'Sholay' re-release gets 'U' certificate; no cuts enforced
What's the story
The iconic Bollywood film Sholay (1975) will be re-released as Sholay - The Final Cut, featuring the original climax and two deleted scenes. The Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) has passed the Dharmendra and Amitabh Bachchan film with a "U" certificate after reviewing it on November 24, 2025, reported Bollywood Hungama. Despite the addition of these scenes, no cuts were enforced during this process. Sholay - Final Cut will release on Friday.
Film specifics
'Sholay - The Final Cut' runtime and technical details
Sholay - The Final Cut has a runtime of 209.05 minutes (3 hours, 29 minutes, and 5 seconds), which is longer than the original 1975 version at around 190 minutes (3 hours and 10 minutes). The movie has been restored in 4K with its original 70mm aspect ratio of 2.2:1. Its sound has been restored using the original sound negative and magnetic soundtrack preserved by the Film Heritage Foundation for an enhanced cinematic experience.
Controversy
'Sholay - The Final Cut' dialogue change controversy
The re-release of Sholay has sparked concerns among fans over potential changes to the film's dialogues. Last week, viewers were upset when the trailer for Sholay - The Final Cut revealed that "James Bond" was replaced with "Tatya Tope" in a key dialogue. This alteration has drawn criticism from Javed Akhtar, one of the original dialogue writers alongside Salim Khan.
Director's insight
'Sholay - The Final Cut' director discusses changed ending
The original climax of Sholay was altered due to pressure from the government authorities. In the original ending, Thakur (Sanjeev Kumar) killed villain Gabbar Singh (Amjad Khan). Director Ramesh Sippy had told Bollywood Hungama in October that he was forced to change it because of censorship rules during the Emergency period in 1975.
Industry impact
Exhibitors brace for long films in December
Meanwhile, exhibitors are preparing for a busy December with three back-to-back films over three weeks, each over three hours long. This unusual trend started with Dhurandhar (3 hours and 34 minutes), which will be followed by Sholay - The Final Cut (3 hours and 29 minutes). Next week, Avatar: Fire And Ash will join the list at 3 hours and 17 minutes.