
Sholay @50: The Eternal Flame of Bollywood’s Greatest Epic
The film’s original ending, where Thakur kills Gabbar with his spiked shoes, was censored by the CBFC for its violence, replaced with a tamer arrest scene. Now, the Film Heritage Foundation’s 4K restoration, led by Shivendra Singh Dungarpur, has revived this lost ending, along with deleted scenes like Ahmed’s brutal death, unearthed from decaying 35mm negatives found in a Mumbai gunny bag. Screened at Bologna’s Il Cinema Ritrovato Festival in June 2025, the restored Sholay captivated over 2,000 viewers, proving its timeless appeal. It’s set to hit the Toronto Film Festival in September, reaffirming its global stature.