Mumbai: Ramesh Sippy’s ‘Sholay’, one of Indian cinema’s greatest blockbusters, was released on August 15, 1975, with an iconic ensemble cast — Amitabh Bachchan, Dharmendra, Sanjeev Kumar, Amjad Khan, Jaya Bachchan, and Hema Malini.

While it initially struggled at the box office, the film went on to become a cultural phenomenon, etching its dialogues, characters, and scenes into Bollywood history.

A recent India.com report has revealed the original paychecks of the cast — and the numbers are as fascinating as the film itself. Surprisingly, Amitabh Bachchan was not the highest-paid star.

That honour went to Dharmendra, who pocketed ₹1,50,000 for his role as Veeru. Amitabh Bachchan, playing Jai, earned ₹1,00,000, while Sanjeev Kumar, as the righteous Thakur Baldev Singh, took home ₹1,25,000.

The legendary Amjad Khan, who redefined the Hindi film villain as Gabbar Singh, was paid ₹50,000, while Hema Malini received ₹75,000 for her beloved Basanti. At the bottom of the pay scale was Jaya Bachchan, who earned ₹35,000 for her understated yet memorable role as Radha.

Sholay’s 50-Year Legacy

In 2025, Sholay celebrates 50 glorious years of dominance in pop culture. From the Jai–Veeru friendship to Gabbar’s spine-chilling menace, and from Thakur’s steely resolve to Basanti’s charm, the film remains timeless.

Sholay 1975 Cast Salaries:

  1. Dharmendra (Veeru): ₹1,50,000
  2. Sanjeev Kumar (Thakur): ₹1,25,000
  3. Amitabh Bachchan (Jai): ₹1,00,000
  4. Hema Malini (Basanti): ₹75,000
  5. Amjad Khan (Gabbar Singh): ₹50,000
  6. Jaya Bachchan (Radha): ₹35,000

Five decades later, ‘Sholay’ still commands the same awe, proving that legends never fade, they only grow stronger.