Click to play videoNew Delhi: For months now, filmmaker Ram Gopal Varma has been in the news for his unofficial remake of 1970s-blockbuster Sholay, a project that's been mired in controversy since announcement.
Varma, a self-confessed fan of the original film, says his picture is merely a tribute to his favourite film. His characters, however, seem suspiciously similar to those in Ramesh Sippy's classic.
Will Amitabh Bachchcan as Babban Singh be able to give Gabbar a new lease of life the RGV’s now re-titled Ram Gopal Varma Ki Aag? Gabbar has lost his original crassness for a suave, though scar-faced sinister self – the chief of bandits is now an underworld don.
If Gabbar gave Amjad Khan a career in all things evil, then Babban gives the all-time favourite 'hero' Amitabh Bachchan a chance to play the bad guy.
Trying to fit into the Big B's big shoes of the strong and silent Jai is newcomer Prashant Raj as Raj. Here's another brooding baritoned tall order, but this 21st century Jai has the attitude to match his pierced earlobe and his iron balls.
A charmer, a smooth-talker and a big flirt - that pretty much defined the original Veeru. Ram Gopal Varma has roped in the very intense Ajay Devgan to reprise Veeru as Heero - an unlikely choice.
Yes, the new Veeru or Heero too loves his drink, still has a roving eye and he's still trying to get up, close and personal with Basanti aka Ghungroo, who's being played by Nisha Kothari.
Ghunghroo has something that Basanti didn't have - Durga for a friend. Durga is to Ramu what Radha was to Sippy.
And finally, there's the Thakur - Inspector Baldev Singh now returns as Inspector Narsimha played by Mohanlal.
An encounter specialist for the crime branch of Mumbai's City Police, Narsimha had a successful career graph. That is, until he takes on Babban Singh.
Ram Gopal Varma Ki Aag might be set in present day Mumbai but its characters are a remix of the unforgettable characters from the 1975 classic.
But then, as every Sholay fan knows, it's the story which matters the most.
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