Kamal Hassan has said that he did not like the classic Bollywood film Sholay and even found it to be rather offensive. With stars like Amitabh Bachchan, Dharmendra, Hema Malini, and Jaya Bachchan, it’s no surprise that the film’s associate director was Kamal. (Also see: Amitabh Bachchan and Deepika Padukone star in the future in Prabhas’ Kalki, set in the year 2898 AD.)
Kamal Hassan talks about how he felt after seeing Sholay for the first time.
Kamel at the San Diego Comic-Con
Kalki 2898 AD, starring Kamal, Prabhas, and Rana Daggubati, premiered on Friday at the San Diego Comic-Con. The sci-fi film helmed by Nag Ashwin also stars Amitabh and Deepika Padukone, however they were noticeably absent from the announcement event. Amitabh participated at the ceremony via video conference.
Kamal Hassan gushes over Big B.
Kamal Hassan was lavishing admiration on Amitabh Bachchan at a promotional event for his next film when the Bollywood star cut him off. Kamal once stated, “The enthusiasm our audience provides to our cinema is what makes it so fantastic. We create the films, and they develop the actors. And it’s a privilege to be in the crowd with people like Prabhas and Amitabh Bachchan.
Amitabh, on the other end of the video connection, admonished him, “Stop being so humble, Kamal, you are much, much greater than any of us. You need not put on a show here. Kamal has achieved a level of success that is really hard to attain. He puts a lot of heart and soul into each of his films. It’s a huge thrill to share the screen with him.
Kamal informed Ramesh Sippy his hatred for the film Sholay.
Kamal Hassan then mentioned Sholay, Amitabh’s most well-known film. “I was an associate director on Sholay, for those nostalgic about the film. And after seeing Sholay, I was wide awake all night. First, I despise Ramesh Sippy even more because of how much I despise his movies. I got to work with that brilliant director, and I remember telling him exactly how I felt after seeing his picture. I’m a techie, and the movie kept me up all night. Amit ji has done many films like this, and hearing him praise my work is something I could never have imagined as an assistant director when I first saw Sholay in the theatre. He then said, “Thank you, Amit ji.”
Amitabh and Kamal’s on-screen chemistry dates back to 1995’s Geraftar, which also featured Rajinikanth and Nag Ashwin before Sholay.
Kalki 2898 AD, starring what seems to be Disha Patani and released by C Aswani Dutt’s Vyjayanthi Movies on January 12, 2024, is set to hit theatres.