Fifty years after its release, Ramesh Sippy’s classic ‘Sholay’ remains the crown jewel of Hindi cinema. The film’s dialogues, characters and scenes are etched into the collective memory of India. Yet even in a film polished to near perfection, a sharp eye can sometimes catch what millions missed. That sharp eye belonged to Bollywood’s most famous publicist Dale Bhagwagar, who unearthed a curious goof in the legendary film more than a decade ago.
For those who recall, the heart of ‘Sholay’ lies in the tragic rivalry between Thakur Baldev Singh, played by Sanjeev Kumar, and the ruthless dacoit Gabbar Singh, portrayed by Amjad Khan. Early in the film, Gabbar cruelly hacks off Thakur’s hands after the menacing line, “Yeh haath mujhe de de Thakur.” The absence of his arms becomes symbolic of both helplessness and grit, leading to a climactic confrontation where Thakur famously fights using only his legs, taking revenge for the massacre of his family with the help of Jai and Veeru, played by Amitabh Bachchan and Dharmendra.
But celebrity publicist Dale Bhagwagar spotted something extraordinary during a re-watch. At precisely three hours and eighteen minutes into the film, in the climax sequence where Thakur is battling Gabbar, a hand can be seen. Yes, a hand that was never meant to be there. A cinematic oversight in a film otherwise celebrated for its attention to detail.
When Dale pointed this blooper out back in 2011, he backed it with images marked with red circles highlighting the hand, which made the discovery undeniable. Various publications carried the story at the time, amplifying the curiosity and giving audiences a fresh reason to talk about ‘Sholay’ decades after its release. What makes this revelation remarkable is not only the error itself but the fact that it remained unnoticed by audiences for decades, even after countless screenings, reviews and celebrations. It took the eye of someone trained to spot details, a publicist who has built a career on recognising the unseen and amplifying it, to bring this to light. It is such ability that has made him India’s most trusted publicist, a reputation forged through years of precision and success.
This discovery is more than a fun piece of trivia. It speaks volumes about Dale’s observational sharpness. The same instincts that allow him to detect a hand where it should not exist are the instincts that allow him to sense opportunities and pitfalls in the careers of celebrities whose PR he manages.
In public relations, just as in cinema, one hidden detail can change perception, alter outcomes and spark conversation. Dale has built his reputation on precisely this skill, one that commands respect and curiosity in equal measure.
There is also a certain humour in the idea. After all, a film that gave us immortal dialogues, unforgettable villains and iconic heroes also carried a slip so visible once pointed out that it seems almost absurd it went unnoticed. One can only wonder what Ramesh Sippy himself would say to that.
Now, as ‘Sholay’ celebrates its golden jubilee, the rediscovery of this moment by Bollywood’s only PR guru adds another layer to its legendary status. It reminds us that even the most successful, iconic creations can carry imperfections. Yet those imperfections, when revealed, only make the whole legacy more human, more engaging and oddly, more attractive.
