‘Sholay – The Final Cut’ to re-release in 4K with original ending for 50th anniversary

Sholay – The Final Cut, a fully restored 4K version of the landmark 1975 classic, is set to hit 1,500 screens across India on December 12, 2025, offering audiences the first-ever theatrical presentation of the film’s original ending. The re-release marks the 50th anniversary of the Ramesh Sippy epic, long regarded as one of the most influential films in Indian cinema.

The restoration carries particular historic weight as the climax originally shot by Sippy was removed ahead of the film’s release during the Emergency, when the Central Board of Film Certification objected to its depiction of violence. That sequence, often discussed but never publicly seen, shows Thakur (Sanjeev Kumar) killing Gabbar Singh (Amjad Khan) with spiked shoes but was replaced in 1975 with a milder resolution.

Sippy Films confirmed the anniversary release on social media, writing: “‘Sholay: The Final Cut’ – In cinemas December 12, 2025. Experience the original uncut version for the first time ever, restored in 4K and Dolby 5.1 by Film Heritage Foundation.’”

The re-release follows a wave of renewed global attention for the classic. Earlier this year, Sholay screened at the Toronto International Film Festival, drawing international interest from critics and new audiences alike. The film’s original ensemble — including Amitabh Bachchan, Dharmendra, Jaya Bachchan, Hema Malini, Sanjeev Kumar and Amjad Khan — continues to be celebrated for performances that reshaped the grammar of mainstream Hindi storytelling.

Nearly five decades after its release, Sholay remains one of India’s most-watched films and a cultural touchstone quoted, parodied and celebrated across generations.