Amitabh Bachchan and Dharmendra’s cult classic, 'Sholay', completed 50 years this year in August and to celebrate this, director-producer Ramesh Sippy, in collaboration with the Film Heritage Foundation (FHF), announced a theatrical re-release on December 12.
Titled 'Sholay: The Final Cut', the restored version features previously deleted scenes along with Sippy’s original dream ending, in which Thakur kills Gabbar. The film also serves as a moving tribute to Dharmendra, who died on November 24.
Despite the tough competition from 'Dhurandhar', 'Sholay: The Final Cut' is holding its ground and is heading towards the Rs 1.5 crore mark within three days of its release.
According to Sacnilk, the film earned approximately Rs 30 lakh on its release day, falling well short of expectations for what was projected as the “biggest-ever re-release of a restored film." On Saturday, the film earned Rs 50 lakh, followed by Rs 60 lakh on Sunday, taking its net total to Rs 1.40 crore. At this pace, the film is expected to reach the Rs 1.50 crore mark soon.
Makers have restored the film using its original 70mm materials, delivering a sharp 4K version with Dolby 5.1 sound. The restored cut has a runtime of 209.05 minutes, making it longer than the original 1975 theatrical release.
