Ramesh Sippy’s directorial debut, “Sholay,” released 50 years ago, still holds a special place in the hearts of cinema lovers. However, many of the actors who immortalised this film on screen are no longer with us. The film’s 15 stars have passed away one by one.
“बिछड़ा कुछ इस अदा से कि रुत ही बदल गई, इक शख्स सारे शहर को वीरान कर गया” Khalid Sharif wrote these lines. When news broke on November 24th that the He-Man of Hindi cinema was no more, it felt as if everything had fallen into desolation. For a while, no one could believe that this legendary star had departed. Dharmendra may no longer be with us, but he will always live on, both on screen and in the hearts of people, through his films.
Here is the list of 15 actors from Sholay who have died one by one
Dharmendra (Veeru)
Dharmendra acted in over 300 films in his 65-year career. “Sholay” is one of his finest films. Directed by Ramesh Sippy, the 1975 film starred Dharmendra alongside Amitabh Bachchan, Amjad Khan, Sanjeev Kumar, Asrani, and many other legendary stars of cinema. However, in addition to Dharmendra, we have lost many other legendary actors from this film industry one by one. So far, 15 stars, including Dharmendra, have said goodbye to this world forever.
Amjad Khan (Gabbar)
Amjad Khan, who played the role of Gabbar and became famous for his three-word line (“Kitne Aadmi the”), passed away at a very young age. Like Sanjeev Kumar, Amjad Khan also died of a heart attack on July 27, 1992, at the age of 51.
Mac Mohan (Samba)
Mac Mohan played the role of Samba, a member of Gabbar’s gang, in the film “Sholay”. He died on May 10, 2010, at the age of 72. He had cancer and underwent prolonged treatment at Mumbai’s Kokilaben Dhirubhai Ambani Hospital. However, he lost the battle for life.
Viju Khote (Kalia)
There was also a character named Kalia in Gabbar Gang, played by Viju Khote. He is also no longer with us. He passed away on September 30, 2019, at the age of 77. He had worked in over 300 films, from Hindi cinema to Marathi.
Sanjeev Kumar (Thakur)
Exactly 10 years after the release of “Sholay”, Sanjeev Kumar died on November 6, 1985. Hindi cinema lost one of its brightest actors at the age of 47 due to a heart attack.
Asrani (Jailer)
“Hum Angrejo ke jamane ke jailer hai…” This line must be etched in the hearts of Sholay fans. Veteran actor Asrani immortalised this dialogue. Asrani passed away on October 20th, 2025, at the age of 84, almost a month before Dharmendra. He had been battling a lung ailment.
AK Hangal (Imam of the village Mosque)
‘Sholay’ depicted the story of a village named Ramgarh. AK Hangal played the role of the Imam of the village mosque. His lungs had weakened and stopped working. He passed away on August 26, 2012, at the age of 98, due to this condition.
Leela Mishra (Mausi)
The character of Mausi from “Sholay” also became very famous. Actress Leela Mishra played this role. She passed away on 17 January 1988, 13 years after the film’s release. She died at the age of 80.
Jagdeep (Surma Bhopali)
The character of Surma Bhopali also became very popular. The comedian Jagdeep immortalised this character. He lost his battle with cancer on July 8, 2020, at the age of 81.
Jalal Agha (Dancer of the song “Mehbooba-Mehbooba”)
Jalal Agha made a special appearance in Sholay. The film featured the song “Mehabooba-Mehabooba“. He made a special appearance in the song. He died of a heart attack on March 5, 1995, at the age of 49.
Iftekhar (Police Officer)
Actor Iftekhar, who played a police officer in many Hindi films, also played the character of a police officer in Sholay. He passed away on March 4, 1995, at the age of 75.
Om Shivpuri (Police Officer)
Actor Om Shivpuri was also a part of this film. He appeared in a small role as a police officer. He died of a heart attack on October 15, 1990, at the age of 52.
Satyen Kappu (Ramlal)
You may have seen a man named Ramlal alongside Thakur in “Sholay.”This role was played by Satyen Kappu, a well-known actor in Hindi cinema who has acted in numerous films. He died on October 27, 2007, at the age of 76.
Keshto Mukherjee (The Jailer’s Detective)
Keshto Mukherjee also appeared in “Sholay.” He was actually an inmate in Asrani’s prison. He also provided inside information to Asrani. His humorous style made the audience laugh. He died on March 2, 1982, at the age of 56, seven years after the release of “Sholay”.
Arvind Joshi (Thakur’s eldest son)
Actor Sharman Joshi’s father, Arvind Joshi, was also a part of “Sholay.” He played Thakur’s eldest son in the film. He died on January 29, 2021, at the age of 85.
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