Naseeruddin Shah Critiques Originality in Sholay

Naseeruddin Shah recently sparked discussions on originality in cinema by revealing his conversation with Javed Akhtar about the iconic film Sholay, which he described as heavily influenced by Charlie Chaplin and Clint Eastwood. During an event at IFP Season 14, Shah stated that every scene in Sholay reflects these influences, arguing that true originality is about how far one takes these references rather than merely identifying their sources. He drew parallels with Shakespeare, who also borrowed from earlier works but presented them in unique ways. Shah also praised contemporary filmmakers like Anubhav Sinha and Anurag Kashyap, while lamenting the overall grim state of the film industry today. His comments reignite debates about the originality of classic films and their cinematic influences.