Bollywood icon Hema Malini once shared a gripping memory from the sets of the cult classic Sholay, recalling how a scene with Amjad Khan left her hand bruised blue. The veteran actress described the moment as both shocking and unforgettable, especially since it happened during her earliest days of shooting with the legendary actor.
A terrifying first impression
During an episode of Indian Idol Season 13, where she appeared as a special guest, Hema Malini opened up about how intimidating Amjad Khan appeared when she first worked with him. “The biggest one is Amjad Khan saab. First day jaisa shooting shuru hua unke saath (When the shooting started with him on the first day), my god, how… how he looked real,” she said. His deep immersion into the role of Gabbar Singh led to an unintended injury during a key scene.
The ‘Jab Tak Hai Jaan’ incident
While recalling the shoot of the iconic “Jab Tak Hai Jaan” sequence, Hema explained how the injury happened. The scene required Gabbar to yank Basanti back with force. She shared, “Aur last dance hai na usmein, ‘Jab Tak Hai Jaan’ wo gana, usmein main haath se nikal ke jaane ko dekhti hoon toh pakad leta hai. Toh aisa pakda mera haath toh poora blue ho gaya idhar (And in that last dance, the song ‘Jab Tak Hai Jaan’, when I try to escape from his grip, he grabs me. He grabbed my hand in such a way that it turned completely blue here).”Despite the pain, she had to continue until the shot was completed.
Pain and profuse apologies
Hema Malini said the discomfort was intense, but Amjad Khan’s immediate remorse softened the moment. “You know it became completely blue. And then it was so painful. And till he finished the dialogue, I had to keep quiet,” she recalled. Once the cameras stopped rolling, the fierce Gabbar instantly turned gentle. “Phir maine baad mein dekha kya kiya. Dekho aapne… ye log bahut maafi maangenge. They will also baraf bhi lekar aake mere lagayenge, sab karenge. Lekin kaam aisa hota hai (Then I saw later what he had done. Look, they will apologize a lot. They will even bring ice and apply it on me; they will do everything. But that’s how the work is).”Decades later, the story remains a powerful reminder of the intensity, dedication, and mutual respect shared by two of Bollywood’s finest performers. Go to Source
