on to define his career. His chilling portrayal became one of the most memorable in Indian cinema, and it’s now difficult to imagine anyone else in the role. Yet the fact that two of the biggest stars of the era were drawn to the character speaks volumes about Gabbar’s depth and presence in the script.

How the Character of Gabbar Was Created

During the very promotional event, Javed Akhtar and Salim Khan talked about the idea behind ‘Sholay’. Javed Akhtar explained that the original concept by Salim Khan had the protagonists as ex-soldiers; G.P. Sippy, the producer, suggested a more flexible plot, which led to the dacoit story that became an iconic piece of cultural history.
The writers used real life for inspiration, too. Salim Khan explained that Gabbar Singh was named after a real bandit from Madhya Pradesh, known for committing acts of violence and brutality. “My father was a cop, and we would hear scary stories about him, this dacoit called Gabbar Singh,” he said. The real-life connection helped to create a sense of realism and fear in the fictional character.