Bollywood’s legendary action-drama Sholay directed by Ramesh Sippy, is making a triumphant return to cinemas, 50 years after it first captivated audiences. The star-studded block-buster film of the 70’s, featuring Amitabh Bachchan, Dharmendra, Hema Malini, and Sanjeev Kumar, is being re-released as Sholay: The Final Cut, fully restored in 4K with Dolby 5.1 sound.
There is a big takeaway for the die-hard fans of this movie. The original ending, cut from the 1975 release. In this intense climax, Thakur (Sanjeev Kumar) personally confronts the ruthless Gabbar Singh (Amjad Khan), a shocking scene replaced decades ago with a more “censor-friendly” police arrest.
The restoration, a three-year labour of love by the Film Heritage Foundation and Sippy Films, dug up original film reels from London and Mumbai, recovering deleted scenes and the lost ending. Cinephiles got a sneak peek earlier this year at Italy’s Il Cinema Ritrovato Festival, and reactions were overwhelmingly positive.
“Shehzad Sippy says this version shows ‘the director’s original vision,’ bringing back the raw drama, thrills, and emotion fans fell in love with,” reports insiders.
The restored Sholay will screen in around 1,500 theatres across India from December 12, 2025, giving fans a chance to relive the magic, and finally witness the climax that was too intense for its time.
For many, it’s a trip down memory lane with the famous dialogues that grips all attention. Gabbar Singh, Thakur, Jai, Veeru and Basanti remain the most unforgettable iconic characters in Hindi Cinema. For the new generation and first time viewers, this will be a rare glimpse into the golden era of Bollywood.
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