"Amjad Khan and I struck a good friendship during Sholay. In fact, I wanted to play the role of Gabbar Singh and I told this to Ramesh Sippy (producer-director of the original Sholay)," Amitabh Bachchan said in a statement at the Le Meridien hotel in suburban Mumbai at a function held to reveal Gabbar's Singh's new look.

It has been three days since the shooting of Ram Gopal Varma's Sholay remake has begun and the film is expected to be released in May 2007.

"30 years ago Gabbar Singh was the villian of Sholay, but today I think he's the real hero. This film is the greatest challenge of my life," Varma said.

"I am overwhelmed and embarrased to unveil this new look," said Bachchan.

Text: Syed Firdaus Ashraf | Photograph: Pradeep Bandekar

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What do you think about the story? Read what others have to say: Number of User Comments: 22 Sub: ramu's movies are always hat- ke ramu will definately prove his expertise in making remake of sholay i can see lot of hard work on amitji's makeup and the cast itself ... Posted by pranay Sub: This is a ridiculous attempt Remaking the great movie 'SHOLAY'is not only silly but out and out insulting the original. For that matter all such remakes are so. Why do ... Posted by prasad Sub: Amithav bachan in new face It is interesting to see BIG B to be play in a different face. I think there is no one except BIG B for this ... Posted by Narendra Sub: New Sholay The success of the new Sholay depends all in the cast, I will wait to see who is playing the role of Veeru, Jai and ... Posted by Khalid Hasan Sub: Use research to make it a HIT This new Sholay can be a hit IF Ramu uses proper customer centric research to find the ideas that may click with this remake. Our ... Posted by Vinay