One such name is Gopaldas Parmanand Sippy, popularly known as GP Sippy. GP Sippy produced Sholay. The film that redefined filmmaking and gave a new life to Amitabh Bachchan's faltering career.
More than just a blockbuster maker, Sippy's journey tells the story of resilience, reinvention and a stroke of cinematic genius that brought to life the story of a dusty, dacoit-ridden village called Ramgarh.
Where did GP Sippy come from?
Sippy was born into a wealthy business family in pre-Partition Karachi. He lived his early life in luxury. His family owned a palatial bungalow and many business properties. But the Partition of 1947 took it all away overnight. Forced to leave everything behind, Sippy fled to Mumbai. In Mumbai, he lived as a refugee and not as a nobleman because he had left everything behind.
Sippy did many businesses, but did not work
With survival now the only goal, Sippy tried his hand at several businesses. According to a New York Times report, he sold carpets and even opened a small restaurant in Mumbai. Nothing lasted. His luck changed when he came across an unfinished building in Colaba. He bought it, sold it at a profit and began a new career in real estate.
The first film was a failure
After making some money from property, GP Sippy turned to cinema, a world that attracted many in the newly independent country. In 1953, he made his first film, Saza. The film did not bring him fame, but it marked the beginning of a long and consistent filmography. For years, Sippy was known as a B-grade producer who occasionally tried his hand at directing and acting, but he never found lasting success.
Cast of Sholay
Sholay was made with a star cast like Dharmendra, Sanjeev Kumar, Amitabh Bachchan, Hema Malini, Jaya Bachchan. People were shocked to see Amjad Khan as Gabbar. With a budget of Rs 3 crore, it was the most expensive Hindi film ever made at that time.
Directed by Ramesh Sippy and written by the famous duo Salim-Javed, Sholay broke records. It ran in theatres for five consecutive years and broke many records.
