The blockbuster flick, Sholay continues to inspire. Dharmendra’s character, Veeru’s suicide bid in celluloid more than 30 years ago, has present day doctors and legislators climbing up water tanks to get their demands fulfilled.

In the scene that became one of the most popular scenes in Indian cinema, Dharmendra climbs up a village water tank and threatens to commit suicide unless his lady love Basanti marries him.

The scene ends with Basanti confessing her love for him.

This particular stunt has recently been picked up by many people in many parts of the country as a means to get coerce others into giving into their demands.

Some time ago, one had heard of a legislator in Maharashtra who reportedly climbed up a water tank to get his voters’ demands fulfilled.

Now, there is similar news from Moradabad, Uttar Pradesh.

A restaurant owner, Khalil, and his pregnant wife climbed up a water tank, seeking action against the local MP, who they claim has been harassing them.

Khalil says the MP had forced his restaurant’s closure and taken away his equipment for not backing him in the elections.

And this is not all. A similar incident took place in in Srinagar when two homoepathy doctors climbed up the BSNL tower near Lal Chowk and threatened to commit suicide if they did not get any jobs.