Daijiworld Media Network – Mumbai

Mumbai, Aug 8: Bollywood’s iconic blockbuster Sholay completes 50 years this year, marking a golden milestone in Indian cinema. Released on August 15, 1975, the film is remembered not only for its gripping storyline and unforgettable characters but also for its bumpy beginnings, as revealed by director Ramesh Sippy.

Speaking to NDTV during the film's 40th anniversary, Sippy recalled how Sholay was initially seen as a flop. In the first few days, ticket sales were low and critics weren’t impressed. But strong word-of-mouth soon turned it into one of the most celebrated films in Indian cinema history.

Sippy shared a vivid anecdote from the film’s early days at Mumbai’s Minerva theatre. He recounted how the screen often went dark due to the carbon in the projector not being replaced on time. Surprisingly, audiences still stayed glued to their seats, listening to the dialogues. The experience moved Sippy so much that he personally delivered fresh carbon to the theatre every day to ensure uninterrupted screenings.

Speaking later on the chat show The Invincibles, the filmmaker also recalled the challenges posed by the film’s original runtime. Released during the Emergency, theatres had to wrap up night shows before midnight. To accommodate four screenings a day, the first show had to begin as early as 9 am.

“We were asked to cut 20 minutes from the film,” Sippy said. “It was difficult to decide what to remove, but eventually we trimmed comedy sequences featuring Asrani and Jagdeep.” The runtime was shortened to 180 minutes, but the edits didn’t sit well with fans. “People who saw the original shows started telling others about the missing scenes. The audience began demanding them back,” he added.

Sholay, featuring Amitabh Bachchan, Dharmendra, Hema Malini, Jaya Bachchan, Sanjeev Kumar, and the legendary Amjad Khan as Gabbar Singh, has since become a cultural phenomenon, its dialogues and characters immortalised across generations.