“My final word on Manoj - I had decided not to work with him. I gave it a chance, but it didn’t work out. Now my decision to not work with him is final.
As I’ve said, Amitabh as Gabbar is the only casting in Sholay that’s indispensable. Manoj and I cannot see eye to eye, ever. I wish him all the best.”
The day after his meeting with Manoj, Varma signed Sushant Singh for Samba’s role.
“When I met Sushant for Samba’s role, I suddenly realised how stupid I was to not think of him for the role. We’ve worked in Satya, Kaun and Jungle but not afterwards. He’s immensely talented,” the director said.