Sholay nostalgia: Original Amitabh–Dharmendra bike now owned by ex-IAS officer

It isn’t just any motorbike from the Second World War era; it’s the very two-wheeler made famous by the iconic ‘Yeh Dosti’ sequence that Dharmendra and Amitabh Bachchan rode in the 1975 classic Sholay.

Built in 1942 by the Birmingham Small Arms Company, the BSA WM20 has now found a home in Bengaluru with retired IAS officer L.K. Atheeq. The bike still carries its original Mysore State registration number, MYB 3047, which can be spotted clearly in the memorable scene filmed in Ramanagara.

In 2022, Atheeq bought the motorbike after a friend showed him this unique piece of memorabilia.

Retired IAS Officer, LK Atheeq, "I feel great that I own a piece of cinematic history. Like many of us I have been a film buff, and particularly a fan of Sholay. In 2022, a friend introduced this bike to me, and it was very exciting and I couldn't believe that it was the original. Then I was assured that it is original and it has all the documentations. So it is all thanks to a friend. I am not a bike collector but this one came my way, so it is an exciting piece to possess."

Once functional enough for short rides, the motorcycle is now displayed in Atheeq’s garden, preserved as a tribute to Indian cinema and its enduring legacy.

He further says, "The bike was visibly okay, but it was not in good working condition. It had to be repaired, restored, and lots of parts were missing. So we almost left it to the mechanic for anywhere between 4 to 6 months to repair. Then we brought it and we found that oil was leaking from the engine. Again we sent it back for further repairs. Then it came back and I rode it once and it is in working condition but it can't really go very far. So I'm not really sure if we can take it too far. So we took it for short rides to ensure it was in working condition, and now we just keep it like this (without running"

The iconic motorbike, which has been meticulously and passionately preserved, continues to arouse nostalgia and connect generations to one of Sholay's most memorable experiences.