**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 special screening follows the film’s successful presentation at the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF), where audiences experienced the movie as director Ramesh Sippy originally intended.

The Indian Film Festival of Sydney will take place from October 9 to 11, offering fans a unique opportunity to see this restored classic in its true form.

### Film Restoration: The Original Ending Returns

The original ending of *Sholay* features Sanjeev Kumar’s character, Thakur, personally killing the notorious villain Gabbar Singh. This conclusion was initially rejected by the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC), deemed too violent for release. As a result, the filmmakers shot an alternate ending in which Thakur hands Gabbar Singh over to the police.

Thanks to the recent restoration efforts, the film’s original ending has now been reinstated, allowing viewers to experience the authentic narrative as envisioned by the director.

### Festival Highlights and Audience Reception

The decision to screen *Sholay* with its original ending at IFFS has been met with overwhelming enthusiasm from audiences eager to witness this piece of cinematic history.

Mitu Bhowmick Lange, director of the Indian Film Festival of Melbourne (IFFM), which is presenting the Sydney festival, commented, “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 promises to be a landmark event for fans and cinephiles alike, celebrating the timeless legacy of *Sholay* in its most authentic form.
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