Shadaab Khan, son of legendary actor Amjad Khan, believes no Indian film has yet matched the cultural legacy of Sholay — not even recent blockbuster Dhurandhar.In a recent conversation with journalist Vickey Lalwani, Shadaab also revealed that he had auditioned for a “very solid role” in Dhurandhar but eventually lost out because he did not fit the physicality required for the character.
‘Sholay has held its place for over 50 years’
When asked whether Sholay still remains the biggest film India has ever seen, Shadaab answered without hesitation.“Oh yes, undoubtedly,” he said.The actor acknowledged that Indian cinema continues to produce massive commercial hits, but insisted that Sholay occupies a completely different space in popular culture.“Today there are many huge blockbusters. Fantastic films are being made and many have earned thousands of crores. 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 quote Gabbar Singh after five decades’
Shadaab explained that the enduring popularity of Sholay goes far beyond box office numbers.“If another film can stay relevant, quoted and celebrated for five decades the way Sholay has, then yes, maybe it can be compared. But not yet,” he said.Referring to comments made by filmmaker Ram Gopal Varma about Dhurandhar, Shadaab praised the film’s success but maintained that Sholay still remains unmatched in terms of legacy.“Dhurandhar is a very big film, no doubt. It’s a smash hit. People are talking a lot about its success and the numbers it has done,” he shared.“I’ve seen the film and I genuinely think the makers and actors deserve appreciation for what they’ve achieved.”However, he stressed that Sholay eventually became much bigger than just a successful movie.“The thing with Sholay is that it became more than just a successful film. It became a part of Indian pop culture. Fifty years later, people still quote the dialogues, mimic Gabbar Singh, discuss scenes and remember characters,” Shadaab said.“That kind of legacy is rare.”
Shadaab Khan reveals he auditioned for Dhurandhar
During the conversation, Shadaab also disclosed that he had auditioned for an important role in Dhurandhar franchise through Mukesh Chhabra’s casting agency.“Yes, coincidentally I had auditioned for Dhurandhar. Mukesh Chhabra’s casting agency had called me in,” he revealed.“It was actually for a very solid role across both Part One and Part Two. The audition itself went very well. I was quite happy with how it turned out.”Despite being pleased with his audition, the actor said he eventually did not get selected for the project.
‘It wouldn’t be fair to reveal the role now’
When asked to reveal which character he had auditioned for, Shadaab declined, saying it would be unfair to the actors who eventually landed the part.“No, no… that wouldn’t be fair,” he said.“The film is a huge success right now and everybody associated with it has done a fantastic job. I don’t think it would be professional of me to suddenly say, ‘By the way, I had auditioned for this role too.’”“Let the actors who got selected enjoy their success. Let the filmmakers celebrate the film,” he added.Shadaab also mentioned that he was happy seeing actors like Rakesh Bedi receiving appreciation for their performances.
‘I accepted this rejection completely’
Interestingly, the actor said this particular rejection did not upset him because he understood why he was not cast.“After the film released, I saw snippets of the character out of curiosity — just to see who had eventually played the role,” he said.“And honestly, the physicality, the look, the body type — nothing matched me. So I understood that the rejection was based on suitability.”Calling it a professional decision, Shadaab added, “That’s a rejection I can fully accept because sometimes a role simply requires a different face or screen presence. It happens.”“But yes, it was a very good role and of course, as an actor, you always wish things work out,” he concluded.
