Sholay 50 years: 2025: It has been a very special year for Ramesh Sippy. In August, his masterpiece Sholay completed 50 years of its release. Sippy has been known as the ‘Sholay director’ for decades. This tag adorns them with pride, but never becomes a burden. Sippy says, “I never felt the pressure of leaving Sholay behind. Every film should have its own identity. I don’t chase success, I chase inspiration.”

In fact, inspiration has touched Sippy again. After his previous directorial film Shimla Mirchi in 2020, he is once again returning to the director’s chair. “I am developing a new project. It is in the initial stages. I have always believed that one should move forward only after being completely sure about an idea. Once I am sure, you will hear the announcement,” he says without giving further details. Although there is talk that it will be an action film, Sippy currently only says, “I am shaping it with the writers.”

Restored version of the film

Sippy talks openly about his 1975 classic. Sanjeev Kumar, Amitabh Bachchan, Dharmendra, Jaya Bachchan, Hema Malini and Amjad Khan starred in Sholay. On completion of 50 years, the restored version of the film was screened at the Toronto International Film Festival. Special screenings were also held in many film festivals across the country. Sippy says, “The experience was extremely emotional. When we were making the film, we had no idea what it would become. To see Sholay with Full House in Toronto and get the same reaction from the audience as the Indian audience did in 1975 was very heart-touching.”

‘We kept the story simple’

Sippy says the secret of Sholay’s enduring popularity is simplicity and honesty. “We kept the story simple, with drama where it was needed, and humor and warmth where it was needed. Salim-Javed’s script was brilliant, the cast acted with sincerity and R.D. Burman’s music made it all the more memorable.” In today’s cinema culture, there could have been sequels and spin-offs of Sholay, but Sippy never thought of it. “Sholay is perfect as it is. Even after 50 years, the audience’s reaction is the same. It is not necessary to tease some films.”

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