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Dharmendra's Sholay Secrets: 50km Walks & Vodka in Coconut Water Revealed

Veteran filmmaker Ramesh Sippy and actress Hema Malini shared remarkable stories from the making of Sholay during a 50-year commemoration event. They revealed co-star Dharmendra once walked approximately 50 kilometers from his hotel to the shooting location, starting in the early morning hours. Sippy also recounted Dharmendra's playful habit of mixing vodka into coconut water on set to get into the right spirit for filming. The iconic 1975 film, featuring an ensemble cast, is celebrated as a cult classic and one of Indian cinema's finest works.

Key Points: Sholay Secrets: Dharmendra's 50km Walk & Vodka Ritual

  • Dharmendra walked 50km to Sholay set
  • Vodka mixed in coconut water on set
  • Childlike innocence contrasted serious demeanor
  • Anecdotes shared at 50-year commemoration
  • Film remains a cult classic of Indian cinema
2 min read

Ramesh Sippy, Hema Malini reveal Dharmendra mixed vodka in coconut water, walked 50 kms for Sholay

Ramesh Sippy & Hema Malini reveal Dharmendra's extreme dedication and playful vodka mix for Sholay, celebrating 50 years of the iconic film.

"Sometimes there would be a little vodka mixed into coconut water, a small wink, and the message would pass through. - Ramesh Sippy"

Mumbai Ja, n 27

Veteran filmmaker Ramesh Sippy and actress Hema Malini have shared fascinating anecdotes from the sets of Sholay, recalling how Dharmendra once walked nearly 50 kilometres from his hotel to the shooting location and even added a dash of vodka to coconut water to get into the right spirit.

The two were recently present at the magazine cover launch commemorating 50 years of Sholay.

Recalling the incident, Ramesh Sippy exclusively told IANS, "One day, Dharmendra decided that he wanted to walk all the way from the hotel to the shooting spot, which was almost 50 kilometres away. He started walking around two or three in the morning, stopped briefly in between, and continued till he reached the location at around seven in the morning. After resting for an hour, he came out and was ready to shoot. It was unbelievable, but he was completely determined."

Hema Malini added, "He would walk miles and miles."

Sippy further highlighted the actor's fun-loving side, and said, "That was one side of Dharmendra. The other side was his playful nature. Sometimes there would be a little vodka mixed into coconut water, a small wink, and the message would pass through. It gave him a certain spirit."

The filmmaker then went on to describe Dharmendra's personality, and said, "There was a childlike innocence in him that came through very often, and within moments, he would turn into a strong, serious man. That quality was very winning. He could get angry, but he would be absolutely fine again within moments."

For the uninitiated, Dharmendra essayed the role of Veeru in the iconic movie Sholay that released in 1975.

It went onto become a cult classic and one of the finest movies of Indian cinema.

The movie along with Dharmendra also starred Amitabh Bachchan, Jaya Bachchan, Hema Malini, Sanjeev Kumar, Amjad Khan, AK Hangal, Sachin Pilgaonkar amongst others.

- IANS

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Reader Comments

R
Rohit P
Haha, the vodka in coconut water is such a classic "Dharam paaji" move! 😄 It shows the fun, human side behind the larger-than-life star. These old stories make me miss the golden era of Hindi cinema.
A
Aman W
While the dedication is admirable, I do hope the younger actors don't romanticize the "vodka for spirit" part. The physical feat is inspiring, but we should focus on healthy methods for performance.
S
Sarah B
It's fascinating to hear these behind-the-scenes stories. The childlike innocence combined with serious intensity they describe is exactly what made his Veeru so lovable and memorable. True star quality.
V
Vikram M
Can you imagine any current star doing this? They have a fleet of luxury cars for a 5-minute drive. Different times, different values. The passion then was for the art, not just the box office.
K
Kavitha C
My father always says movies had soul back then. These anecdotes prove it. The hard work, the camaraderie, the little secrets... it all translated to magic on screen. Sholay is timeless for a reason.

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