Click here to follow Screen Digital on YouTube and stay updated with the latest from the world of cinema.
© IE Online Media Services Pvt Ltd
Tags:
Sholay is more than just a film for Indian audience. Ramesh Sippy’s 1975 classic earned a cult status for its evergreen storytelling, unforgettable characters, and timeless music. The film that stars Amitabh Bachchan and late Dharmendra was to have the much-anticipated 4K screening at the ongoing 56th International Film Festival of India (IFFI). However, it has now been cancelled.
The 4K restoration of Sholay was scheduled to be screened on November 26, 2025, at IFFI, but it was reportedly called off due to technical glitches. Despite the setback, a special “In Conversation” session titled “50 Years of Sholay: Why ‘Sholay’ Still Resonates?”, featuring Ramesh Sippy and Kiran Sippy, will still take place on November 27, 2025, at the Kala Academy in Goa.
The IFFI red carpet had also expected appearances from director Ramesh Sippy and the film’s leading lady Hema Malini. However, due to Dharmendra’s failing health in the days before his passing, Hema had already withdrawn from attending.
The remastered version was screened earlier this year at the Toronto International Film Festival, where Dharmendra’s son, actor Bobby Deol, walked the red carpet on his father’s behalf.
Sholay – The Final Cut, a fully restored and remastered 4K version of the iconic film, is set for a wide re-release in cinemas on December 12, 2025, to mark its 50th anniversary. This version has also made headlines for reinstating the film’s original, darker ending—the director’s cut that was altered for the 1975 theatrical release due to censorship guidelines.
The 56th International Film Festival of India (IFFI) is also organising a special tribute for actor Dharmendra at its closing ceremony later this week, an official said.
“We received the unfortunate news of Dharam ji’s passing away on Monday. A minute’s silence was observed at the closing ceremony of the Film Bazaar as a mark of respect. We will also be paying homage to the beloved legend during the festival’s closing ceremony,” Prakash Magdum, Managing Director, NFDC, told PTI.
Meanwhile, the legendary 1942 BSA WM20 motorcycle, immortalised as Jai and Veeru’s ride in the iconic “Yeh Dosti” sequence, has become an unexpected memorial at IFFI following Dharmendra’s passing on November 24.
Displayed in a glass enclosure, the bike drew visitors into quiet reflection. People paused, took photographs, and lingered—as if the machine itself held decades of memories. For fans, it is no longer just a prop. It is Jai and Veeru, it is Sholay, and now, it is Dharmendra.
“The motorcycle displayed on the festival premises was introduced as a special attraction this year to mark the celebration for 50 years of ‘Sholay’. But it has also become a tribute to Dharmendra ji now, as visitors can’t help but recall the iconic song ‘Yeh Dosti’ and his unforgettable presence when they see it,” Magdum said.
The five-minute song sequence, which was shot on this bike took 21 days to shoot, read the information that is displayed alongside the bike.
“BSA WM20 was part of BSA’s massive wartime contribution to Britain’s war effort, 1937 was its first year of production that would last until the late 1950s. The ‘W’ in the model designation signifies that it was specifically-designed to be a military motorcycle,” the display further read.
Click here to follow Screen Digital on YouTube and stay updated with the latest from the world of cinema.
