The fully restored, uncut version of Bollywood’s legendary film Sholay will premiere on June 27 at Italy’s Il Cinema Ritrovato Festival, marking its 50th anniversary. Featuring Amitabh Bachchan and Dharmendra, the restored film includes deleted scenes and its original ending, making it a cinematic milestone.
One of Indian cinema’s most iconic films, Sholay, is set to make a grand return to the big screen as a fully restored, uncut version will have its world premiere on June 27 at the prestigious Il Cinema Ritrovato Festival in Bologna, Italy. This event marks the film’s 50th anniversary, offering fans a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to witness the legendary classic in its original form.
Directed by Ramesh Sippy and written by the legendary screenwriting duo Salim-Javed, Sholay was originally released in 1975 and quickly became a watershed moment in Indian film history. Blending genres such as action, drama, thriller, comedy, and romance, the movie told the gripping tale of Thakur Baldev Singh (Sanjeev Kumar), who enlists two small-time criminals, Veeru (Dharmendra) and Jai (Amitabh Bachchan), to capture the menacing bandit Gabbar Singh (Amjad Khan), who terrorizes the fictional village of Ramgarh.
Now, nearly five decades later, the film’s fully restored version—including its original ending and deleted scenes that were cut from the theatrical release—will be showcased on the massive open-air screen at Piazza Maggiore. This marks the first time audiences will see the director’s intended version of the film, complete with scenes long thought lost to time.
Speaking about the film’s enduring legacy, Amitabh Bachchan shared his reflections with Variety:
“Some things in life remain permanently etched in your mind. Sholay is one such film. Shooting for it was an unforgettable experience, but at the time I had no idea it would be a watershed for Indian cinema. Its dramatic change in fortunes from being declared an unsuccessful venture to its record-breaking box office run was an emotional rollercoaster for all of us.”
Dharmendra, who played the beloved character of Veeru, called Sholay the “eighth wonder of the world.” He revealed that he was initially offered the roles of both Thakur and Gabbar but chose Veeru because the character was so similar to his own personality.
“I am thrilled to hear that the film is being restored and I am sure it will have the same success as it had 50 years ago. Who can forget the dialogues of Salim-Javed and the direction of Ramesh Sippy? So many scenes have gone down in the history of Indian cinema and every character became a star. But the real hero was the coin.”
He also recalled his favorite moments from the film, especially the “tanki scene,” the temple scene, and the emotional death of Jai, calling it one of the most powerful scenes in the film.
The restoration project was a three-year collaboration between the Film Heritage Foundation and Sippy Films Pvt. Ltd. According to Shehzad Sippy, the producer and grandson of Sholay‘s original producer G.P. Sippy, the process was a “labour of love.”
“It has taken us three years, but we were able to find the original ending and some deleted scenes that the world will see for the first time at the grand premiere. This is a tribute to the vision and legacy of my grandfather G.P. Sippy.”
Restoring a film of this scale posed significant technical challenges. The team sourced materials from Mumbai warehouses and Iron Mountain’s archive facility in London. In order to retain the film’s original cinematic feel, they even consulted veteran cinematographer Kamlakar Rao, who worked on the original film, to ensure the proper 2.2:1 aspect ratio was maintained for the 70mm format the film was initially intended for.
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The significance of this restoration cannot be overstated. In 1999, Sholay was named “Film of the Millennium” by BBC India, and in a 2002 poll conducted by the British Film Institute, it was hailed as the greatest Indian film ever made.
As the world gears up to witness the original, uncut Sholay in all its restored glory, this premiere not only celebrates Indian cinema’s rich legacy but also reintroduces an iconic tale to a global audience.
