Sydney film festival to screen ‘Sholay’ with original ending

**Sydney Film Festival to Screen ‘Sholay’ with Original Ending**

*By Shreya Mukherjee | Sep 24, 2025, 01:41 PM*

The iconic Bollywood film *Sholay*, starring Amitabh Bachchan, Dharmendra, Hema Malini, and Jaya Bachchan, is set to be screened at the Indian Film Festival of Sydney (IFFS) with its original ending. This follows a successful screening at the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF), where audiences experienced the film as director Ramesh Sippy originally intended.

The IFFS will take place from October 9-11, promising a special cinematic experience for fans and film enthusiasts alike.

### Film Restoration: The Return of the Original Ending

The restored version of *Sholay* features the original ending, which was previously withheld due to censorship. In this ending, Sanjeev Kumar’s character, Thakur, takes justice into his own hands by killing the notorious villain Gabbar Singh.

Originally, the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) rejected this ending for being too violent. As a result, the filmmakers shot an alternate conclusion where Thakur hands over Gabbar Singh to the police. Now, after extensive restoration, the film finally presents the original ending as envisioned by the director.

### Festival Highlights and Audience Reaction

The decision to screen *Sholay* with its original ending at IFFS has been met with overwhelming demand from audiences eager to see the film in its truest form.

Mitu Bhowmick Lange, director of the Indian Film Festival of Melbourne (IFFM), which is presenting the event, stated, “To bring back the film’s original ending after all these years is to restore not just a different final scene but the full vision of its creator.”

This screening is more than just a tribute to a classic film; it’s an opportunity to appreciate the artistic integrity and storytelling as originally intended.

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*Don’t miss the chance to witness this legendary film at the Indian Film Festival of Sydney from October 9-11.*
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