Shadaab KhanThe son of legendary actor Amjad Khan, he believes that no Indian film has yet matched the cultural legacy of Sholay – not even the recent success of Dhurandhar.In a recent interview with journalist Vickey Lalwani, Shadaab also revealed that he auditioned for the “very strong role” of Dhurandhar, but eventually passed out as he didn’t fit the physicality required for the character.
“Sholay has held its place for over 50 years”
When asked if Sholay remains the biggest film India has ever seen, Shadaab said without hesitation.“Oh yes, no doubt,” he said.The actor acknowledged that Indian cinema continues to deliver huge commercial hits, but insisted that Sholay occupies an entirely different space in popular culture.“There are a lot of blockbusters these days. They’re making fantastic movies and many have made billions. Full credit to the filmmakers and actors,” he said.“But Sholay is iconic because it has held its place for over 50 years. That’s the difference.”
“People still mention Gabbar Singh after five decades”
Shadaab explained that Sholay’s enduring popularity goes beyond box office numbers.“If another film is important, mentioned and celebrated the way Sholay has been for five decades, then yes, maybe it can be compared. But not yet,” he said.Referring to filmmaker Ram Gopal Varma’s comments about Dhurandhar, Shadaab praised the film’s success but said Sholay is still unmatched in terms of legacy.“Dhurandhar is a very big film, no doubt. It is a huge hit. People talk a lot about its success and the numbers it got,” he shared.“I have seen the film and I truly believe that the writers and actors deserve credit for what they have achieved.”However, he insisted that Sholay eventually became much bigger than just a blockbuster film.“The thing about Sholay is that it became more than just a blockbuster. It became a part of Indian pop culture. Fifty years later, people still quote the dialogues, imitate Gabbar Singh, discuss the scenes and remember the characters,” said Shadaab.“Such a legacy is rare.”
Shadaab Khan has revealed that he auditioned for Dhurandhar
During the interview, Shadaab also revealed that he auditioned for an important role in the Dhurandhar franchise through Mukesh Chhabra’s casting agency.“Yes, I auditioned for Dhurandhar by chance. Mukesh Chhabra’s casting agency called me,” he revealed.“In fact, it was a very strong role, in Part One and Part Two. The audition itself went very well. I was quite happy with how it turned out.”Despite being happy with her audition, the actor said she was ultimately not selected for the project.
“It wouldn’t be fair to reveal the role now”
Shadaab refused, saying it would be unfair to the actors who eventually got the part.“No, no… that wouldn’t be fair,” he said.“The film is a huge success now and everyone associated with it has done a fantastic job. I don’t think it would be professional to suddenly say, ‘By the way, I auditioned for this role as well.'”“Let the actors who have been selected enjoy their success. Let the filmmakers celebrate the film,” he added.Shadaab also mentioned that he was happy to see actors like Rakesh Bedi being appreciated for their performances.
“I fully accepted this rejection”
Interestingly, the actress said that this particular rejection did not upset her because she understood why she was not cast.“After the film was released, I watched bits of the character out of curiosity to see who ended up playing the role,” he said.“And to be honest, the physicality, the looks, the body type, nothing matched me. So I understood that the rejection was based on suitability.”Calling it a professional decision, Shadaab added, “It’s a rejection I can totally accept because sometimes a role just calls for a different face or screen presence. It happens.”“But yes, it was a very good role and of course, as an actor, you always want things to go well,” he concluded.
