Bollywood Home » Unforgettable Characters » Thakur Sahb Ask any avid Indian movie freak what he or she thinks about the best thing About Bollywood so far and you are likely to hear an emphatic 'Sholay'! Directed by Ramesh Sippy, the film Sholay is by far the biggest blockbuster in the history of Bollywood, winning 60 golden jubilees across India. It did a whopping business of Rs. 2,36,45,00,000 (US$ 60 million). Sholay has also been rated among the 25 must-see Indian films by Indiatimes Movies. In 1999, BBC India adjudged the film as the Film of the Millennium.Sholay starred a number of film icons such as Amitabh Bachchan, Dharmendra, Amjad Khan, Hema Malini, Jaya Bhaduri, Helen and of course, Sanjeev Kumar - the actor who portrayed the role of Thakur Sahb in Sholay.

The character of Thakur Sahb in Sholay is arguably one of The Unforgettable Characters in Bollywood. Sanjeev Kumar as Thakur Sahb was a perfect match since the character demanded emotional restraints as well as undying passion. The story is told in two flashbacks and the climax portrays the final fight between Thakur Sahb and Gabbar Singh (Amjad Khan). The plot revolves around the terrible mishap befalling on the life of Thakur Sahb in Sholay, when the notorious bandit Gabbar annihilates his entire family living at Ramgarh, a barren village of India.

Thakur Sahb, himself a former police officer, hires two petty criminals Jai and Veeru to capture Gabbar alive for him. He wants the bandit alive because he is engulfed by a fever of spite. Jai and Veeru however are tied up in a never-ending bond of friendship. They take up Thakur's offer and starts hunting down Gabbar. The film ends with Jai getting killed in the encounter and Thakur having the last laugh over Gabbar Singh.

Amitabh Bachachan sensitively portrays the character of Babu Moshay in Anand. While the plot of the film was more suitable to Rajesh Khanna's role as Anand, the main challenge for Amitabh Bachchan was not to overdo his part. His measured acting provided all the artistic liberty that the role of Anand needed.

The role of Thakur Sahb in Sholay is associated with a number of famous dialogs as well. In the penultimate hours of the film, Thakur in a state of almost insane enjoyment yells "Ye haat mujhe de de Gabbar!" (Give me these hands, Gabbar!). It immediately takes the viewer to the gruesome event when Gabbar cut off Thakur's both arms. There are similar techniques used several times in the film.