| Saturday, September 16, 2006 |
| Insiders have it that actress Esha Deol has been confirmed to play the role of Basanti in Ram Gopal Varma's Ram Gopal Varma Ki Sholay. For Esha, the role and the character is a dream come true because it was her mother Hema Malini who had enacted it in the original. Sholay is also remembered for the vivacious character of Basanti which Hema made unforgettable. Will Esha be able to live up to the character that Hema mastered with perfection? It may be known that the cast of Ram Gopal Varma Ki Sholay has been much discussed lately. The other actor to be signed on is Boman Irani for the role of the jailor, played by Asrani in the original. As of now it is Amitabh Bachchan, Mohit Alawahat, Ajay Devgan, Esha Deol, Katrina Kaif and Boman Irani who are part of this film's cast. Urmila Matondkar has been roped in for the Mehbooba Mehbooba number that the legendary actress Helen had performed in the original. Bachchan is to play the immortal Gabbar Singh, while Mohit Alawahat and Ajay Devgan will play the role essayed by Amitabh Bachchan and Dharmendra respectively. Katrina Kaif plays the widowed daughter-in-law that was played by Jaya Bachchan. Malayalam actor Mohanlal will be the Thakur, earlier essayed by late Sanjeev Kumar. Interestingly, Ram Gopal Varma had considered Saif Ali Khan, Abhishek Bachchan and Shah Rukh Khan for this magnum opus but things could not work out between the director and the stars |
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