Controversies & scandals
Danny Denzongpa: all 3 major controversies
Each controversy of Danny Denzongpa's life and career, explained on its own page — what was alleged, what was proven, and what was only ever a rumour.
- 1Confirmed1975Turning down Gabbar Singh in SholayDanny was the first choice to play Gabbar Singh in Sholay and declined, having already given his dates to Feroz Khan for Dharmatma. Amjad Khan took the role and it became the most famous villain in Indian cinema.
- 2Reported1975The Dharmatma role he gave Sholay up forBy multiple press accounts the part Danny honoured his commitment to — Zangoora in Dharmatma — was cut down during production, leaving him with limited screen time in the film he had chosen over Sholay.
- 3Ongoing1970s–presentBollywood and the Northeast: the outsider casting problemDanny broke into Hindi cinema as one of the first major stars of Northeast Indian descent, but was cast overwhelmingly as villains, tribals and foreigners — part of a pattern of Bollywood typecasting that actors from the region still describe today.