Sholay  undoubtedly was a trend setter in the Hindi film industry. The film was and still is one of the biggest hit one has witnessed on the Indian celluloid. Directed by Ramesh Sippy, the multi-starrer was one of the most expensive films at the time and had names like Sanjeev Kumar, Dharmendra, Amitabh Bachchan and Hema Malini in its cast.

Here are some interesting facts about the film:

Sholay  was the first Hindi film to be released with as many as 250 prints.

Sholay  was the first Hindi film released in 70mm and Stereophonic sound.

To date, more than 1,100 prints of Sholay  are in circulation-the highest number for any Hindi film.

SHOLAY ran for five and half year (286 weeks) at the Minerva in Mumbai. (Though Aditya Chopra's Dilwale Dulhania Le Jaayenge  has crossed its 300 weeks mark at Maratha Mandir (Mumbai) but the film was not released in this theatre at its release time).

For 75 weeks the current booking of Minerva remained shut as the prestigious cinema hall used to get full in advance booking itself!

Sholay  fetched Rs. 50 lakhs as distributor's share from the Minerva, Mumbai which could be estimated at approximately Rs. 5 to 7 crores today.

The famous train scene was shot in 30 days.

Free Press Journal's film critic wrote that Sholay 's tickets will be available easily in the 2nd week. The producer G.P. Sippy gave him an open challenge asking him to resign if that did not happen. The film proved him wrong and the film critic kept his word and resigned from the job!!!

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