Naseeruddin Shah reveals informing Javed Akhtar that Sholay copied Chaplin, Eastwood Pictures: 'Originality is when...'

Actor-filmmaker Naseeruddin Shah recently talked about an intriguing discussion he had on the idea of originality in film with renowned screenwriter Javed Akhtar. Shah remembered bringing it up to Akhtar that the great 1975 movie ‘Sholay’, which he co-wrote Salim Khan, took a lot of inspiration from Clint Eastwood and Charlie Chaplin movies.
During an appearance at IFP Season 14, Naseeruddin shared, “I remember telling Javed Akhtar, ‘You’ve copied every scene, from Charlie Chaplin’s films to Clint Eastwood. His influence is evident in every frame. On the other hand, Akhtar's answer provided a novel viewpoint on uniqueness. He said, “Something can be called original when you can’t find its source. It’s not about where you’ve taken references from, but how far you’ve taken it.”
Shah noted that it is difficult to define originality after giving it some thought. “Even William Shakespeare, considered one of the greatest playwrights, was known to borrow from older works. But the originality lay in how he presented them,” the actor further added.
Renowned for his remarkable work in commercial hits as well as parallel cinema, Naseeruddin talked about the directors he looks up to, such as Vikramaditya Motwane, Satyajit Ray, Mrinal Sen, Basu Chatterjee, and Anurag Kashyap. In addition, he discussed the state of modern cinema, labelling it as “grim” but pointing out that filmmakers like Vikramaditya Motwane and Anubhav Sinha are still making movies they think are good.
The actor, who recently made his directorial debut with the short film ‘Man Woman Man Woman', explained that the project, which stars his son Vivaan Shah and wife Ratna Pathak Shah, examines love and connection throughout generations. It was praised for its distinct viewpoint when it was screened at IFP.
Shah also mentioned that, in his later years, he still enjoys making cameo appearances. “I don’t have to hanker for great roles anymore; I’ve done my share. I’m happy doing cameos that don’t require much effort,” he said.
‘Sholay’, which was directed by Ramesh Sippy, is regarded as one of the greatest Indian movies ever made. Blending elements from Spaghetti Westerns popularized by Clint Eastwood and Samurai cinema, the film featured a stellar ensemble cast including Amitabh Bachchan, Dharmendra, Sanjeev Kumar, Hema Malini, Jaya Bhaduri, and Amjad Khan.