India, Aug. 11 -- It has been five decades since the release of the iconic film Sholay. In this time, it has grown to be beyond box office numbers or memes or quotable quotes. It is a part of India's pop culture, its cultural fabric. Best friends are often called Jai-Veeru ki jodi. Any obnoxious person is dubbed Gabbar Singh. And the Thakur jokes never get old. It is a film unlike any other in the history of Indian cinema. Naturally, given this all-encompassing penetration in the Indian psyche, many have tried to recreate the magic. And none have succeeded.

Ahead of the film's 50th anniversary, its director Ramesh Sippy talks to Hindustan Times in an exclusive chat about how the film was born and what continues to keep it so relevant fiv...