Daily Kausar – Entertainment Desk
India’s legendary film ‘Sholay’ is all set to return to cinemas next month with a new, original ending — 50 years after its first release.
Released in 1975, Sholay is considered one of the biggest blockbusters in Bollywood history. Its powerful dialogues, unforgettable characters, and iconic scenes are still loved by fans around the world.
The film was directed by Ramesh Sippy, and featured a star-studded cast including Dharmendra, Amitabh Bachchan, Amjad Khan, Sanjeev Kumar, Hema Malini, and Jaya Bachchan.
According to Indian media, Sholay will hit theatres again on 12 December, and this time fans will finally watch the original climax that was changed before the film’s release in 1975.
Director Ramesh Sippy revealed in interviews that he had to reshoot the ending just before the film’s release because of India’s strict censorship rules during that time.
The year 1975 was a difficult period in Indian history because then-Prime Minister Indira Gandhi had imposed Emergency in the country. During this period, media freedom was restricted, political opponents were jailed, and the censorship board was extremely strict.
Sippy told The Times of India that the censor board found the original ending “too violent.”
Because of the Emergency, filmmakers could not challenge these decisions, so he was forced to shoot a softer ending.
In the version released in cinemas, Gabbar Singh is arrested by the police and Thakur, played by Sanjeev Kumar, decides not to take the law into his own hands.
But in the original version written by Salim–Javed, Thakur actually kills Gabbar using his spiked shoes, taking revenge for his family.
According to Ramesh Sippy, the new ending is not completely different, but it shows the story exactly the way the writers first created it — with a more intense and emotional conclusion.
With the film completing 50 years, director Ramesh Sippy has announced that Sholay will now be re-released with its true, original ending.
This has created huge excitement among fans who have watched the movie for decades and now want to experience the climax that was hidden for half a century.
Sholay will re-release in cinemas on 12 December, giving fans a chance to relive the magic of India’s most iconic film — this time, with the ending that was never shown before.
