The iconic Bollywood blockbuster Sholay is set to return to the big screen in a grand celebration of its 50th anniversary at this year’s London Film Festival.
The British Film Institute (BFI) will showcase a newly restored director’s cut of the 1975 classic, complete with its original ending and previously unseen deleted scenes.
Directed by Ramesh Sippy, Sholay first released on August 15, 1975, and went on to redefine Indian cinema with its unforgettable characters — Jai and Veeru (Amitabh Bachchan and Dharmendra), Thakur (Sanjeev Kumar), Gabbar Singh (Amjad Khan), Basanti (Hema Malini), and Radha (Jaya Bachchan).
The restored version will be screened at the BFI IMAX in London, the UK’s largest screen, on October 19 — the closing night of the 2025 festival.
Amitabh Bachchan, who portrayed the stoic Jai, said he was delighted to see the film restored to its original vision.
“It’s wonderful that the Film Heritage Foundation has brought back Sholay in such a magnificent way. The film was a defining moment for all of us, and I hope it continues to resonate with audiences even after five decades,” he said.
Dharmendra, who played the fun-loving Veeru, recalled his fond memories of shooting the film, often described as a “Curry Western.”
“So many moments from Sholay have become a part of cinematic history. I was offered Gabbar and Thakur, but I chose Veeru — he was closest to my own personality,” he said.
The film’s restoration, initiated in 2022 by Shehzad Sippy of Sippy Films, took nearly three years to complete.
“It’s been a labour of love to resurrect this masterpiece and honour the vision of my grandfather, G.P. Sippy,” Shehzad said.
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Shivendra Singh Dungarpur, director of the Film Heritage Foundation, said that restoring Sholay was a challenge, given the loss of the original camera negative and 70mm prints.
“Despite the hurdles, we’ve ensured the film has been beautifully revived — now complete with the original ending and unseen scenes,” he said.
The 2025 London Film Festival will also highlight contemporary Indian cinema, featuring Lucknow-born Ahmed Alauddin Jamal’s Hotel London and Anuparna Roy’s debut film Songs of Forgotten Trees, which is competing in the festival’s First Feature Competition.
