Dharmendra To AK Hangal, Know How Much Sholay's Starcast Was Paid

Sholay, directed by Ramesh Sippy, is one of the films that remains etched in the minds of the cinemagoers across the generations. This film, a larger-than-life cinematic experience, starred big names like Sanjeev Kumar, Dharmendra and Amitabh Bachchan. Did you know how much fees were charged by the star cast of the film?

As per reports, Dharmendra was paid Rs 1,50,000 for his role while Sanjeev Kumar got Rs 1,25,000. Amitabh Bachchan was paid Rs 1,00,000 and Hema Malini was paid Rs 75,000. Amjad Khan, whose character Gabbar Singh became iconic over time, reportedly got Rs 50,000 for his role. Jaya Bachchan was paid Rs 35,000 while Govardhan Asrani raked in a mere Rs 15,000.

According to reports, Viju Khote was paid Rs 10,000 and Mac Mohan’s fee was Rs 12,000. AK Hangal got only Rs 8,000 for his work. Other actors who acted in Sholay are Leela Mishra, Sachin Pilgaonkar, Alankar Joshi, Major Anand and others. NH Studioz and Sippy Films produced Sholay. Sholay became one of the biggest commercial success at the box office. It gained accolades for its direction, acting performances and many other aspects.

Sholay was also appreciated for its music. The song Mehbooba Mehbooba became one of the most loved item numbers to date. Anand Bakshi penned the lyrics of this song while RD Burman composed the music. RD Burman also sang this song.

In an earlier interview with The Telegraph, director Ramesh Sippy talked more about the film. He was asked about Sholay’s making which remains fresh in his memory. He said, “The beginning to the end, every character, every mood, and every moment. The moment with Mausi (Leela Mishra) is as memorable as Dharamji (Dharmendra) on the tank. It was a difficult film to make, it took a lot of time and effort… but it was an experience we all cherished. Not just the cast, but all the technicians- whether it was Pancham (RD Burman, who scored the music), Rafi saab (Mohd Rafi), and Salim-Javed (who co-wrote the film), of course — we all rallied together to make Sholay. The stereophonic sound was one-of-its-kind, recorded at the Twickenham Studios in London."