To step into the shoes of Jaya Bhaduri who played lonesome widow Radha in the original Sholay, filmmaker Ramgopal Varma has lined up Bollywood diva Sushmita Sen.
It is learnt that in Ramgopal Varma’s Ke Sholay, Sen will not take the name of the original character Radha. She has been named Devi instead. Also, gone is Radha’s trademark white cotton sari, Sushmita as Devi will dress in black throughout.
And now, for the bigger casting surprise. After months of speculation, it is finally clear that Varma’s current favourite Nisha Kothari will play the role modelled after Hema Malini’s motormouth Basanti.
Sadly, the character will no longer be called Basanti, she is now Ghungroo. And replacing Basanti’s faithful horse Dhanno is a rickshaw that Ghungroo will drive called Laila.
Much like the original film, in Varma’s remake too, tomboy Ghungroo will share a unique friendship with her vehicle.
As for the role of Thakur that was immortalised in the original film by Sanjeev Kumar, Varma has cast Malayalam superstar Mohanlal, who plays vengeance-seeking Inspector Ranbeer whose entire family was wiped out by Gabbar.
Get set for a clash of titans when Mohanlal and Amitabh Bachchan come face to face in Ramgopal Varma Ke Sholay. As for Sushmita Sen cast opposite Mohit Ahlawat and Nisha Kothari opposite Ajay Devgan – well, what can we say, let’s just hope Varma knows what he’s doing!
