Kaun Banega Crorepati 13: From Big B and Hema Malini’s ‘Dilbar’ moment to Dharmendra joining via video call, moments that won hearts at the Sholay reunion

The Shaandaar Shukravaar episode of Kaun Banega Crorepati 13 started with the grand celebration of Dussehra and then continued with grand moments that were created because of the glorious Sholay reunion on the show. Amit ji, Ramesh Sippy and Hema Malini recalled how its been 46 years since the film released and their journey in the film has been amazing and still feels fresh. Here is look at moments from the show that have yet again stolen our hearts.

The director of the film, Ramesh Sippy, revealed how he assembled the cast of the film. He explained how after ‘Seeta-Geeta’ he really wanted to work with Dharmendra, Hema Malini and Sanjeev Kumar again in any upcoming film that was best suited. Ramesh Sippy mentioned that while working on the script, the actors fit right into the shape and writer Salim Khan suggested Amitabh Bachchan for the role of Jay on the basis of working with him in the film Zanjeer. Ramesh Sippy expressed how he loved Amit Ji’s work in ‘Anand’ and ‘Bombay To Goa’ and he believed that no one was better than Big B for Jay’s character.

Since it was a reunion, a few past memories and moments had to be re created. Post a question that revived the ‘Satte pe Satta’ memories, Ramesh Sippy made a special request to Amitabh Bachchan and Hema Malini to act up on the ‘Dilbar’ song. Big B was hesitant as he believed that his age of doing the ‘Dilbar’ song has been past and it will be awkward. But when director says so, actor has no choice, we guess! Amitabh Bachchan and Hema Malini dance to the tunes of ever melodious ‘Dilbar’ and they looked beautifully elegant together even in the past ‘Dilbar’ age!

46 years to a great hit, several years of sweat and blood and millions of memories that are still treasured were shared by all three. Amit ji spilled the beans how he tells his daughter Shweta Bachchan that she too has worked in the film Sholay because Jaya Bachchan was pregnant with her while shooting the scene where Jay gives the keys to Radha. He also shared how it took almost three years to shoot the famous lamp scene in the film because Ramesh Sippy wasn’t satisfied. Hema Mailini also opened up about working with Ramesh ji in the film ‘Seeta-Geeta’ and how he kept difficult scenes in the film. Oh! Really a ton of memories, extreme hard work and an iconic film.

Before the He-man of the industry joined the team via a video call, Amitabh Bachchan and Hema Malini shared some hilarious incidents about Dharmendra ji. Big B shared how once while going to the set, they both were once stuck in a crowded place because there vehicle got damaged. So, Dharmendra asked Big B to come along with him and then they both took an auto and reached the set. Hema Malini too mentioned that he doesn’t wait in such situations and often does like this. She too shared an incident where the two while heading to set had to cross a railway crossing for which they had to wait. So, Dharmendra ji saw a man on a cycle, stopped him, sat on the cycle and asked her to sit behind her and then he took her along with him. The classic He-Man. Though for a short time, Dharmendra paji did join the team and thanked everyone for their wishes, love and support over the years towards the film. He also expressed how he wishes to have Sholay 2. He told Sr Bachchan that he would soon show up at his house to meet up and will only have tea ‘kyunki baaki chod rakhi hai aaj kal’!

A Sholay reunion, and no dialogues are enacted, it’s not possible. Ramesh Sippy asked Hema Malini and Amitabh Bachchan to enact the iconic lines of mostly all the characters from the film. Big B and Hema ji imitated Arsani (Jailor), Gabbar (Amjad Khan), Veeru (Dharmendra) , and their individual roles of Jay and Basanti. It was an absolute treat to watch them enact the epic dialogues like ‘Kitne admi the’, ‘In Kutton ke Saamne Mat Nachna Basanti’, so on and so forth.

The reaction to Sholay was not very grand or iconic as it is today on the day it was released. The team was disappointed and as spilled by Amitabh ji on KBC, Ramesh Sippy, Salim Khan went to Big B’s house to tell him that the film isn’t liked much by the audience. After a lot of thinking, the three concluded that widow’s remarriage was not acceptable by the audience, particularly in that era. Moreover, with Jay’s death in the film, Radha again becomes a widow which upsets the audience. Ramesh Sippy decided that they would reshoot the ending and get Jay back to life and reunite him with Radha and release the film in the theatres on Monday. However, while leaving Big B’s house, Ramesh Sippy said, ‘Let’s wait till Monday’ and see what happens. As correctly quoted by Amitabh Bachchan, the film created records and history that lives till date. It’s what the destinies holds, and it had be to be different for Sholay.

KBC wished Hema Malini happy birthday and even presented her with the best gift and reunion. She met her ‘Basanti’ body double Reshma Pathan. The moment she saw her Hema ji was overwhelmed and said that ‘I want to hug you’. She is also the first stunt woman of the industry and received a standing ovation from Ramesh Sippy, Hema Malini and Amitabh Bachchan for her courageous work. Ramesh ji also shared that she once performed a life endangering stunt which was fantabulous.