On this day in 1975, Sholay released in cinemas, going on to become one of Indian cinema's greatest cult classics. But for many residents of Navi Mumbai's villages along the Panvel–Uran road, the memories of the film began years earlier during its shoot in the early 1970s.
Half a century later, those who witnessed the filming still recall the excitement that gripped the villages. Back then, the region was dominated by the Agri and Koli communities, who depended on paddy farming and fishing. The lush fields, rustic homes, and winding roads made it a popular location for filmmakers, and Sholay was no exception.
Sanjay Shelar, now 62, remembers the days when Dharmendra, who played Veeru, would mingle with locals during breaks. During an interaction with PTI, he recalled, "Dharmendra would enjoy ‘jawla sukat’ (dry fish) and ‘tandul bhakri’ (rice flour flatbread) shared by the Agri people. He would even exchange his biryani or the meal specially cooked for him with the locals."
It wasn’t just the superstar who bonded with the villagers. Crew members often swapped drinks with locals, who in turn offered them homemade brew. The film’s team, including Dharmendra, Sanjeev Kumar, Amitabh Bachchan, Jaya Bachchan, and Hema Malini, stayed at Pravin Hotel in Old Panvel, reported PTI.
While most of Sholay was filmed in a rocky hill range near Bengaluru, several key scenes were shot in Navi Mumbai.
The report further mentioned that Shelar pointed out that the sequence where Basanti (Hema) picks up Jai (Amitabh) and Veeru (Dharmendra) from the railway station was filmed near Panvel railway station.
For the villagers, the shoot was a spectacle. Hundreds of youths and children skipped school and work to watch the stars in action, with Hema drawing the largest crowds. "We would cycle to the shooting sites every day just to see them," Shelar said.
50 years of Sholay
Sholay is one of Indian cinema’s most celebrated films, blending action, drama, romance, and comedy into an epic story. Directed by Ramesh Sippy, the film follows two small-time criminals, Jai and Veeru (Dharmendra), who are hired by retired police officer Thakur Baldev Singh (Sanjeev Kumar) to capture the ruthless bandit Gabbar Singh (Amjad Khan).
Set in the fictional village of Ramgarh, the narrative explores friendship, sacrifice, and justice, enriched by unforgettable characters like Basanti, the talkative tangewali, and Radha, Thakur’s widowed daughter-in-law. Gabbar Singh’s menacing presence, witty dialogues, and iconic one-liners made him one of Bollywood’s most memorable villains.
Though it opened to a lukewarm response, Sholay grew into a blockbuster, running for over five years in theatres and becoming a cultural phenomenon. Its gripping storytelling, powerful performances, and timeless music have secured its place as a landmark in Indian cinema.
