Sholay returns in 4K: The iconic film will be re-released with its original ending
The 4K restored version of ‘Sholay’ will be released on 1,500 screens across India on the occasion of the film’s 50th anniversary. The final cut version will feature the original climax of the film.
The iconic Indian film ‘Sholay’ will return to theaters in a fully restored 4K version titled ‘Sholay – The Final Cut’. The film is scheduled for nationwide release on December 12, 2025. The release coincides with the film’s 50th anniversary and will be screened in 1,500 theatres.
The re-release is important as it will give audiences a chance to experience the uncut version of the film. The ending of the film was changed before the start of the film in 1975 due to censorship imposed during the Emergency in India.
Sippy Films, the producers of the original film, announced the release on social media. The caption reads, “‘Sholay: The Final Cut’ – in theaters December 12, 2025. Experience the original uncut version for the first time, restored in 4k and Dolby 5.1 by the Film Heritage Foundation. (sic)”
The first censored scene shows Thakur, played by Sanjeev Kumar, killing Gabbar Singh, played by Amjad Khan, using spiked shoes in a spirit of vengeance. The Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) deemed this sequence excessively violent and needed to be changed before the film’s initial release.
With the restoration of director Ramesh Sippy’s vision, audiences will see the desired emotional intensity and dramatic payoff that has only been discussed in public discourse for decades.
The re-release is a central feature of the iconic film’s 50th anniversary celebrations. Earlier in 2025, ‘Sholay’ was screened at the Toronto International Film Festival, where it received international appreciation. The original cast—Amitabh Bachchan, Dharmendra, Jaya Bachchan, Hema Malini, Sanjeev Kumar and Amjad Khan—are known for their performances.
Since its debut in 1975, ‘Sholay’ has left an indelible mark on Indian popular culture. Despite being overtaken by subsequent releases in terms of box office earnings, the film holds the record for the most watched Indian film.