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Sholay

2026-07-14T07:19:33Z

2409:40E6:EA:E7CA:4DCF:1ADD:A789:4C4B:

{{short description|1975 Indian film by Ramesh Sippy}}
{{distinguish|Shola (disambiguation)}}
{{featured article}}
{{protection padlock|small=yes}}
{{Use Indian English|date=December 2025}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=December 2025}}
{{Infobox film
| name = Sholay
| image = Sholay-poster.jpg
| alt =
| caption = Theatrical release poster
| director = [[Ramesh Sippy]]
| producer = [[G. P. Sippy]]
| writer = [[Salim–Javed]]
| starring = {{Plainlist|
* [[Dharmendra]]
* [[Sanjeev Kumar]]
* [[Hema Malini]]
* [[Amitabh Bachchan]]
* [[Jaya Bhaduri]]
* [[Amjad Khan (actor)|Amjad Khan]]
}}
| music = [[R. D. Burman]]
| cinematography = [[Dwarka Divecha]]
| editing = [[M. S. Shinde]]
| studio = United Producers [[G. P. Sippy|Sippy Films]]
| distributor = Sippy Films
| released = {{Film date|1975|8|15|df=yes}}
| runtime = 204 minutes (Original version) 198 minutes (Theatrical version)
| country = India
| language = Hindi
| budget = {{INR|35 million|link=yes}}<ref name="budget">{{cite web|url=https://boxofficeindia.com/report-details.php?articleid=4467|title=2.0 - Among The Biggest Films Ever Made In India|date=27 November 2018}}</ref>
| gross = {{Estimation}} {{INR|580 million}} (India)<ref>{{cite news|title=Sholay emerges as Bollywood's most successful re-run product even after 20 years|url=https://www.indiatoday.in/magazine/society-and-the-arts/films/story/19950915-sholay-emerges-as-bollywoods-most-successful-re-run-product-even-after-20-years-807750-1995-09-14|work=[[India Today]]|date=15 September 1995|access-date=15 November 2017|archive-date=1 January 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170101010917/http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/sholay-emerges-as-bollywoods-most-successful-re-run-product-even-after-20-years/1/289356.html|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>[http://smartinvestor.business-standard.com/market/ipoNews-418220-Top_10_biggest_commercial_hits_of_Amitabh_Bachchan.htm Top 10 biggest commercial hits of Amitabh Bachchan] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171107015514/http://smartinvestor.business-standard.com/market/ipoNews-418220-Top_10_biggest_commercial_hits_of_Amitabh_Bachchan.htm |date=7 November 2017 }}, ''[[Business Standard]]'', 11 October 2016</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=B-Town rewind: The tale of the first Bollywood crore|url=http://www.mid-day.com/articles/b-town-rewind-the-tale-of-the-first-bollywood-crore/15162064|access-date=16 March 2014|work=[[Mid-Day]]|archive-date=16 March 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140316114251/http://www.mid-day.com/articles/b-town-rewind-the-tale-of-the-first-bollywood-crore/15162064|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Mitra |first1=Sumit |date=31 July 1985 |title=After series of box-office duds, Ramesh Sippy strikes back with romantic venture Saagar |work=[[India Today]] |url=https://www.indiatoday.in/magazine/society-the-arts/films/story/19850731-after-series-of-box-office-duds-ramesh-sippy-strikes-back-with-romantic-venture-saagar-770238-2013-12-27 |url-status=live |access-date=7 February 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190209135521/https://www.indiatoday.in/magazine/society-the-arts/films/story/19850731-after-series-of-box-office-duds-ramesh-sippy-strikes-back-with-romantic-venture-saagar-770238-2013-12-27 |archive-date=9 February 2019}}</ref> 250 million tickets (worldwide)<ref name="indiatoday1985" />
}}

'''''Sholay''''' ({{IPA|hns|ˈɕoːleː|lang|Sholay pronunciation.ogg}}, {{translation|'Embers'}}) is a 1975 Indian [[Action-adventure game|Action-adventure drama]] [[film]] directed by [[Ramesh Sippy]], produced by his father [[G. P. Sippy]], and written by [[Salim–Javed]]. The film follows two criminals, Veeru ([[Dharmendra]]) and Jai ([[Amitabh Bachchan]]), who are hired by a retired police officer ([[Sanjeev Kumar]]) to capture the ruthless bandit [[Gabbar Singh (character)|Gabbar Singh]] ([[Amjad Khan (actor)|Amjad Khan]]). [[Hema Malini]] and [[Jaya Bhaduri]] also star as Veeru and Jai's love interests, Basanti and Radha, respectively. The soundtrack was composed by [[R D Burman]].

Filming took place in the rocky terrain of [[Ramanagara]], in the [[South India|southern]] state of [[Karnataka]], over two and a half years, beginning in October 1973. After the [[Central Board of Film Certification]] mandated the removal of several violent scenes, ''Sholay'' was released theatrically as a 198-minute long film. The first version of the [[director's cut]] (running at 204 minutes) became available on home media in 1990. In 2025, the fully restored Director's Cut was released worldwide as ''Sholay: The Final Cut.''

''Sholay'' is a [[Dacoit Western]] (sometimes called a "[[Curry Western]]"), combining the conventions of Indian [[dacoit film]]s with that of [[Spaghetti Western]]s along with elements of [[Samurai cinema]]. It is also a defining example of the [[masala film]], which mixes several genres in one work. Scholars have noted several themes in the film, such as [[Heroic bloodshed|glorification of violence]], conformation to [[Indian feudalism]], debate between [[social order]] and mobilised usurpers, [[homosocial]] bonding, and the film's role as a [[National personification|national allegory]].

''Sholay'' received negative critical reviews and a tepid commercial response during its initial release. However, favorable [[Word of mouth|word-of-mouth]] publicity helped it to become a box office success. It then went on to break records for continuous showings in many theatres across India, and ran for more than five years at Mumbai's Minerva theatre. The combined sales of the original soundtrack, scored by [[R. D. Burman]], and the dialogues (released separately), set new records at the time. In addition, the film's dialogue and certain characters became extremely popular, contributing to numerous cultural [[meme]]s and becoming part of India's daily [[vernacular]]. ''Sholay'' is now regarded as [[List of films considered the best#National polls|one of the greatest and most influential Indian films of all time]]. It was ranked first in the [[British Film Institute]]'s 2002 poll of "Top 10 Indian Films" of all time. In 2005, the judges of the [[50th Filmfare Awards]] named it the [[Filmfare Best Film of 50 Years|Best Film of 50 Years]]. It was also an [[List of highest-grossing Indian films in overseas markets|overseas success]] in the [[Soviet Union]]. ''Sholay'' was also at one point the [[List of highest-grossing Indian films|highest-grossing Indian film]] ever at the time, and was the [[List of highest-grossing films in India|highest-grossing film in India]] up until ''[[Hum Aapke Hain Koun..!]]'' (1994).

== Plot ==
===Theatrical release (1975)===
Jai and Veeru are small-time crooks who are released from prison, where they are recruited by a former [[police Inspector|Inspector]] [[Thakur (title)|Thakur]] Baldev Singh, who a corrupt police officer to capture a notorious [[dacoit]] named Gabbar Singh wanted for {{INR|50000}},{{efn|name=exchange|The exchange rate in 1975 was 8.94 Indian rupees ({{INR}}) per 1 US dollar (US$).{{sfn|Statistical Abstract of the United States|1977|p=917}}}} as the duo had saved Thakur from a train robbery, which makes Thakur recruit them for the mission with an additional {{INR|20000}} reward. The duo leaves for Thakur's village in [[Chambal (region)|Ramgarh]], where Gabbar, decides to young man is residing and terrorising the villagers.

After reaching Ramgarh, Veeru falls for Basanti, a feisty, talkative [[Driving (horse)|horse-cart driver]]. Jai meets Thakur's widowed daughter-in-law, Radha, and falls for her; she later reciprocates his feelings. The two thwart Gabbar's dacoits, who came to extort money and goods. Later on, the three dacoits, including Kaalia, are killed by Gabbar. During the festival of [[Holi]], an explosion Gabbar's gang attacks the villagers, where actions they corner his henchmen Jai and Veeru, but the duo manage to attack bomb blasts and chase them away from the village. The duo is upset at Thakur's inaction (when Jai and Veeru were cornered, Thakur had a gun within his reach, but did not help them) and considers calling off the mission. Thakur reveals that a few years ago, Gabbar had killed his family (save for Radha and Ramlal), and had bomb both his arms cut off; he concealed the dismemberment by always wearing a [[shawl]], the sole reason he could not use the gun.

Realising how much Thakur has suffered, Jai and Veeru take pity by taking an oath that they will capture Gabbar alive, free of charge. After learning the duo's heroics, Gabbar kills Ahmed, the local [[imam]] Rahim Chacha's son, to threaten the villagers to make Jai and Veeru surrender to him. The villagers refuse and instead get the duo to kill a few of Gabbar's henchmen in revenge for the boy's death. Dangerous and tries, Gabbar angrily retaliates by having his men capture Veeru and Basanti. Jai arrives and attacks the hideout, where the trio gangster can flee Gabbar's hideout with dacoits in pursuit. Shooting from behind a rock, Jai and Veeru nearly run out of machine gun they [[ammunition]]. Unaware that Jai was wounded in the gunfight, Veeru is forced to leave for more ammunition and also to drop Basanti at a safe place.

Jai sacrifices himself by using his last bullet to ignite dynamite sticks on a bridge from close range, killing Gabbar's men. Veeru returns, and Jai dies, leaving Radha and Veeru devastated. Enraged, Veeru attacks Gabbar's den and kills his remaining men, where he catches Veeru fights Gabbar and nearly beats him to death. Thakur appears and reminds Veeru of the vow to hands over Gabbar alive. Thakur uses his spike-soled shoes to severely injure Gabbar and his hands. As Thakur is about to kill Gabbar, the police arrive, and the senior officer convinces Thakur to let go, explaining that he was also a police officer, whose example is legendary. Convinced, Thakur lets go, and the police arrest Gabbar for his crimes.

After Jai's funeral, Veeru decides to leave Ramgarh, with Thakur empathising with him. After boarding the train, he finds Basanti waiting for him on the train, and they help both embrace each other.

=== Director's cut ===
The original [[director's cut]] has a different ending. The police do not arrive to stop Thakur. Instead, he kicks Gabbar onto a nail on one of the two poles that Gabbar had used to chain Thakur when he had cut off his arms, thus stabbing him in the back and killing him. This version also has deleted scenes that include Thakur's shoe soles getting laced with spikes, the scene in which Thakur's family is massacred, and the scene in which the imam's son is killed (all of which were originally cut by India's [[Central Board of Film Certification|Censor Board]]).{{sfn|Chopra|2000|pp=77–79}} The Censor Board was concerned about the violence, and that viewers may be influenced to violate the law by punishing people severely.<ref name="ending" /> Although Sippy fought to keep the scenes, he ultimately had to reshoot the ending, and as directed by the Censor Board, have the police arrive just before Thakur can kill Gabbar.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Prabhakar, Jyothi |date=28 April 2013 |title=Changed 'Sholay' climax because of the Censor Board: Ramesh Sippy |work=The Times of India |url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/hindi/bollywood/news/Changed-Sholay-climax-because-of-the-Censor-Board-Ramesh-Sippy/articleshow/19754678.cms? |url-status=live |access-date=5 July 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150817120148/http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/hindi/bollywood/news/Changed-Sholay-climax-because-of-the-Censor-Board-Ramesh-Sippy/articleshow/19754678.cms |archive-date=17 August 2015}}</ref>

The fully restored director's cut was released in 2025 as [[Sholay#Sholay:_The_Final_Cut_(2025)|''Sholay: The Final Cut'']]. It was remastered in 4K and Dolby 5.1, and theatrically reissued on 12 December 2025 globally. This release is classified at 206 minutes.<ref>{{cite web |date=11 December 2025 |title='Sholay' (15) |url=https://www.bbfc.co.uk/release/sholay-q29sbgvjdglvbjpwwc0zmzy4odc |access-date=18 December 2025 |publisher=[[British Board of Film Classification|BBFC]] |language=en-GB}}</ref>

Prior to this release, the censored, theatrical cut was the only one seen by audiences for fifteen years. Versions of the director's cut initially surfaced in 1990 via a British [[VHS]] release.<ref name="DVD" /> [[Eros International]] then released two versions on DVD: a director's cut that preserved the original full frame and is 204 minutes in length, and the censored widescreen version which ran at 198 minutes long.<ref name="Runtime" /><ref name="DVD" /><ref>{{Cite web |date=17 February 2001 |title=Sholay DVD review :: zulm.net :: definitive indian dvd guide |url=http://www.zulm.net/modules.php?op=modload&name=News&file=article&sid=103&mode=&order=0 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120811131134/http://www.zulm.net/modules.php?op=modload&name=News&file=article&sid=103&mode=&order=0 |archive-date=11 August 2012 |access-date=3 July 2013 |publisher=zulm.net}}</ref>{{efn|name=runtime|The [[British Board of Film Classification]] (BBFC) notes three running times: the film submission is 198 minutes; the video is 188 minutes (BBFC notes that "When a film is transferred to video, the running time will be shorter by approximately 4% due to the differing number of frames per second. This does not mean that the video version has been cut or re-edited."); and the director's cut is 204 minutes.<ref>{{Cite web |date=25 September 2012 |title=''Sholay'' |url=https://www.bbfc.co.uk/website/Classified.nsf/c2fb077ba3f9b33980256b4f002da32c/cde1a8bb41dd72ca8025660b0006032d?OpenDocument |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131021153210/http://www.bbfc.co.uk/website/Classified.nsf/c2fb077ba3f9b33980256b4f002da32c/cde1a8bb41dd72ca8025660b0006032d?OpenDocument |archive-date=21 October 2013 |access-date=11 May 2013 |publisher=British Board of Film Classification}}</ref>}}

== Cast ==
{{Cast listing|
* [[Dharmendra]] as Veeru
* [[Sanjeev Kumar]] as [[Thakur (title)|Thakur]] Baldev Singh, a retired Police Officer
* [[Hema Malini]] as Basanti, Veeru's love interest
* [[Amitabh Bachchan]] as Jaidev "Jai"
* [[Jaya Bhaduri]] as Radha, Thakur's daughter-in-law and Jai's love interest
* [[Amjad Khan (actor)|Amjad Khan]] as [[Gabbar Singh (character)|Gabbar Singh]], a wanted [[dacoit]].
* [[A. K. Hangal]] as Rahim Chacha, the [[imam]] in the village
* [[Satyen Kappu]] as Ram Lal, Thakur's servant
* [[Iftekhar]] as [[Inspector]] Khurana, Radha's Father
* [[Leela Mishra]] as Mausi, Basanti's maternal aunt
* [[Vikas Anand]] as Jailor
* [[Mac Mohan]] as Sambha, Gabbar Singh's sidekick
* [[Keshto Mukherjee]] as Hariram, prison barber and Jailor's side-kick
* [[Sachin (actor)|Sachin Pilgaonkar]] as Ahmed, son of the imam
* Master Alankar as grandson of Thakur Baldev Singh; the character's name is not mentioned in the film.
* [[Viju Khote]] as Kaalia, one of the Gabbar's men whom he kills in a game of [[Russian roulette]]
* Major Anand as unnamed, one of the Gabbar's men whom he kills in a game of Russian roulette
* Bhagwan Sinha as unnamed, one of the Gabbar's men killed by him in a game of Russian roulette
* [[Arvind Joshi]] as elder son of Thakur Baldev Singh<ref>{{Cite news |title=Sharman Joshi father Arvind Joshi workedin Amitabh Bachchan-Dharmendra Sholay |publisher=TimesNowHindi.com |url=https://www.timesnowhindi.com/entertainment/bollywood/article/sharman-joshi-father-arvind-joshi-worked-in-amitabh-bachchan-dharmendra-sholay/290925 |access-date=12 October 2020 |archive-date=22 January 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210122125347/https://www.timesnowhindi.com/entertainment/bollywood/article/sharman-joshi-father-arvind-joshi-worked-in-amitabh-bachchan-dharmendra-sholay/290925 |url-status=live }}</ref>
* Bhanumati as Nirmala
* Birbal as the prisoner with half shaven mustache
* [[Raj Kishore]] as a jail inmate with gayish mannerisms<ref>{{Cite news |last=Sarkar |first=Suparno |date=6 April 2018 |title=Sholay actor Raj Kishore latest among Bollywood celebs who died in 2018 |work=International Business Times |location=India |url=https://www.ibtimes.co.in/sholay-actor-raj-kishore-passes-away-85-766026 |url-status=live |access-date=6 April 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180406160230/https://www.ibtimes.co.in/sholay-actor-raj-kishore-passes-away-85-766026 |archive-date=6 April 2018}}</ref>
* [[Asrani]] as the [[Prison officer|Jailor]], a comical character modelled after [[Charlie Chaplin]] in ''[[The Great Dictator]]''{{sfn|Banerjee|Srivastava|1988|pp=166–169}}
* [[Gita Siddharth]] as Geeta, Thakur Baldev Singh's daughter in law<ref>{{Cite news |title=Parichay And Sholay Actor Gita Siddharth Kak Passes Away |publisher=India.com |url=https://www.india.com/entertainment/parichay-and-sholay-actor-gita-siddharth-kak-passes-away-3878236/ |access-date=12 October 2020 |archive-date=14 October 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201014034125/https://www.india.com/entertainment/parichay-and-sholay-actor-gita-siddharth-kak-passes-away-3878236/ |url-status=live }}</ref>
* [[Helen (actress)|Helen]] in a special appearance in song "Mehbooba Mehbooba"
* [[P. Jairaj|Jairaj]] as Police Commissioner
* [[Jagdeep]] as Soorma Bhopali, a comical wood trader
* [[Jalal Agha]] in a special appearance in song "Mehbooba Mehbooba"
* [[Om Shivpuri]] as a police officer investigating Gabbar's attack in the village.
* Sharad Kumar as Ninni, younger son of Thakur Baldev Singh<ref>{{Cite news |title=Biography: Sharad Kumar |publisher=Amazon.com |url=https://www.amazon.com/prime-video/actor/Sharad-Kumar/nm0474886/ |access-date=12 October 2020 |archive-date=22 October 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211022104355/https://www.amazon.com/prime-video/actor/Sharad-Kumar/nm0474886/ |url-status=live }}</ref>
}}

== Production ==
=== Development ===
The screenwriter pair [[Salim–Javed]], consisting of [[Salim Khan]] and [[Javed Akhtar]], began narrating the idea for ''Sholay'' as a four-line snippet to filmmakers in 1973.<ref name="open" />{{sfn|Chopra|2000|pp=22–28}} The idea was rejected by two producer/director teams, including directors [[Manmohan Desai]] and [[Prakash Mehra]].{{sfn|Chopra|2000|pp=22–28}} About six months after the release of ''[[Zanjeer (1973 film)|Zanjeer]]'' (1973),{{efn|name=Zanjeer|Salim-Javed won their first [[Filmfare Awards]] for ''Zanjeer'': [[Filmfare Award for Best Screenplay]] and [[Filmfare Award for Best Story|Best Story]] in [[21st Filmfare Awards|1974]].}} Salim-Javed contacted [[G. P. Sippy]] and his son [[Ramesh Sippy]],<ref name="open" /> and narrated the four-line snippet to them.{{sfn|Chopra|2000|pp=22–28}} Ramesh Sippy liked the concept of ''Sholay'' and hired them to develop it. The original idea of the film involved an army officer who decided to hire two ex-soldiers to avenge the murder of his family. The army officer was later changed to a policeman because Sippy felt that it would be difficult to get permission to shoot scenes depicting army activities. Salim-Javed completed the script in one month, incorporating names and personality traits of their friends and acquaintances.{{sfn|Chopra|2000|pp=22–28}} The film's script and dialogues are in [[Hindustani language|Hindustani]];<ref name="Cinar" /> Salim-Javed wrote the dialogues in [[Urdu script]], which was then transcribed by an assistant into [[Devanagari]] script so that Hindi readers could read the Urdu dialogues.<ref name="Akhtar" />

The film's plot was loosely styled after [[Akira Kurosawa]]'s 1954 [[samurai cinema]] film, ''[[Seven Samurai]]''.<ref name="nyt" /><ref name="rediff1" /> ''Sholay'' is a defining example of the [[Dacoit Western]] film, combining the conventions of Indian [[dacoit film]]s, especially [[Mehboob Khan]]'s ''[[Mother India]]'' (1957) and the [[Dilip Kumar]] and [[Nitin Bose]] film ''[[Gunga Jumna]]'' (1961),<ref name="Teo" /> with that of [[Western (genre)|Westerns]],<ref name="nyt" /><ref name="rediff1" /> especially [[Sergio Leone]]'s [[Spaghetti Western]]s such as ''[[Once Upon a Time in the West]]'' (1968) as well as ''[[The Magnificent Seven]]'' (1960).<ref name="rediff1" /> It also has some plot elements borrowed from the Indian films ''[[Mera Gaon Mera Desh]]'' (1971) and ''[[Khote Sikkay]]'' (1974).{{sfn|Chopra|2000|pp=22–28}} A scene depicting an attempted train robbery was inspired by a similar scene in ''Gunga Jumna'',<ref>{{Cite book |last=Ghosh |first=Tapan K. |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=0d6GAwAAQBAJ&pg=PA55 |title=Bollywood Baddies: Villains, Vamps and Henchmen in Hindi Cinema |date=2013 |publisher=[[SAGE Publishing|SAGE Publications]] |isbn=9788132113263 |page=55 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171130151204/https://books.google.com/books?id=0d6GAwAAQBAJ&pg=PA55 |archive-date=30 November 2017 |url-status=live}}</ref> and has also been compared to a similar scene in ''[[North West Frontier (film)|North West Frontier]]'' (1959).{{sfn|Varma|2010|pp=159–160}} A scene showing the massacre of Thakur's family has been compared with the massacre of the McBain family in ''Once Upon a Time in the West''.{{sfn|Heide|2002|p=52}} ''Sholay'' may have also been influenced by [[Sam Peckinpah]]'s Westerns, such as ''[[The Wild Bunch]]'' (1969) and ''[[Pat Garrett and Billy the Kid]]'' (1973), and [[George Roy Hill]]'s ''[[Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid]]'' (1969).<ref>{{Cite web |date=22 June 2009 |title=Bollywood continues to lift from Hollywood scripts |url=http://www.sify.com/movies/bollywood-continues-to-lift-from-hollywood-scripts-news-bollywood-kkfrNmejhbc.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101205195840/http://sify.com/movies/bollywood-continues-to-lift-from-hollywood-scripts-news-bollywood-kkfrNmejhbc.html |archive-date=5 December 2010 |access-date=22 December 2010 |website=[[Sify]]}}</ref>

The character [[Gabbar Singh (character)|Gabbar Singh]] was modelled on a real-life dacoit [[Gabbar Singh Gujjar]] who had menaced the villages around [[Gwalior]] in the 1950s. Any policeman captured by Gujjar had his ears and nose cut off, and was released as a warning to other policemen.{{sfn|Khan|1981|pp=88–89, 98}}{{sfn|Chopra|2000|p=26}} The fictional Gabbar was also influenced by larger-than-life characters in Pakistani author [[Ibn-e-Safi]]'s [[Urdu literature|Urdu novels]],<ref>{{Cite news |date=10 July 2011 |title=Urdu pulp fiction: Where Gabbar Singh and Mogambo came from |work=[[Daily News and Analysis]] |url=https://www.dnaindia.com/lifestyle/review-urdu-pulp-fiction-where-gabbar-singh-and-mogambo-came-from-1564148 |access-date=3 June 2019 |archive-date=3 June 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190603155106/https://www.dnaindia.com/lifestyle/review-urdu-pulp-fiction-where-gabbar-singh-and-mogambo-came-from-1564148 |url-status=live }}</ref> Dilip Kumar's dacoit character Gunga from the film ''Gunga Jumna'' who speaks with a similar mixed [[Kauravi dialect|Khariboli]] and [[Awadhi language|Awadhi]] dialect,<ref>{{Cite web |last=Chopra |first=Anupama |date=11 August 2015 |title=Shatrughan Sinha as Jai, Pran as Thakur and Danny as Gabbar? What 'Sholay' could have been |url=https://scroll.in/article/745687/shatrughan-sinha-as-jai-pran-as-thakur-and-danny-as-gabbar-what-sholay-could-have-been |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151108092131/http://scroll.in/article/745687/shatrughan-sinha-as-jai-pran-as-thakur-and-danny-as-gabbar-what-sholay-could-have-been |archive-date=8 November 2015 |website=Scroll}}</ref> and villains from Sergio Leone's films.{{sfn|Chopra|2000|p=34}} Sippy wanted to do away with the clichéd idea of a man becoming a dacoit due to societal issues, as was the case in other films, and focused on Gabbar being an emblem of pure evil. To emphasise the point of Gabbar being a new type of villain, Sippy avoided the typical tropes of dacoits wearing [[dhoti]]s and [[Pagri (turban)|pagris]] and sporting a [[Tilaka|tika]] and worshipping "[[Bhavani|Ma Bhavani]]"; Gabbar would be wearing [[Military uniform|army fatigues]].{{sfn|Chopra|2000|p=38}} The look of the character of the jailer, played by [[Asrani]] was influenced by [[Adolf Hitler]]. Javed Akhtar brought a book on [[World War II]] which had several pictures of Hitler posing to set the typical posture of the character in the film. Asrani spiced up his character with some ideas about Hitler's speech delivery he had heard from a teacher in [[Film and Television Institute of India|FTII]]. The trademark 'Ha Ha' at the end of his monologues was inspired by a similar performance by [[Jack Lemmon]] in ''[[The Great Race]]''.{{sfn|Chopra|2000|p=37}}{{sfn|Banerjea|2005|p=183}} Soorma Bhopali, a minor [[comic relief]] character, was based on an acquaintance of actor Jagdeep, a forest officer from [[Bhopal]] named Soorma. The real-life Soorma eventually threatened to press charges when people who had viewed the film began referring to him as a woodcutter.<ref>{{Cite web |date=13 February 2013 |title=How 'Soorma Bhopali' and 'Calendar' were created! |url=https://www.bollywoodhungama.com/news/features/how-soorma-bhopali-and-calendar-were-created/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161121104754/http://www.bollywoodhungama.com/news/features/how-soorma-bhopali-and-calendar-were-created/ |archive-date=21 November 2016 |access-date=24 April 2013 |website=[[Bollywood Hungama]]}}</ref> The main characters' names, Jai and Veeru, mean "victory" and "heroism" in Hindi.{{sfn|Hogan|2008|p=90}}

=== Casting ===
The producers considered [[Danny Denzongpa]] for the role of Gabbar Singh, but he could not accept it as he was committed to act in [[Feroz Khan (actor, born 1939)|Feroz Khan]]'s ''[[Dharmatma]]'' (1975), under production at the same time.<ref>{{Cite news |date=30 August 2008 |title=Danny Denzongpa's loss |work=[[The Times of India]] |url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/hindi/bollywood/did-you-know-/Danny-Denzongpas-loss/articleshow/3422978.cms |access-date=26 January 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141113081159/http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/hindi/bollywood/did-you-know-/Danny-Denzongpas-loss/articleshow/3422978.cms |archive-date=13 November 2014}}</ref> Amjad Khan, who was the second choice, prepared himself for the part by reading the book ''Abhishapta Chambal'', which told of the exploits of [[Chambal division|Chambal]] dacoits. The book was written by Taroon Kumar Bhaduri, the father of fellow cast member Jaya Bhaduri.{{sfn|Chopra|2000|p=60}} Sanjeev Kumar also wanted to play the role of Gabbar Singh, but Salim-Javed "felt he had the audience's sympathy through roles he'd done before; Gabbar had to be completely hateful."<ref name="open" />

Sippy wanted [[Shatrughan Sinha]] to play the part of Jai, but there were already several big stars signed, and Amitabh Bachchan, who was not very popular yet, lobbied hard to get the part for himself.{{sfn|Chopra|2000|pp=22–28}} He was cast after Salim-Javed recommended him for ''Sholay'' in 1973; Bachchan's performance in their first collaboration, ''Zanjeer'', convinced Salim-Javed he was the right actor for the part.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Chaudhuri |first=Diptakirti |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Cri9CgAAQBAJ&pg=PT93 |title=Written by Salim-Javed: The Story of Hindi Cinema's Greatest Screenwriters |date=2015 |publisher=[[Penguin Group]] |isbn=9789352140084 |page=93 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171130151204/https://books.google.com/books?id=Cri9CgAAQBAJ&pg=PT93 |archive-date=30 November 2017 |url-status=live}}</ref> Salim-Javed were also impressed with Bachchan's performance in ''[[Raaste Kaa Patthar]]'' (1972), and at Bachchan's request, Dharmendra had personally put in a word for him. All these factors ensured that the role was Bachchan's.{{sfn|Chopra|2000|p=31}}

As cast members had read the script ahead of time, many were interested in playing different parts. [[Pran (actor)|Pran]] was considered for the role of Thakur Baldev Singh, but Sippy thought Sanjeev Kumar was a better choice.{{sfn|Chopra|2000|pp=31–32}} Initially, Salim-Javed approached [[Dilip Kumar]] to play Thakur's role, but he turned down the offer; Dilip Kumar later said it was one of the few films he regretted turning down.<ref name="open" /> Initially, Dharmendra was also interested to play the role of Thakur. He eventually gave up the role when Sippy informed him that Sanjeev Kumar would play Veeru if that happened, and would thus be paired with Hema Malini, who Dharmendra was trying to woo. Dharmendra knew that Kumar was also interested in Malini.{{sfn|Chopra|2000|pp=35–36}} Malini was reluctant to play the role of a ''tangewali'', more so after Sippy told her that the film belongs to Sanjeev Kumar and Amjad Khan, but she trusted Sippy to give her a meaty role, given that he had played a huge role in essaying her stardom through their previous collaborations.{{sfn|Chopra|2000|p=30}}

During the film's production, four of the leads became romantically involved.<ref name="rediff1" /> Bachchan married Bhaduri four months before filming started. This led to shooting delays when Bhaduri became pregnant with their daughter [[Shweta Bachchan Nanda|Shweta]]. By the time the film released, she was pregnant with their son [[Abhishek Bachchan|Abhishek]]. Dharmendra had begun courting Malini during their earlier film ''[[Seeta Aur Geeta]]'' (1972), also directed by Sippy, and used the location shoot of ''Sholay'' to further pursue her. During their romantic scenes, Dharmendra would often pay the light boys to spoil the shot, thereby ensuring many retakes which would allow him to spend more time with her. The couple married five years after the film's release.{{sfn|Chopra|2000|pp=91–105}}

=== Filming ===
[[File:Ramdevarabetta.jpg|thumb|Ramdevarabetta, near the town of [[Ramanagara]]; much of ''Sholay'' was shot in rocky locations such as this.|alt=A rocky outcrop such as those used in filming Sholay]]

Much of ''Sholay'' was shot in the rocky terrain of [[Ramanagara]], a town near [[Bangalore]], [[Karnataka]].<ref>{{Cite news |last=Prabhu |first=Nagesh |date=29 August 2019 |title=The hills around Bengaluru are alive with the sound of tourists |language=en-IN |work=The Hindu |url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/bangalore/the-hills-around-bengaluru-are-alive-with-the-sound-of-tourists/article29292458.ece |access-date=3 February 2020 |issn=0971-751X |archive-date=3 February 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200203014051/https://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/bangalore/the-hills-around-bengaluru-are-alive-with-the-sound-of-tourists/article29292458.ece |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=22 June 2007 |title=Ramgarh of Sholay to become district |work=The Times of India |url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/bengaluru/Ramgarh-of-Sholay-to-become-district/articleshow/2140172.cms? |url-status=live |access-date=23 December 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151013005634/http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/bengaluru/Ramgarh-of-Sholay-to-become-district/articleshow/2140172.cms |archive-date=13 October 2015}}</ref> The filmmakers had to build a road from the Bangalore highway to Ramanagara for convenient access to the sets.{{sfn|Chopra|2000|p=45}} Art director Ram Yedekar had an entire township built on the site. A prison set was constructed near [[Rajkamal Studios]] in [[Bombay]], also outdoors, to match the natural lighting of the on-location sets.{{sfn|Roy|2003|p=225}} One part of Ramanagara was for a time called "Sippy Nagar" as a tribute to the director of the film.<ref>{{Cite web |date=30 December 1999 |title='We are not remaking ''Sholay''...' |url=http://www.rediff.com/entertai/1999/dec/30sholay.htm |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131021153903/http://www.rediff.com/entertai/1999/dec/30sholay.htm |archive-date=21 October 2013 |access-date=20 April 2013 |publisher=Rediff}}</ref> {{As of|2010}}, a visit to the "Sholay rocks" (where much of the film was shot) was still being offered to tourists travelling through Ramanagara.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Mekkad |first=Salil |date=19 June 2010 |title=Sholay ka Ramgarh |work=[[Hindustan Times]] |url=http://www.hindustantimes.com/art-and-culture/sholay-ka-ramgarh/story-wFY6D54CpoRCtuqPKhk2LL.html |url-status=live |access-date=27 September 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151005114908/http://www.hindustantimes.com/art-and-culture/sholay-ka-ramgarh/story-wFY6D54CpoRCtuqPKhk2LL.html |archive-date=5 October 2015}}</ref>

Filming began on location on 3 October 1973, with a scene featuring Bachchan and Bhaduri.{{sfn|Chopra|2000|p=64}} The film had a lavish production for its time (with frequent banquets and parties for the cast),{{sfn|Chopra|2000|pp=66–67}} took two and a half years to make, and went over budget. One reason for its high cost was that Sippy re-filmed scenes many times to get his desired effect. "Yeh Dosti", a 5-minute song sequence, took 21 days to shoot, two short scenes in which Radha lights lamps took 20 days to film because of lighting problems, and the shooting of the scene in which Gabbar kills the imam's son lasted 19 days.{{sfn|Chopra|2000|pp=77–79}} The train robbery sequence, shot on the [[Mumbai–Pune Shatabdi Express|Bombay–Poona railway]] route near [[Panvel]], took more than 7 weeks to complete.<ref>{{Cite news |last=[[Indo-Asian News Service|IANS]] |date=4 August 2010 |title=Sholay continues to smoulder |work=Pune Mirror |url=http://punemirror.in/index.aspx?page=article&sectid=2&contentid=20100804201008040006534547ec622a7&sectxslt=&pageno=1 |access-date=6 December 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120311160806/http://punemirror.in/index.aspx?page=article&sectid=2&contentid=20100804201008040006534547ec622a7&sectxslt=&pageno=1 |archive-date=11 March 2012}}</ref>

''Sholay'' was the first Indian film to have a [[Stereophonic sound|stereophonic]] soundtrack and to use the [[70 mm film|70 mm]] [[widescreen]] format.<ref name="ndtv" /> However, since actual 70 mm cameras were expensive at the time, the film was shot on traditional [[35 mm movie film|35 mm film]] and the [[4:3|4:3 picture]] was subsequently converted to a 2.2:1 frame.<ref name="DVD" /> Regarding the process, Sippy said, "A 70 mm ''[sic]'' format takes the awe of the big screen and magnifies it even more to make the picture even bigger, but since I also wanted a spread of sound we used six-track stereophonic sound and combined it with the big screen. It was definitely a differentiator."<ref>{{Cite news |last=Raghavendra |first=Nandini |date=10 April 2010 |title=3D effect: Back to 70 mm screens? |work=[[The Economic Times]] |url=http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/industry/media/entertainment/3d-effect-back-to-70mm-screens/articleshow/5780184.cms |url-status=live |access-date=30 December 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170213005654/http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/industry/media/entertainment/3d-effect-back-to-70mm-screens/articleshow/5780184.cms |archive-date=13 February 2017}}</ref> The use of 70 mm was emphasised by film posters on which the name of the film was stylised to match the [[CinemaScope]] logo. Film posters also sought to differentiate the film from those which had come before; one of them added the [[tagline]]: "The greatest star cast ever assembled – the greatest story ever told".<ref>{{Cite web |last=Mazumdar, Ranjani |title=The Man Who Was Seen Too Much: Amitabh Bachchan on Film Posters (The Poster As Preview) |url=http://www.tasveergharindia.net/cmsdesk/essay/106/index_1.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150512142358/http://www.tasveergharindia.net/cmsdesk/essay/106/index_1.html |archive-date=12 May 2015 |access-date=9 May 2013 |publisher=Tasveer Ghar}}</ref>

== Themes and interpretations ==
Scholars have noted several themes in the film, such as [[Heroic bloodshed|glorification of violence]], conformation to [[Indian feudalism|feudal ethos]], debate between [[social order]] and mobilised usurpers, [[Homosociality|homosocial]] bonding, and the film's role as a [[National personification|national allegory]].<ref>For glorification of violence, see Wimal Dissanayake, Malti Sahai, ''Sholay: A Cultural Reading (Delhi: Wiley Eastern, 1992)'', 115-19. {{ISBN|8122403948}}; for feudal ethos, see Hrishikesh Ingle, "Regionalist Disjuncture in Bollywood", in Vikrant Kishore et al., eds., ''Salaam Bollywood: Representations and interpretations'' (London: Routledge, 2016), 202. {{ISBN|1317232852}}; on social order/disorder, see Dissanayake, "The Concepts of Evil and Social Order in Indian Melodrama: An Evolving Dialect", in ''Melodrama and Asian Cinema'', ed. Dissanayake (Cambridge Univ. Press, 1993); on homosocial bonding, Dinah Holtzman, "Between ''Yaars'': The Queering of ''Dost'' in Contemporary Bollywood Films", in Rini Bhattacharya et al., eds., ''Bollywood and Globalization: Indian Popular Cinema, Nation, and Diaspora'' (London: Anthem Press, 2011), 118-22. {{ISBN|0857288970}}; as national allegory, John Hutnyk, ''Global South Asia on Screen'' (NY: Bloomsbury Publishing USA, 2018), 206. {{ISBN|1501324985}}.</ref>

Koushik Banerjea, a sociologist in the [[London School of Economics]], notes that ''Sholay'' exhibits a "sympathetic construction of 'rogue' [[masculinity]]" exemplified by the likeable [[outlaw]]s Jai and Veeru.{{sfn|Banerjea|2005|p=164}} Banerjea argues during the film, the moral boundary between [[legality]] and [[Crime|criminality]] gradually erodes.{{sfn|Banerjea|2005|pp=177–179}} Film scholar Wimal Dissanayake agrees that the film brought "a new stage in the evolving dialectic between violence and social order" to Indian cinema.{{sfn|Dissanayake|1993|p=199}} Film scholar M. Madhava Prasad states that Jai and Veeru represent a [[Social exclusion|marginalised]] population that is introduced into conventional society.{{sfn|Prasad|1998|pp=156–160}} Prasad says that, through the elements of revenge included in the plot and the application of Jai and Veeru's criminality for the greater good, the narrative reflects reactionary politics, and the audience is compelled to accept [[Feudalism|feudal order]].{{sfn|Prasad|1998|pp=156–160}} Banerjea explains that though Jai and Veeru are [[Mercenary|mercenaries]], they are humanised by their emotional needs. Such dualism makes them vulnerable, in contrast to the pure evil of [[Gabbar Singh (character)|Gabbar Singh]].{{sfn|Banerjea|2005|pp=177–179}}

Gabbar Singh, the film's antagonist, was well received by the audience, despite his pervasive sadistic cruelty.{{sfn|Dissanayake|1993|p=199}} Dissanayake explains that the audience was fascinated by the dialogues and mannerisms of the character, and this element of spectacle outweighed his actions, a first for Indian melodrama.{{sfn|Dissanayake|1993|p=199}} He notes that the picturisation of violence in the film was glamourised and uninhibited.{{sfn|Dissanayake|1993|p=200}} He further notes that, unlike earlier melodramas in which the [[Male gaze|female body occupies the audience's attention]] as an object of male fetish, in ''Sholay'', the male body becomes the centrepiece. It becomes the battleground where [[good and evil]] compete for supremacy.{{sfn|Dissanayake|1993|p=200}} Dissanayake argues that ''Sholay'' can be viewed as a national allegory: it lacks a comforting logical narrative, it shows social stability being repeatedly challenged, and it shows the devaluation of human life resulting from a lack of emotions. Taken together, these elements comprise the allegorical representation of India.{{sfn|Dissanayake|1993|p=201}} The narrative style of ''Sholay'', with its violence, revenge, and [[vigilante]] action, is occasionally compared by scholars to the political unrest in India at the time of its release. This tension culminated in [[the Emergency (India)|the Emergency]] ([[rule by decree]]) declared by prime minister [[Indira Gandhi]] in 1975.{{sfnm|1a1=Hayward|1y=2006|1pp=63–64|2a1=Holtzman|2y=2011|2p=118}}

Dissanayeke and Sahai note that, although the film was influenced by the [[Western film|Hollywood Western genre]], particularly in its visuals, it was successfully "Indianised".{{sfnm|1a1=Dissanayake|1a2=Sahai|1y=1992|1p=125|2a1=Dissanayake|2y=1993|2p=197}} As an example, William van der Heide has compared a massacre scene in ''Sholay'' with a similar scene in ''Once Upon a Time in the West''. Although both films were similar in technical style, ''Sholay'' emphasised Indian family values and melodramatic tradition, while the Western was more materialistic and restrained in its approach.{{sfn|Heide|2002|p=52}} [[Maithili Rao]], in ''Encyclopedia of Hindi Cinema'', notes that ''Sholay'' infuses the style of the Western genre into a "feudalistic ethos".{{sfn|Rao|2003|p=95}} Ted Shen of the ''[[Chicago Reader]]'' notes ''Sholay''{{'}}s "hysterical visual style" and intermittent "populist message".<ref name="shen chic reader" /> Cultural critic and Islamic scholar [[Ziauddin Sardar]] lampoons the film in his book ''The Secret Politics of Our Desires: Innocence, Culpability and Indian Popular Cinema'', both for its caricature and stereotyping of Muslim and women characters, and for what he calls mockery of innocent villagers.{{sfn|Sardar|1998|pp=48–49}} Sardar notes that the two most prominent Muslim characters in the film are Soorma Bhopali (a buffoonish criminal), and an impotent victim of the bandits (the imam). Meanwhile, the sole function of one female character (Radha) is to suffer her fate in silence, while the other female lead (Basanti) is just a garrulous village belle.{{sfn|Sardar|1998|pp=48–49}}

Some scholars have indicated that ''Sholay'' contains [[Homosociality|homosocial]] themes.<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Gopinath |first=G. |year=2000 |title=Queering Bollywood |journal=Journal of Homosexuality |volume=39 |issue=3–4 |pages=283–297 |doi=10.1300/J082v39n03_13 |pmid=11133137 |s2cid=24260497}}</ref><ref>{{Cite journal |last=Anjaria |first=U. |year=2012 |title='Relationships which have no name': Family and sexuality in 1970s popular film |journal=South Asian Popular Culture |volume=10 |pages=23–35 |doi=10.1080/14746689.2012.655103 |s2cid=145145328}}</ref> Ted Shen describes the male bonding shown in the film as bordering on [[Camp (style)|camp style]].<ref name="shen chic reader" /> Dina Holtzman, in her book ''Bollywood and Globalization: Indian Popular Cinema, Nation, and Diaspora'', states that the death of Jai, and resultant break of bonding between the two male leads, is necessary for the sake of establishing a [[Normativity|normative]] [[Heterosexuality|heterosexual]] relationship (that of Veeru and Basanti).{{sfn|Holtzman|2011|pp=111–113}}

== Music ==
{{Infobox album
| name = Sholay
| type = soundtrack
| artist = [[R. D. Burman]]
| cover =
| alt =
| released = {{Start date|1975}}
| recorded =1975
| venue =
| studio =
| genre = {{flatlist|
* [[Bollywood music]]
* [[Film soundtrack|Feature film soundtrack]]
}}
| length = {{Duration|m=28|s=59}}
| label = [[Universal Music India]] [[Polydor Records]]
| producer = [[R. D. Burman]]
| prev_title =[[Kala Sona]]
| prev_year =1975
| next_title =[[Dharam Karam]]
| next_year = 1975
}}
[[R. D. Burman]] composed the film's music, and the lyrics were written by [[Anand Bakshi]]. The songs used in the film, and released on the original soundtrack are listed below.<ref>{{Cite web |date=January 1975 |title=Sholay (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack) – EP |url=https://music.apple.com/us/album/sholay-original-motion-picture/182708988 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140616161449/https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/sholay-original-motion-picture/id182708988 |archive-date=16 June 2014 |access-date=23 April 2013 |publisher=[[iTunes Store]]}}</ref> Following that is a list of unused tracks and dialogues which were released later on an updated soundtrack.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Sholay (Indian Film Soundtrack) |url=https://www.amazon.com/Sholay-Indian-Soundtrack-Amitabh-Bachchan/dp/B0014KWOX6 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140223142052/http://www.amazon.com/Sholay-Indian-Soundtrack-Amitabh-Bachchan/dp/B0014KWOX6 |archive-date=23 February 2014 |access-date=23 April 2013 |website=Amazon}}</ref>

[[Kishore Kumar]], [[Lata Mangeshkar]] and [[Manna Dey]] performed vocals for Dharmendra, Malini and Bachchan, respectively.

The song "Mehbooba Mehbooba" was sung by its composer, R. D. Burman, who received his sole [[Filmfare Award for Best Male Playback Singer#1970s|Filmfare Award nomination for playback singing]] for his effort. The song, which is often featured on Bollywood hit song compilations,<ref>{{Cite web |title=The Best of Bollywood |url=https://www.amazon.com/Best-Bollywood-Various-Artists/dp/B0000931PU |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161121041851/https://www.amazon.com/Best-Bollywood-Various-Artists/dp/B0000931PU |archive-date=21 November 2016 |access-date=22 December 2010 |website=Amazon}}</ref> is based on "Say You Love Me" by Greek singer [[Demis Roussos]].{{sfn|Varma|2010|pp=159–160}}

"Mehbooba Mehbooba" has been extensively anthologised, remixed, and recreated.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Sholay |url=http://www.desiclub.com/bollywood/sndtrk_reviews/sndtrk_review.cfm?id=116 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131021151955/http://www.desiclub.com/bollywood/sndtrk_reviews/sndtrk_review.cfm?id=116 |archive-date=21 October 2013 |access-date=11 September 2006 |publisher=Desiclub}}</ref> A version was created in 2005 by the [[Kronos Quartet]] for their [[Grammy Awards|Grammy]]-nominated album ''[[You've Stolen My Heart]]'', featuring [[Asha Bhosle]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Dye |first=David |date=5 October 2005 |title=Kronos Quartet's ''Stolen Heart'' with Asha Bhosle |url=https://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=4946448 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101126154057/http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=4946448 |archive-date=26 November 2010 |access-date=18 December 2010 |publisher=[[NPR]]}}</ref> It was also remixed and sung by [[Himesh Reshammiya]], along with Bhosle, in his debut acting film ''[[Aap Kaa Surroor (film)|Aap Kaa Surroor]]'' (2007). "Yeh Dosti" has been called the ultimate friendship anthem.<ref>{{Cite news |date=26 July 2011 |title=A journey of friendship. |work=[[The Mercury (South Africa)|The Mercury]] |url=http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-273006124.html |url-status=dead |access-date=25 April 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131105225429/http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-273006124.html |archive-date=5 November 2013 |quote=The song Yeh Dosti (This Friendship) glorified male bonding and is, even today, viewed as the ultimate friendship anthem.}} {{link note|note=Partial story rendition from HighBeam.com archive.}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Kassam, Farzaneh Janasheen |date=4 April 2008 |title=BOLLY beats |work=[[Eastern Eye]] |url=http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P3-1473332191.html |url-status=dead |access-date=25 April 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131105225426/http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P3-1473332191.html |archive-date=5 November 2013 |quote=And who can forget the song Yeh Dosti, which is the ultimate homage to friendship?}} {{link note|note=Partial story rendition from HighBeam.com archive.}}</ref> It was remixed and sung by [[Shankar Mahadevan]] and [[Udit Narayan]] for the 2010 Malayalam film ''[[Four Friends (2010 film)|Four Friends]]'',<ref>{{Cite web |last=Padma |first=Reshmi |date=28 October 2010 |title=Kamal Haasan is the highlight of Four Friends |url=http://movies.rediff.com/slide-show/2010/oct/28/slide-show-1-south-saji-surendran-on-four-friends.htm |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120113005858/http://movies.rediff.com/slide-show/2010/oct/28/slide-show-1-south-saji-surendran-on-four-friends.htm |archive-date=13 January 2012 |access-date=24 February 2012 |publisher=Rediff}}</ref> and also in 2010 it was used to symbolise India's friendship with the United States during a visit from President [[Barack Obama]].<ref>{{Cite news |date=8 November 2010 |title=Sholay's 'ye dosti...' number for Obama at President's banquet |work=The Times of India |url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Sholays-ye-dosti-number-for-Obama-at-Presidents-banquet/articleshow/6890880.cms |url-status=live |access-date=19 April 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101111104128/http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Sholays-ye-dosti-number-for-Obama-at-Presidents-banquet/articleshow/6890880.cms |archive-date=11 November 2010}}</ref>

Several songs from the soundtrack made it to the annual ''[[Binaca Geetmala]]'' list of top [[filmi]] songs. "Mehbooba Mehooba" was listed at No. 24 on the [[Binaca Geetmala annual list 1975|1975 list]], and at No. 6 on the [[Binaca Geetmala annual list 1976|1976 list]]. "Koi Haseena" was listed at No. 30 in 1975, and No. 20 in 1976. "Yeh Dosti" was listed at No. 9 in 1976.{{sfn|Morcom|2007|p=209}} Despite the soundtrack's success, at the time, the songs from ''Sholay'' attracted less attention than the film's dialogue—a rarity for Hindi language films. The producers were thus prompted to release records with only dialogue.{{sfn|Chopra|2000|p=170}}<ref>{{Cite news |last=Miglani |first=Surendra |date=17 July 2005 |title=Lines that linger |work=[[The Tribune (Chandigarh)|The Tribune]] |url=http://www.tribuneindia.com/2005/20050717/spectrum/main6.htm |url-status=live |access-date=14 December 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110605215537/http://www.tribuneindia.com/2005/20050717/spectrum/main6.htm |archive-date=5 June 2011}}</ref> Taken together, the album sales reached an unprecedented 500,000 units.{{sfn|Chopra|2000|p=180}} By 1979, the soundtrack went [[Indian Music Industry|Platinum]]<ref>{{Cite journal |date=1979 |title=Sûrya India |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=MUvoAAAAMAAJ |journal=Sûrya India |publisher=A. Anand. |volume=3 |issue=2 |page=61 |quote=Six years after the movie was released, 'Sholay' is still going strong. Polydor records has won a platinum disc for the sale of the 'Sholay' record — the first time such a disc has been awarded in the 75- year-old history of the Indian record industry. |access-date=9 December 2018 |archive-date=19 August 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200819145853/https://books.google.com/books?id=MUvoAAAAMAAJ |url-status=live }}</ref> (equivalent to 1{{nbsp}}million sales at the time),<ref>{{Cite magazine |date=18 July 1981 |title=International |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=rSQEAAAAMBAJ&pg=PT69 |magazine=[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]] |publisher=[[Nielsen Business Media]] |volume=93 |issue=28 |page=69 |access-date=9 December 2018 |archive-date=19 August 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200819211107/https://books.google.com/books?id=rSQEAAAAMBAJ&pg=PT69 |url-status=live }}</ref> becoming one of the top-selling [[Bollywood soundtrack]]s of the 1970s.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Music Hits 1970–1979 |url=http://www.boxofficeindia.com/showProd.php?itemCat=282&catName=MTk3MC0xOTc5 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080215081540/http://www.boxofficeindia.com/showProd.php?itemCat=282&catName=MTk3MC0xOTc5&PHPSESSID=108b9056cd4ca14236f9c6119d34dcce |archive-date=15 February 2008 |access-date=2 September 2013 |publisher=[[Box Office India]]}}</ref>

Music critic Oli Marlow reviewed the soundtrack in 2013, calling it a unique fusion of religious, folk, and classical music, with influences from around the world. He also commented on the sound design of the film, calling it psychedelic, and saying that there was "a lot of incredible incidental music" in the film that was not included in the soundtrack releases.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Marlow, Oli |date=14 January 2013 |title=Vouch: Geiom on RD Burman's Sholay |url=http://www.sonicrouter.com/2013/01/vouch-geiom-on-rd-burmans-sholay/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130730093512/http://www.sonicrouter.com/2013/01/vouch-geiom-on-rd-burmans-sholay/ |archive-date=30 July 2013 |access-date=13 June 2013 |publisher=The Sonic Router}}</ref> In a 1999 paper submitted to London's Symposium on Sound in Cinema, film critic Shoma A. Chatterji said, "''Sholay'' offers a model lesson on how sound can be used to signify the terror a character evokes. ''Sholay'' is also exemplary in its use of soundmatching to jump cut to a different scene and time, without breaking the continuity of the narrative, yet, intensifying the drama."<ref>{{Cite web |last=Chatterji, Shoma A. |date=15 April 1999 |title=The Culture-specific Use of Sound in Indian Cinema |url=http://www.filmsound.org/india/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130606223140/http://filmsound.org/india/ |archive-date=6 June 2013 |access-date=13 June 2013 |publisher=FilmSound.org}}</ref>

{{Track listing
| headline = Original Motion Picture Soundtrack
| extra_column = Singer(s)
| title1 = Title Music (Sholay) | note1 = [[Instrumental]] | length1 = 02:46
| title2 = Yeh Dosti | extra2 = [[Kishore Kumar]] and [[Manna Dey]] | length2 = 05:21
| title3 = Haa Jab Tak Hai Jaan | extra3 = [[Lata Mangeshkar]] | length3 = 05:26
| title4 = Koi Haseena | extra4 = Kishore Kumar and [[Hema Malini]] | length4 = 04:00
| title5 = Holi Ke Din | extra5 = Kishore Kumar and Lata Mangeshkar | length5 = 05:42
| title6 = Mehbooba Mehbooba | extra6 = R. D. Burman | length6 = 03:54
| title7 = Yeh Dosti | note7 = sad version | extra7 = Kishore Kumar | length7 = 01:49
}}
{{Track listing
| headline = Bonus tracks — Released later
| extra_column = Singers / Speakers
| title8 = Ke Chand Sa Koi Chehra | note8 = [[Qawwali]] | extra8 = Kishore Kumar, Manna Dey, [[Bhupinder Singh (musician)|Bhupinder Singh]], [[Anand Bakshi]] | length8 = {{dash}}
| title9 = Veeru Ki Sagai | note9 = dialogues | extra9 = Hema Malini, Dharmendra, Amitabh Bachchan | length9 = {{dash}}
| title10 = Gabbar Singh | note10 = dialogues | extra10 = Amjad Khan, Sanjeev Kumar, Dharmendra | length10 = {{dash}}
}}

== Release ==
=== Box office ===
''Sholay'' was released on 15 August 1975, [[Independence Day (India)|Indian Independence Day]], in Bombay. Due to lackluster reviews and a lack of effective visual marketing tools, it saw poor financial returns in its first two weeks. From the third week, however, viewership picked up owing to positive [[word of mouth]].{{sfn|Chopra|2000|p=169}} During the initial slow period, the director and writer considered re-shooting some scenes so that Amitabh Bachchan's character would not die. When business picked up, they abandoned this idea.{{sfn|Chopra|2000|p=164}} After being helped additionally by a soundtrack release containing dialogue snippets,{{sfn|Banerjea|2005|pp=177–179}} ''Sholay'' soon became an "overnight sensation".<ref name="ndtv" /> The film was then released in other distribution zones such as [[Delhi]], [[Uttar Pradesh]], [[West Bengal|Bengal]], and [[Hyderabad district, India|Hyderabad]] on 11 October 1975.{{sfn|Chopra|2000|p=173}} It became the highest-grossing [[Hindi film|Hindi language film]] of 1975, and film ranking website [[Box Office India]] has given the film a verdict of ''All Time Blockbuster''.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Box Office 1975 |url=http://boxofficeindia.com/showProd.php?itemCat=181&catName=MTk3NQ== |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131020122136/http://boxofficeindia.com/showProd.php?itemCat=181&catName=MTk3NQ%3D%3D |archive-date=20 October 2013 |access-date=12 October 2012 |publisher=Box Office India}}</ref>

''Sholay'' went on to earn a still-standing record of 60 golden jubilees{{efn|A golden jubilee means that a film has completed 50 consecutive weeks of showing in a single theatre.}} across India,<ref name="ndtv" /> and was the first film in India to celebrate a silver jubilee{{efn|A silver jubilee means that a film has completed 25 consecutive weeks of showing in a single theatre.}} at over 100 theatres.<ref name="ndtv" /> It was shown continuously at Bombay's Minerva theatre for over five years.<ref name="nyt" /> ''Sholay'' was the Indian film with the longest theatrical run until ''[[Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge]]'' (1995) broke its record of 286 weeks in 2001.{{sfn|Elliott|Payne|Ploesch|2007 |p=54}}<ref name="telegraph" />

According to Box Office India, ''Sholay'' earned about {{INR|150 million|link=yes}} in net income{{efn|name=nettgross|According to the website Box Office India, film tickets are subject to "[[entertainment tax]]" in India, and this tax is added to the ticket price at the box office window of theatres. The amount of this tax is variable among [[States and territories of India|states]]. "Nett gross figures are always after this tax has been deducted while gross figures are before this tax has been deducted." Although since 2003, the entertainment tax rate has significantly decreased; as of 2010, gross earnings can be 30–35% higher than net gross, depending on the states where the film is released.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Box Office in India Explained |url=http://www.boxofficeindia.com/showProd.php?itemCat=315&catName=UmVhZCBNb3Jl |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131020180004/http://www.boxofficeindia.com/showProd.php?itemCat=315&catName=UmVhZCBNb3Jl |archive-date=20 October 2013 |access-date=14 May 2013 |publisher=Box Office India}}</ref>}} (valued at about US$16,778,000 in 1975){{efn|name=exchange}} in India during its first run, which was many times its {{INR|link=Indian rupee}}35 million budget.<ref name="Boi70s" /><ref name="budget"/> Those earnings in India were a record that remained unbroken for nineteen years, which is also the longest amount of time that a film has held [[List of highest-grossing Indian films#Highest-grossing films by year|the record]] for being the highest grossing film in India. Its original gross was increased further with re-releases during the late 1970s, 1980s, 1990s, and early 2000s.<ref>{{Cite web |title=About Inflation Figures – BOI |url=http://boxofficeindia.com/showProd.php?itemCat=323&catName=QWJvdXQgSW5mbGF0aW9uIERhdGE= |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140106184319/http://boxofficeindia.com/showProd.php?itemCat=323&catName=QWJvdXQgSW5mbGF0aW9uIERhdGE%3D |archive-date=6 January 2014 |access-date=24 February 2012 |publisher=Box Office India}}</ref> The film's total gross revenue in India amounted to {{INR|350 million}}<ref name="indiatoday" />{{sfn|Chopra|2000|p=139|loc=Epilogue: ''Yaah Rakkhunga, Tujhe Yaad Rakkunga''}} ({{US$|39.15 million|long=no}}).{{efn|name=exchange}} Box Office India estimates the film's total footfalls in India as over 100{{nbsp}}million tickets sold.<ref name="footfalls" /> The film was also an [[List of highest-grossing Indian films in overseas markets|overseas success]] in the [[Soviet Union]], where it was released in 1979.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Rajagopalan |first=Sudha |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=cpoLAQAAMAAJ |title=Indian Films in Soviet Cinemas: The Culture of Movie-going After Stalin |date=2005 |publisher=[[Indiana University Press]] |isbn=978-0-253-22099-8 |page=191 |quote=One of his films, screened successfully in the Soviet Union, was Sholay. Sholay (Embers/Mesf i zakon; 1979), made in 1975, is an adventure film and 'India's best-known "curry" western patterned on Italian westerns'. |access-date=25 January 2019 |archive-date=26 June 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190626205210/https://books.google.com/books?id=cpoLAQAAMAAJ |url-status=live }}</ref> The film sold 48.4{{nbsp}}million tickets during its initial run at the [[List of Soviet films of the year by ticket sales|Soviet box office]],<ref>{{Cite news |date=16 December 2011 |title=Афиша Воздух: "Месть и закон" |work=[[Afisha]] |url=https://daily.afisha.ru/archive/vozduh/archive/gorelov-sholay/ |access-date=11 December 2018 |archive-date=15 December 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181215172357/https://daily.afisha.ru/archive/vozduh/archive/gorelov-sholay/ |url-status=live }}</ref> before eventually selling 60{{nbsp}}million tickets including re-runs.<ref name="soviet" /> The film was also released in China, as two parts in 1988.<ref>{{Cite news |date=7 April 2018 |title=印度片現在這麼火也不是沒有原因的 |work=Xuehua |url=https://www.xuehua.us/2018/04/07/%E5%8D%B0%E5%BA%A6%E7%89%87%E7%8E%B0%E5%9C%A8%E8%BF%99%E4%B9%88%E7%81%AB%E4%B9%9F%E4%B8%8D%E6%98%AF%E6%B2%A1%E6%9C%89%E5%8E%9F%E5%9B%A0%E7%9A%84%E7%89%B9%E5%86%B7%E9%97%A8/zh-tw/ |access-date=6 March 2019 |archive-date=6 May 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220506110618/https://www.xuehua.us/a/5eb6092386ec4d433b2c89ea?lang=zh-tw |url-status=live }}</ref>

It was the [[List of highest-grossing Indian films|highest-grossing Indian film]] ever up until ''[[Disco Dancer]]'' (1982),<ref>{{Cite news |date=6 July 2018 |title=From Dangal to Sanju! Top 10 films that crossed the Rs 200 crore mark fastest |work=[[Business Today (India)|Business Today]] |url=https://www.businesstoday.in/trending/entertainment/from-dangal-to-sanju-top-10-films-crossed-rs-200-crore-mark-fastest/story/279979.html |access-date=13 December 2018 |archive-date=15 December 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181215173256/https://www.businesstoday.in/trending/entertainment/from-dangal-to-sanju-top-10-films-crossed-rs-200-crore-mark-fastest/story/279979.html |url-status=live }}</ref> and the [[List of highest-grossing films in India|highest-grossing film in India]] up until ''[[Hum Aapke Hain Koun..!]]'' (1994).<ref name="indiatoday" /> In 1985, ''[[India Today]]'' estimated that the film drew a total audience of 250{{nbsp}}million over the years,<ref name="indiatoday1985">{{Cite news |last=Mitra |first=Sumit |date=31 July 1985 |title=After series of box-office duds, Ramesh Sippy strikes back with romantic venture Saagar |work=[[India Today]] |url=https://www.indiatoday.in/magazine/society-the-arts/films/story/19850731-after-series-of-box-office-duds-ramesh-sippy-strikes-back-with-romantic-venture-saagar-770238-2013-12-27 |access-date=7 February 2019 |archive-date=9 February 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190209135521/https://www.indiatoday.in/magazine/society-the-arts/films/story/19850731-after-series-of-box-office-duds-ramesh-sippy-strikes-back-with-romantic-venture-saagar-770238-2013-12-27 |url-status=live }}</ref> which is comparable to the [[List of films by box office admissions|number of tickets sold]] by some of the world's [[List of highest-grossing films|highest-grossing films of all time]] adjusted for inflation.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Records |first=Guinness World |url=https://archive.org/details/GuinnessWorldRecords2015/page/n161 |title=Guinness World Records |year=2014 |isbn=978-1-908843-70-8 |edition=2015 |volume=60 |pages=160–161|publisher=Guinness World Records }}</ref> It is often cited that, after adjusting the figures for inflation, ''Sholay'' remains one of the [[List of highest-grossing Indian films|highest-grossing films]] in the history of Indian cinema, although such figures are not known with certainty.<ref>{{Cite web |title=The Biggest Blockbusters Ever In Hindi Cinema |url=http://boxofficeindia.com/showProd.php?itemCat=350 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131014214254/http://boxofficeindia.com/showProd.php?itemCat=350 |archive-date=14 October 2013 |access-date=13 April 2013 |publisher=Box Office India}}</ref> Box Office India estimated {{INR|1.63 billion}} as ''Sholay''{{'}}s adjusted domestic net income in 2008,{{efn|name=nettgross|}}<ref>{{Cite web |title=Top Earners 1970–1979 – BOI |url=http://boxofficeindia.com/showProd.php?itemCat=124&catName=MTk3MC0xOTc5 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080118030716/http://www.boxofficeindia.com/showProd.php?itemCat=124&catName=MTk3MC0xOTc5 |archive-date=18 January 2008 |access-date=24 February 2012 |publisher=Box Office India}}</ref> while ''[[Times of India]]'' estimated over {{INR|3 billion}} as the adjusted domestic gross in 2009.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Kazmi |first=Nikhat |date=12 January 2009 |title=Sholay adjusted gross |work=The Times of India |url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Box-Office-With-Rs-200cr-in-kitty-Ghajini-rewrites-records/articleshow/3965713.cms |url-status=live |access-date=23 February 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140430071524/http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Box-Office-With-Rs-200cr-in-kitty-Ghajini-rewrites-records/articleshow/3965713.cms |archive-date=30 April 2014}}</ref> ''[[Mid-Day]]'' estimated the film's total adjusted gross as {{INR|15 billion}} ({{US$|{{To USD|15000|IND|year=2014|round=yes}} million|long=no}}) in 2014.<ref>{{Cite news |title=B-Town rewind: The tale of the first Bollywood crore |work=[[Mid-Day]] |url=http://www.mid-day.com/articles/b-town-rewind-the-tale-of-the-first-bollywood-crore/15162064 |access-date=16 March 2014 |archive-date=16 March 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140316114251/http://www.mid-day.com/articles/b-town-rewind-the-tale-of-the-first-bollywood-crore/15162064 |url-status=live }}</ref>

=== 3D re-release (2013) ===
Filmmaker [[Ketan Mehta]]'s company Maya Digital was responsible for converting ''Sholay'' into the [[Stereoscopic 3D|3D]] format.<ref name="3D" /> Mehta was approached by G. P. Sippy's grandson, Sasha Sippy, about the project in 2010.<ref name="3D" /> In March 2012, Shaan Uttam Singh, the grandson of producer G. P. Sippy, said that he would sponsor a conversion of the film to 3D, and release it in late 2012;<ref>{{Cite news |last=Singh |first=Renu |date=31 March 2012 |title=Sholay 3D to release on Aug 15 |work=The Times of India |url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/bollywood/news-interviews/Sholay-3D-to-release-on-Aug-15/articleshow/12479722.cms |url-status=live |access-date=31 May 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120402041653/http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/bollywood/news-interviews/Sholay-3D-to-release-on-Aug-15/articleshow/12479722.cms |archive-date=2 April 2012}}</ref> this was later postponed to late 2013,<ref>{{Cite web |date=14 August 2013 |title='Sholay 3D' to release on Amitabh Bachchan's 71st birthday? |url=http://www.news18.com/news/india/sholay-3d-to-release-on-big-bs-71st-birthday-630900.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160508200023/http://www.news18.com/news/india/sholay-3d-to-release-on-big-bs-71st-birthday-630900.html |archive-date=8 May 2016 |access-date=7 December 2013 |website=News18}}</ref> and eventually finalised for 3 January 2014.<ref>{{Cite news |date=6 November 2013 |title='Sholay 3D' finally up for release in the first week of 2014 |work=[[Mid-Day]] |url=https://www.mid-day.com/entertainment/bollywood-news/article/-Sholay-3D--finally-up-for-release-in-the-first-week-of-2014-239108 |access-date=9 November 2013 |archive-date=9 October 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231009032305/https://www.mid-day.com/entertainment/bollywood-news/article/-Sholay-3D--finally-up-for-release-in-the-first-week-of-2014-239108 |url-status=live }}</ref> It took {{INRConvert|250|m}} to convert ''Sholay'' to 3D.<ref>{{Cite web |date=8 November 2013 |title=Rs 25 crore spent on Sholay 3D |url=http://movies.ndtv.com/bollywood/rs-25-crore-spent-on-sholay-3d-443612 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131113200519/http://movies.ndtv.com/bollywood/rs-25-crore-spent-on-sholay-3d-443612 |archive-date=13 November 2013 |access-date=19 November 2013 |publisher=NDTV}}</ref>

Under the leadership of computer animator Frank Foster, 350 people worked to convert the film into the digital 3D format, for which every scene had to be individually [[Film preservation|restored]], colour-corrected, and re-composited in 3D to match the depth.{{efn|The 3D version of the film has a run-time of 198 minutes, and the original shots were of standard film frame rate, i.e., 24 frames per second; therefore, this version has {{formatnum:285120}} frames, which were digitised, upscaled to High Definition (HD), and element-mapped.<ref name="screens" /><ref>{{Cite web |last=Coutinho, Natasha |date=25 November 2013 |title=Sholay 3D was a tough challenge |url=http://www.asianage.com/bollywood/sholay-3d-was-tough-challenge-600 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131211104844/http://www.asianage.com/bollywood/sholay-3d-was-tough-challenge-600 |archive-date=11 December 2013 |access-date=7 December 2013 |publisher=[[The Asian Age]]}}</ref> }}<ref name="3D" /> New set-pieces, particularly those suited to the new format were also included, such as digital logs which scatter in the direction of the camera during the first half when the train collides with them, the gunshot scene which frees Jai and Veeru from their handcuffs, and [[Panorama|panoramic]] views of Gabbar's hideout in the caves.<ref name="3D" />

The theatrical trailer and release date were unveiled by the original script-writers Salim Khan and Javed Akhtar.<ref>{{Cite web |date=7 November 2013 |title='Sholay 3D' trailer unvieled [sic] & Updates at Daily News & Analysis |url=http://www.dnaindia.com/entertainment/report-sholay-3d-trailer-unvieled-1915213 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151011124137/http://www.dnaindia.com/entertainment/report-sholay-3d-trailer-unvieled-1915213 |archive-date=11 October 2015 |access-date=7 June 2015 |publisher=[[Daily News and Analysis|DNA]]}}</ref> The two original leads, Bachchan and Dharmendra, were also involved in promoting the re-release.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Mangaokar, Shalvi |date=22 October 2013 |title=Amitabh Bachchan, Dharmendra set to promote Sholay 3D |work=Hindustan Times |url=http://www.hindustantimes.com/bollywood/amitabh-bachchan-dharmendra-set-to-promote-sholay-3d/story-cfY7Yb5Ph2Uw9NHV3TioiK.html |url-status=live |access-date=7 December 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151005112321/http://www.hindustantimes.com/bollywood/amitabh-bachchan-dharmendra-set-to-promote-sholay-3d/story-cfY7Yb5Ph2Uw9NHV3TioiK.html |archive-date=5 October 2015}}</ref>

The film was released in 1,000 screens in India and additional screens overseas.<ref name="screens" /> It earned approximately {{INRConvert|13|c}} during its re-release, becoming the [[List of highest-grossing re-released Indian films|third highest-grossing re-released Indian film of all time]].<ref>{{Cite web |date=18 January 2014 |title=Sholay (Re-Run) Second Week Collection Details |url=http://www.boxofficeindia.com/Details/art_detail/sholay_re-run_second_week_collection_details |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140201202515/http://www.boxofficeindia.com/Details/art_detail/sholay_re-run_second_week_collection_details |archive-date=1 February 2014 |access-date=23 January 2014 |publisher=Box Office India}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=25 September 2024 |title=Tumbbad becomes the highest-grossing re-release in India in 14 years |url=https://www.wionews.com/entertainment/bollywood/news-tumbbad-becomes-the-highest-grossing-re-release-in-india-in-14-years-761680 |access-date=11 January 2025 |website=Wion |language=en}}</ref>

=== ''Sholay: The Final Cut'' (2025) ===
In 2022, Sippy Films collaborated with the [[Film Heritage Foundation]] and L’Immagine Ritrovata for a full restoration in correlation with the film's fiftieth anniversary. Due to significant damage to the original camera negative resulting from severe [[vinegar syndrome]], the restoration utilised an interpositive and two color reversal intermediates located at Iron Mountain and the [[British Film Institute|BFI]] in the UK, a second interpositive from 1978 deposited by Shehzad Sippy to FHF, and the original sound negative and magnetic elements housed in Sippy Films' Mumbai offices. The film was also restored in 4K to its original 70mm aspect ratio of 2.2:1 with assistance from Kamlakar Rao and incorporates the original uncut ending, along with two previously excised scenes that were removed by censors in 1975.<ref name=Bologna/>

The fully restored, uncut version (including Sippy's original ending) was released worldwide as ''Sholay: The Final Cut''.<ref name=Variety>{{cite web |url=https://variety.com/2025/film/news/sholay-trailer-50th-anniversary-release-1236600849/ |title=‘Sholay: The Final Cut’ Trailer Unveiled Ahead of Golden Anniversary Release (EXCLUSIVE) |access-date=14 December 2025 |last=Ramachandran |first=Naman |date=4 December 2025 |work=Variety}}</ref> It premiered at [[Il Cinema Ritrovato]] on 27 June 2025,<ref name=Bologna>{{cite web |title=Sholay (1975, Embers) restored by Film Heritage Foundation with the original ending and deleted scenes had a grand premiere at the Il Cinema Ritrovato Festival in Bologna this June |url=https://filmheritagefoundation.co.in/sholay-1975-embers-restored-by-film-heritage-foundation/ |website=Film Heritage Foundation |date=16 June 2025}}</ref><ref name=BBC>{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cvg8m9z5vv8o|title=Sholay: Bollywood epic roars back to big screen after 50 years with new ending|access-date=14 December 2025|last=Tilak|first=Sudha|date=25 June 2025|work=BBC}}</ref> and released globally on 12 December 2025.<ref name=Variety/> The runtime is classified in 209 minutes.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://in.bookmyshow.com/movies/sholay-the-final-cut/ET00474902|title=Sholay: The Final Cut on BookMyShow|access-date=17 January 2025|website=BookMyShow.com}}</ref>

== Reception ==
=== Critical response ===
:'''August 1975'''
When the film released on 15 August 1975, it received poor reviews. Among contemporary critics, K.L. Amladi of ''[[India Today]]'' called the film a "dead ember" and "a gravely flawed attempt".{{sfn|Chopra|2000|p=161}}<ref>{{cite web |last=Amladi |first=K. L. |date=15 December 1975 |title=Sholay in totality is a depressing film |url=https://www.indiatoday.in/magazine/society-and-the-arts/films/story/19751215-sholay-in-totality-is-a-depressing-film-824046-2014-07-05 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230724160501/https://www.indiatoday.in/magazine/society-and-the-arts/films/story/19751215-sholay-in-totality-is-a-depressing-film-824046-2014-07-05 |archive-date=24 July 2023 |access-date=24 July 2023 |website=[[India Today]]}}</ref> ''[[Filmfare]]'' said that the film was an unsuccessful mincing of Western style with Indian [[Social environment|milieu]], making it an "imitation western—neither here nor there."{{Sfn|Chopra|2000|p=161}} Others labelled it as "sound and fury signifying nothing" and a "second-rate take-off" of the 1971 film ''Mera Gaon Mera Desh''.<ref name="telegraph" /> Trade journals and columnists initially called the film a flop.{{sfn|Chopra|2000|pp=161–168}}

:'''Later August/September 1975-present'''
However, over time the response shifted and it became a cultural icon. It is now considered a classic, and among the greatest Hindi-language films.<ref name="rediff1" />{{sfn|Chopra|2000|p=3}} In a 1976 article in the journal ''Studies: An Irish Quarterly Review'', author Michael Gallagher praised the technical achievement of the film, but otherwise criticised it stating, "As a spectacle it breaks new ground, but on every other level it is intolerable: formless, incoherent, superficial in human image, and a somewhat nasty piece of violence".{{sfn|Gallagher|1976|p=344}}

In a 2005 BBC review, the well-rounded characters and simple narrative of the film were commended, but the comical cameos of Asrani and Jagdeep were considered unnecessary.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Rajput |first=Dharmesh |date=17 August 2005 |title=''Sholay'' (1975) |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/films/2005/08/17/sholay_2005_review.shtml |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121007025157/http://www.bbc.co.uk/films/2005/08/17/sholay_2005_review.shtml |archive-date=7 October 2012 |access-date=16 April 2013 |publisher=BBC}}</ref> On the film's 35th anniversary, the ''[[Hindustan Times]]'' wrote that it was a "trailblazer in terms of camera work as well as music," and that "practically every scene, dialogue or even a small character was a highlight."<ref>{{Cite news |date=15 August 2010 |title=Sholay completes 35 years |work=Hindustan Times |url=http://www.hindustantimes.com/entertainment/sholay-completes-35-years/story-gZIxKfIxNvLThEiQ05KYWP.html |url-status=live |access-date=27 September 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151005160039/http://www.hindustantimes.com/entertainment/sholay-completes-35-years/story-gZIxKfIxNvLThEiQ05KYWP.html |archive-date=5 October 2015}}</ref> In 2006, The [[Film Society of Lincoln Center]] described ''Sholay'' as "an extraordinary and utterly seamless blend of [[Adventure film|adventure]], [[Comedy film|comedy]], [[Musical film|music and dance]]", labelling it an "indisputable classic".<ref>{{Cite web |title=Sholay |url=http://filmlinccom.siteprotect.net/wrt/onsale06/sholay.html |access-date=21 December 2010 |publisher=[[Film Society of Lincoln Center]] |archive-date=21 October 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131021150641/http://filmlinccom.siteprotect.net/wrt/onsale06/sholay.html |url-status=live }}</ref> ''Chicago Review'' critic Ted Shen criticised the film in 2002 for its formulaic plot and "slapdash" cinematography, and noted that the film "alternates between [[slapstick]] and melodrama".<ref name="shen chic reader" /> In their obituary of the producer G.P. Sippy, ''[[The New York Times]]'' said that ''Sholay'' "revolutionized Hindi filmmaking and brought true professionalism to Indian script writing".<ref name="nyt" />

{{Rotten Tomatoes prose|95||19||ref=y|access-date=24 December 2025}}

=== Accolades ===
''Sholay'' was nominated for nine [[Filmfare Awards]], and the only winner was [[M. S. Shinde]], who won the award for [[Filmfare Award for Best Editing|Best Editing]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Filmfare Nominees and {{sic|nolink=1|Winner}} |url=https://archive.org/details/FilmfareAwards |access-date=9 October 2020 |publisher=[[The Times Group]] |via=[[Internet Archive]]}}</ref> The film also won three awards at the 1976 [[Bengal Film Journalists' Association Awards]] (Hindi section): "Best Actor in Supporting Role" for Amjad Khan, "Best Cinematographer (Colour)" for [[Dwarka Divecha]], and "Best Art Director" for Ram Yedekar.<ref>{{Cite web |title=1976: 39th Annual BFJA Awards |url=http://www.bfjaawards.com/legacy/pastwin/197639.htm |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080119012515/http://www.bfjaawards.com/legacy/pastwin/197639.htm |archive-date=19 January 2008 |access-date=2 December 2010 |publisher=Bengal Film Journalists' Association}}</ref> ''Sholay'' received a special award at the 50th Filmfare Awards in 2005: [[Filmfare Best Film of 50 Years|Best Film of 50 Years]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=All Filmfare Awards Winners |url=https://www.filmfare.com/awards/filmfare-awards/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.today/20180227163020/https://www.filmfare.com/awards/filmfare-awards/ |archive-date=27 February 2018 |access-date=27 February 2018 |website=Filmfare}}</ref>
{| class="wikitable"
! Style="width:5%"| Awards
! Style="width:25%"| Category
! Style="width:20%"| Nominee
! Style="width:10%"| Result
|-
|rowspan="3"|[[Bengal Film Journalists Association Awards]]
|Best Supporting Actor
|[[Amjad Khan (actor)|Amjad Khan]]
|rowspan="4"{{won}}
|-
|Best Cinematography
|[[Dwarka Divecha]]
|-
|Best Art Direction
|Ram Yadekar
|-
|rowspan="10"|[[23rd Filmfare Awards]]
|[[Filmfare Best Editing Award|Best Editing]]
|[[M. S. Shinde]]
|-
|[[Filmfare Award for Best Film|Best Film]]
|[[G. P. Sippy]]
|rowspan="9" {{nom}}
|-
|[[Filmfare Award for Best Director|Best Director]]
|[[Ramesh Sippy]]
|-
|[[Filmfare Award for Best Actor|Best Actor]]
|[[Sanjeev Kumar]]
|-
|[[Filmfare Award for Best Supporting Actor|Best Supporting Actor]]
|Amjad Khan
|-
|[[Filmfare Best Comedian Award|Best Comedian]]
|[[Asrani]]
|-
|[[Filmfare Award for Best Story|Best Story]]
|[[Salim-Javed]]
|-
|[[Filmfare Award for Best Music Director|Best Music Director]]
|[[R. D. Burman]]
|-
|[[Filmfare Best Lyricist Award|Best Lyricist]]
|[[Anand Bakshi]] for "Mehbooba Mehbooba"
|-
|[[Filmfare Award for Best Male Playback Singer|Best Male Playback Singer]]
|R. D. Burman
|-
|[[50th Filmfare Awards]]
|Special Award
|Best Film for Completing 50 Years
|{{won|place=1st|Received}}
|-
|}

== Legacy and cultural influence ==
''Sholay'' has received many "Best Film" honours. It was declared the "Film of the Millennium" by [[BBC India]] in 1999.<ref name="nyt" /> It topped the [[British Film Institute]]'s "Top 10 Indian Films" [[Films considered the greatest ever|of all time]] poll of 2002,<ref>{{Cite web |year=2002 |title=Top 10 Indian Films |url=http://www.bfi.org.uk/features/imagineasia/guide/poll/india |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110515101729/http://www.bfi.org.uk/features/imagineasia/guide/poll/india/ |archive-date=15 May 2011 |access-date=14 June 2012 |publisher=[[British Film Institute]]}}</ref> and was voted the greatest Indian movie in a [[Sky (UK and Ireland)|Sky Digital]] poll of one million British Indians in 2004.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Thambirajah, Mohan |date=27 May 2004 |title='Sholay' voted best Indian movie |work=[[New Straits Times]] |url=http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P1-94953889.html |url-status=dead |access-date=25 April 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160225042453/https://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P1-94953889.html |archive-date=25 February 2016 |quote=SHOLAY has been voted the greatest Indian movie in a research by Sky Digital of one million Indians in Britain.}} {{link note|note=Partial story rendition from HighBeam.com archive.}}</ref> It was also included in the magazine ''[[Time (magazine)|Time]]''{{'}}s "Best of Bollywood" list in 2010,<ref>{{Cite magazine |last=Corliss |first=Richard |date=27 October 2010 |title=Sholay – 1975 – Best of Bollywood |url=https://content.time.com/time/specials/packages/article/0,28804,2022076_2022067_2022045,00.html |url-status=live |magazine=[[Time (magazine)|Time]] |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130828050259/http://content.time.com/time/specials/packages/article/0%2C28804%2C2022076_2022067_2022045%2C00.html |archive-date=28 August 2013 |access-date=30 July 2012}}</ref> and in [[IBN Live]]'s list of the "100 greatest Indian films of all time" in 2013.<ref>{{Cite web |date=17 April 2013 |title=100 Years of Indian Cinema: The 100 greatest Indian films of all time |url=http://ibnlive.in.com/photogallery/13200-19.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130425234438/http://ibnlive.in.com/photogallery/13200-19.html |archive-date=25 April 2013 |access-date=12 February 2014 |website=[[IBN Live]]}}</ref> In 2023, [[Time Out (magazine)|Time Out]] ranked it #1 on its list of the "100 Best Bollywood Movies."<ref name="best">{{cite web |date=7 February 2023 |title=The 100 best Bollywood movies |url=https://www.timeout.com/film/the-100-best-bollywood-movies-the-list |access-date=28 November 2023 |work=[[Time Out (magazine)|Time Out]] |archive-date=20 August 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230820130100/https://www.timeout.com/film/the-100-best-bollywood-movies-the-list |url-status=live }}</ref>

''Sholay'' inspired many films and [[pastiche]]s, and spawned a genre of films, the "Curry Western",{{sfnm|1a1=Dudrah|1a2=Desai|1y=2008|1p=5|2a1=Sparks|2y=2008|2p=157}} which is a play on the term [[Spaghetti Western]]. A more accurate label for the genre is the Dacoit Western, due to its roots in earlier Indian dacoit films such as ''[[Mother India]]'' (1957) and ''[[Gunga Jumna]]'' (1961).<ref name="Teo" /> It was also an early and most definitive [[masala film]],<ref name="uiowa" />{{sfn|Hayward|2006|p=67|ps=:"In its truest sense ''Sholay'' was perhaps ''the'' first Masala movie"}} and a trend-setter for "multi-star" films.{{sfn|Jain|2009|p=62}} The film was a watershed for scriptwriters in Hindi language films, who were not paid well before ''Sholay''; after the film's success, its writing duo Salim-Javed became stars in their own right and script writing became a more respected profession.<ref name="ndtv" /> The [[BBC]] has described ''Sholay'' as the "''[[Star Wars]]'' of Bollywood", comparing its impact on Hindi language films to the impact that ''[[Star Wars (film)|Star Wars]]'' (1977) later had on [[Cinema of the United States|Hollywood]], while comparing Gabbar Singh to [[Darth Vader]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Verma |first=Rahul |date=14 August 2015 |title=Sholay: The Star Wars of Bollywood? |url=http://www.bbc.com/culture/story/20150813-sholay-the-star-wars-of-bollywood |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170509192533/http://www.bbc.com/culture/story/20150813-sholay-the-star-wars-of-bollywood |archive-date=9 May 2017 |access-date=28 November 2017 |publisher=BBC}}</ref>

[[File:Gabbar Singh dialogue from Sholay on the back of auto rickshaw.jpg|thumb|A line of Gabbar Singh (''Tera kya hoga'', meaning, "What will happen to you?") and a picture of him is painted on the back of an [[auto rickshaw]], a common mode of public transport. Dialogues and characters from the film have contributed to many cultural tropes in India's daily life.|alt=A dialogue and image of Gabbar Singh painted on the back of an auto rickshaw]]

Certain scenes and dialogues earned iconic status in India, such as "''Kitne aadmi the''" (How many men were there?), "''Jo dar gaya, samjho mar gaya''" (One who is scared is dead), and "''Bahut yaarana laagta hai''" (Looks like you two are very close) – all dialogues of Gabbar Singh.<ref name="rediff1" />{{sfnm|1a1=Chopra|1y=2000|1pp=4–5|2a1=Jess-Cooke|2y=2009|2p=126}} These and other popular dialogues entered the people's daily vernacular.{{sfnm|1a1=Banerjee|1a2=Srivastava|1y=1988|1pp=166–169|2a1=Jess-Cooke|2y=2009|2p=126}} Characters and dialogues from the film continue to be referred to and parodied in popular culture.{{sfnm|1a1=Chopra|1y=2000|1pp=4–5|2a1=Ganti|2y=2004|2p=161}} Gabbar Singh, the sadistic villain, ushered in an era in Hindi films characterised by "seemingly omnipotent oppressors as villains", who play the pivotal role in setting up the context of the story, such as Shakal (played by [[Kulbhushan Kharbanda]]) of ''[[Shaan (1980 film)|Shaan]]'' (1980), Mogambo ([[Amrish Puri]]) of ''[[Mr. India (1987 film)|Mr. India]]'' (1987) and Bhujang (Amrish Puri) of ''[[Tridev]]'' (1989).{{sfn|Zankar|2003|p=365}} ''Filmfare'', in 2013, named Gabbar Singh the most iconic villain in the history of Indian cinema,<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Hashmi, Parampara Patil |date=3 May 2013 |title=Iconic villains of Indian cinema |url=http://www.filmfare.com/features/iconic-villains-of-indian-cinema-3038-2.html |url-status=live |journal=[[Filmfare]] |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131111181042/http://www.filmfare.com/features/iconic-villains-of-indian-cinema-3038-2.html |archive-date=11 November 2013 |access-date=7 July 2013}}</ref> and four actors were included in its 2010 list of "80 Iconic Performances" for their work in this film.<ref>{{Cite journal |date=1 June 2010 |title=Filmfare – 80 Iconic Performances 1/10 |url=http://www.filmfare.com/articles/80-iconic-performances-110-950.html |journal=Filmfare |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120121065253/http://www.filmfare.com/articles/80-iconic-performances-110-950.html |archive-date=21 January 2012 |access-date=8 July 2013}}</ref><ref>{{Cite journal |date=3 June 2010 |title=Filmfare – 80 Iconic Performances 2/10 |url=http://www.filmfare.com/articles/80-iconic-performances-210-952.html |journal=Filmfare |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100705235640/http://www.filmfare.com/articles/80-iconic-performances-210-952.html |archive-date=5 July 2010 |access-date=8 July 2013}}</ref><ref>{{Cite journal |date=6 June 2010 |title=Filmfare – 80 Iconic Performances 6/10 |url=http://www.filmfare.com/articles/80-iconic-performances-610-956.html |journal=Filmfare |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130506122601/http://www.filmfare.com/articles/80-iconic-performances-610-956.html |archive-date=6 May 2013 |access-date=8 July 2013}}</ref><ref>{{Cite journal |date=10 June 2010 |title=Filmfare – 80 Iconic Performances 10/10 |url=http://www.filmfare.com/articles/80-iconic-performances-1010-991.html |journal=Filmfare |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110203173146/http://www.filmfare.com/articles/80-iconic-performances-1010-991.html |archive-date=3 February 2011 |access-date=8 July 2013}}</ref>

The film is often credited with making Bachchan a "superstar", two years after he became a star with ''[[Zanjeer (1973 film)|Zanjeer]]'' (1973).<ref name="uiowa" /><ref>{{Cite web |title=Top Actor |url=http://www.boxofficeindia.com/cpages.php?pageName=top_actors |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131029191201/http://boxofficeindia.com/cpages.php?pageName=top_actors |archive-date=29 October 2013 |access-date=13 October 2012 |publisher=Box Office India}}</ref> Some of the supporting actors remained etched in public memory as the characters they played in ''Sholay''; for example, [[Mac Mohan]] continued to be referred to as "Sambha", even though his character had just one line.<ref>{{Cite news |date=10 May 2010 |title='Sambha' Mac Mohan of 'Sholay' fame dies |work=The Times of India |url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Sambha-Mac-Mohan-of-Sholay-fame-dies/articleshow/5914387.cms |url-status=live |access-date=14 May 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121106153206/http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/India/Sambha-Mac-Mohan-of-Sholay-fame-dies/articleshow/5914387.cms |archive-date=6 November 2012}}</ref> Major and minor characters continue to be used in commercials, promos, films and sitcoms.<ref name="ndtv" />{{sfn|Chopra|2000|pp=4–5}} Amjad Khan acted in many villainous roles later in his career. He also played Gabbar Singh again in the 1991 spoof ''[[Ramgarh Ke Sholay]]'', and reprised the role in commercials.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Khanna |first=Parul |date=6 February 2010 |title=The most hilarious ads ever... |work=Hindustan Times |url=http://www.hindustantimes.com/tv/the-most-hilarious-ads-ever/story-w3DzJypz46bPExmxlqDJsI.html |url-status=live |access-date=17 December 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150925073043/http://www.hindustantimes.com/tv/the-most-hilarious-ads-ever/story-w3DzJypz46bPExmxlqDJsI.html |archive-date=25 September 2015}}</ref> The British Film Institute in 2002 wrote that fear of Gabbar Singh "is still invoked by mothers to put their children to sleep".<ref>{{Cite web |year=2002 |title=1. Sholay (1975) |url=http://www.bfi.org.uk/features/imagineasia/guide/poll/india/01_sholay.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110805124020/http://www.bfi.org.uk/features/imagineasia/guide/poll/india/01_sholay.html |archive-date=5 August 2011 |access-date=27 April 2013 |publisher=[[British Film Institute]]}}</ref> The 2012 film ''[[Gabbar Singh (film)|Gabbar Singh]]'', named after the character, became the highest-grossing [[Cinema of Andhra Pradesh|Telugu film]] up to that point.<ref>{{Cite news |date=19 July 2012 |title=Gabbar Singh highest grosser in south |work=[[India Today]] |url=https://www.indiatoday.in/movies/bollywood/story/gabbar-singh-highest-grosser-110233-2012-07-18 |access-date=3 May 2013 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120719115946/http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/gabbar-singh-highest-grosser/1/209129.html |archive-date=19 July 2012}}</ref> Comedian [[Jagdeep]], who played Soorma Bhopali in the film, attempted to use his ''Sholay'' success to create a spinoff. He directed and played the lead role in the 1988 film ''[[Soorma Bhopali]]'', in which Dharmendra and Bachchan had cameos.<ref>{{Cite web |date=1 January 1988 |title=Soorma Bhopali (1988) Cast and Crew |url=https://www.bollywoodhungama.com/movie/soorma-bhopali/cast/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161121104752/http://www.bollywoodhungama.com/movie/soorma-bhopali/cast/ |archive-date=21 November 2016 |access-date=24 February 2012 |website=[[Bollywood Hungama]]}}</ref>

''Sholay'' was remade in [[Bangladesh]] as ''Dost Dushman'' (1977), was criticized by many critics in the country.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Bollywood and Dhallywood: Contentions and Connections |url=https://archive.thedailystar.net/forum/2011/August/bollywood.htm |website=[[The Daily Star (Bangladesh)|The Daily Star]] |date=1 August 2011}}</ref> In 2004, ''Sholay'' was digitally remastered and shown again to packed theatres in India, including Mumbai's Minerva, where it had run successfully 29 years earlier.<ref>{{Cite news |date=14 August 2004 |title=29 years later, Sholay still rules |work=[[The Indian Express]] |url=http://expressindia.indianexpress.com/news/fullstory.php?newsid=35028 |url-status=live |access-date=30 December 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131109044928/http://expressindia.indianexpress.com/news/fullstory.php?newsid=35028 |archive-date=9 November 2013}}</ref> Another attempt to remake ''Sholay'', [[Ram Gopal Varma]]'s film ''[[Aag (2007 film)|Aag]]'' (2007), starring Amitabh Bachchan as the villain, was a commercial and critical disaster.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Box Office 2007 |url=http://www.boxofficeindia.com/showProd.php?itemCat=214 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131109040918/http://www.boxofficeindia.com/showProd.php?itemCat=214 |archive-date=9 November 2013 |access-date=20 April 2013 |publisher=Box Office India}}</ref>

Because of television and home media, ''Sholay'' is widely available and still popular. Twenty years after its release, ''Sholay'' was first shown on the Indian [[DD National]] television channel, where it drew the highest ratings ever for an Indian film broadcast.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Mahmood |first=Rafay |date=5 April 2012 |title=Bollywood Masterpiece: Sholay in 3D |work=[[The Express Tribune]] |url=http://tribune.com.pk/story/360123/bollywood-masterpiece-sholay-in-3d/ |url-status=live |access-date=12 April 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131109035939/http://tribune.com.pk/story/360123/bollywood-masterpiece-sholay-in-3d/ |archive-date=9 November 2013}}</ref> Video game producer Mobile2win released the ''Sholay Ramgarh Express'' game for mobile phones in 2004, along with other ''Sholay'' themed content such as wallpapers, video clips, and ringtones; another video game ''Sholay: Bullets of Justice'' developed by Gameshastra has also been released.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Bapna |first=Amit |date=29 January 2014 |title=Box office blockbuster Sholay: Ad man's favourite source of inspiration |work=The Economic Times |url=https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/box-office-blockbuster-sholay-ad-mans-favourite-source-of-inspiration/articleshow/29503479.cms?from=mdr |access-date=28 November 2023 |issn=0013-0389}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Sholay - Bullets of Justice |url=http://vroovy.com/Vroovywebsite/v8/sholay-bullets-of-justice.html |access-date=27 September 2023 |website=vroovy.com |archive-date=11 February 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220211173224/http://vroovy.com/Vroovywebsite/v8/sholay-bullets-of-justice.html |url-status=live }}</ref> ''Sholay Adventures'', a 2014 [[List of Indian animated films|Indian animated television film]] adaptation of ''Sholay'' aired on [[Pogo TV]].<ref>{{Cite web |date=23 January 2015 |title=Pogo and Graphic India presents Sholay Adventures |url=http://www.indiantelevision.com/television/tv-channels/kids/pogo-and-graphic-india-presents-sholay-adventures-150123 |access-date=4 June 2017 |archive-date=16 June 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170616091541/http://www.indiantelevision.com/television/tv-channels/kids/pogo-and-graphic-india-presents-sholay-adventures-150123 |url-status=live }}</ref> In 2019, a film titled ''[[The Sholay Girl]]'', based on the stunt woman [[Reshma Pathan]], was released. Pathan had worked as the body double for Malini in the film.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Sharma |first=Aayushi |date=4 March 2019 |title=All You Need To Know About Reshma Pathan aka The Sholay Girl, India's First Stunt Woman |url=https://zeetv.zee5.com/all-you-need-to-know-about-reshma-pathan-aka-the-sholay-girl-indias-first-stunt-woman/ |access-date=10 March 2019 |publisher=Zee TV |archive-date=7 August 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200807033401/https://zeetv.zee5.com/all-you-need-to-know-about-reshma-pathan-aka-the-sholay-girl-indias-first-stunt-woman/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

''Sholay'' has been the subject of two books and many articles. Wimal Dissanayake and Malti Sahai's ''Sholay, A Cultural Reading'' (1992) attempts a comprehensive scholarly study that sets the film within the broader history of popular cinema in India. [[Anupama Chopra]]'s ''Sholay: The Making of a Classic'' (2000) provides an inside look at the film's production based on interviews with the director, stars, and crew members.<ref name="ending" /><ref name="uiowa" />

''Sholay'' has been labelled by Chopra as the gold standard in Indian cinema, and a reference point for audiences and trade analysts. Over the years, the film has reached a mythic stature in popular culture,{{sfn|Chopra|2000|p=3}} and has been called the greatest Hindi film of all time.{{sfn|Dwyer|2005|p=218}} It belongs to only a small collection of films, including ''[[Kismet (1943 film)|Kismet]]'' (1943), ''[[Mother India]]'' (1957), ''[[Mughal-e-Azam]]'' (1960), ''[[Hum Aapke Hain Koun..!]]'' (1994) and ''[[Gadar: Ek Prem Katha]]'' (2001), which are repeatedly watched throughout India, and are viewed as definitive Hindi films with cultural significance.{{sfnm|Mishra|2002|1p=66|Morcom|2007|2pp=139–144}}<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.boxofficeindia.com/report-details.php?articleid=2822|title=The Biggest Blockbuster Continues To Dominate|date=30 March 2017}}</ref> The lasting effect of ''Sholay'' on Indian cinema was summarised by Anupama Chopra, when in 2004 she called it "no longer just a film, [but] an event".<ref>{{Cite news |last=Ahmed |first=Zubair |date=18 August 2004 |title=Hindi classic pulls in the crowds |work=BBC News |url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/3577790.stm |url-status=live |access-date=1 December 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120623054743/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/3577790.stm |archive-date=23 June 2012}}</ref> In the 2000 book ''Sholay: The Making of a Classic'', the noted director [[Shekhar Kapur]] stated "there has never been a more defining film on the Indian screen. Indian film history can be divided into ''Sholay'' BC and ''Sholay'' AD".{{sfn|Chopra|2000|loc=back cover}} The film was jointly released in Pakistan by [[Jang Media Group|Geo films]] and Mandviwalla Entertainment on 17 April 2015, almost 40 years after its theatrical release. The film's premiere in the country was held in [[Karachi]].<ref>{{Cite web |date=18 April 2015 |title='Sholay' releases in Pakistan |url=http://www.thehindu.com/entertainment/sholay-releases-in-pakistan/article7117187.ece |access-date=19 April 2015 |website=The Hindu |agency=Press Trust of India |archive-date=30 November 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171130151204/http://www.thehindu.com/entertainment/sholay-releases-in-pakistan/article7117187.ece |url-status=live }}</ref>

Screenwriter [[V. Vijayendra Prasad]], responsible for a number of blockbusters in the early 21st century, including the South Indian franchise [[Baahubali (franchise)|''Baahubali'']] and the Hindi film ''[[Bajrangi Bhaijaan]]'' (starring Salim's son [[Salman Khan]]), cited ''Sholay'' as a major inspiration on his work.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Singh |first=Suhani |date=17 June 2017 |title=Baahubali writer KV Vijayendra Prasad is going places at 75 |url=https://www.indiatoday.in/magazine/leisure/story/20170626-k-v-vijayendra-prasad-baahubali-writer-magadheera-986633-2017-06-17 |access-date=8 May 2022 |website=[[India Today]] |archive-date=8 May 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220508220818/https://www.indiatoday.in/magazine/leisure/story/20170626-k-v-vijayendra-prasad-baahubali-writer-magadheera-986633-2017-06-17 |url-status=live }}</ref>

==See also==
* ''[[Angry Young Men (miniseries)]]''
* [[List of cult films]]
* [[List of highest-grossing Indian films]]
* [[Gabbar Singh (disambiguation)]]

== Footnotes ==
{{notelist|30em}}

== References ==
<references>

<ref name="Runtime">{{Cite web |title=''Sholay'' (PG) |url=https://www.bbfc.co.uk/releases/sholay-1988 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131109084512/http://www.bbfc.co.uk/releases/sholay-1988 |archive-date=9 November 2013 |access-date=12 April 2013 |publisher=[[British Board of Film Classification]]}}</ref>
<ref name="open">{{Cite journal |last1=Khan |first1=Salim |author-link=Salim Khan |last2=Sukumaran |first2=Shradha |date=14 August 2010 |title=Sholay, the Beginning |url=http://www.openthemagazine.com/article/arts-letters/sholay-the-beginning |url-status=live |journal=[[Open (Indian magazine)|OPEN Magazine]] |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171130151204/http://www.openthemagazine.com/article/arts-letters/sholay-the-beginning |archive-date=30 November 2017}}</ref>
<ref name="Cinar">{{Cite book |last1=Cinar |first1=Alev |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=q-5llJ_MsvgC&pg=PA117 |title=Visualizing Secularism and Religion: Egypt, Lebanon, Turkey, India |last2=Roy |first2=Srirupa |last3=Yahya |first3=Maha |date=2012 |publisher=[[University of Michigan Press]] |isbn=978-0-472-07118-0 |page=117 |quote=one of the most popular Hindi-Urdu films in Bollywood history, ''Sholay'' |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171130151204/https://books.google.com/books?id=q-5llJ_MsvgC&pg=PA117 |archive-date=30 November 2017 |url-status=live}}</ref>
<ref name="Akhtar">{{Cite book |last1=Aḵẖtar |first1=Jāvīd |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=_JILAQAAMAAJ |title=Talking Films: Conversations on Hindi Cinema with Javed Akhtar |last2=Kabir |first2=Nasreen Munni |date=2002 |publisher=[[Oxford University Press]] |isbn=978-0-19-566462-1 |page=49 |quote=JA: I write dialogue in Urdu, but the action and descriptions are in English. Then an assistant transcribes the Urdu dialogue into Devnagari because most people read Hindi. But I write in Urdu. |author-link=Javed Akhtar |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140108035102/http://books.google.com/books?id=_JILAQAAMAAJ |archive-date=8 January 2014 |url-status=live}}</ref>
<ref name="nyt">{{Cite news |last=Pandya |first=Haresh |date=27 December 2007 |title=G. P. Sippy, Indian Filmmaker Whose ''Sholay'' Was a Bollywood Hit, Dies at 93 |work=[[The New York Times]] |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2007/12/27/arts/27Sippy.html |url-status=live |access-date=23 February 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110828135232/http://www.nytimes.com/2007/12/27/arts/27Sippy.html |archive-date=28 August 2011}}</ref>
<ref name="Teo">{{Cite book |last=Teo |first=Stephen |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=pi8lDwAAQBAJ&pg=PA122 |title=Eastern Westerns: Film and Genre Outside and Inside Hollywood |date=2017 |publisher=[[Taylor & Francis]] |isbn=978-1-317-59226-6 |page=122 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171130151204/https://books.google.com/books?id=pi8lDwAAQBAJ&pg=PA122 |archive-date=30 November 2017 |url-status=live}}</ref>
<ref name="rediff1">{{Cite web |last=Raheja |first=Dinesh |date=9 August 2009 |title=Why Sholay is a cult classic |url=http://www.rediff.com/movies/2002/aug/09dinesh.htm |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304122450/http://www.rediff.com/movies/2002/aug/09dinesh.htm |archive-date=4 March 2016 |access-date=1 December 2010 |website=[[Rediff.com]]}}</ref>
<ref name="ndtv">{{Cite web |date=14 August 2010 |title=35 years on, the Sholay fire still burns |url=http://movies.ndtv.com/bollywood/35-years-on-the-sholay-fire-still-burns-44425 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130612074406/http://movies.ndtv.com/bollywood/35-years-on-the-sholay-fire-still-burns-44425 |archive-date=12 June 2013 |access-date=12 April 2013 |publisher=[[NDTV]]}}</ref>
<ref name="ending">{{Cite web |last=Das |first=Ronjita |date=7 February 2001 |title=I didn't even know there was another ending to ''Sholay'' |url=http://im.rediff.com/movies/2001/feb/07anu.htm |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110715164950/http://im.rediff.com/movies/2001/feb/07anu.htm |archive-date=15 July 2011 |access-date=27 September 2010 |publisher=Rediff}}</ref>
<ref name="DVD">{{Cite web |title=Sholay (1975) Region 0 DVD Review |url=http://film.thedigitalfix.com/content.php?contentid=58178 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161121171814/http://film.thedigitalfix.com/content.php?contentid=58178 |archive-date=21 November 2016 |access-date=9 August 2010 |publisher=The Digital Fix}}</ref>
<ref name="shen chic reader">{{Cite news |last=Shen |first=Ted |date=13 December 2002 |title=Sholay |work=[[Chicago Reader]] |url=http://www.chicagoreader.com/chicago/sholay/Film?oid=1063841 |url-status=live |access-date=11 April 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304093713/http://www.chicagoreader.com/chicago/sholay/Film?oid=1063841 |archive-date=4 March 2016}}</ref>
<ref name="telegraph">{{Cite news |date=3 February 2013 |title=900 not out! |work=[[The Telegraph (Calcutta)|The Telegraph]] |url=https://www.telegraphindia.com/1130203/jsp/7days/story_16515999.jsp |url-status=dead |access-date=11 May 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304225327/http://www.telegraphindia.com/1130203/jsp/7days/story_16515999.jsp |archive-date=4 March 2016}}</ref>
<ref name="Boi70s">{{Cite web |title=Top Earners 1970–1979 – BOI |url=http://boxofficeindia.com/showProd.php?itemCat=124&catName=MTk3MC0xOTc5 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131014062240/http://boxofficeindia.com/showProd.php?itemCat=124&catName=MTk3MC0xOTc5 |archive-date=14 October 2013 |access-date=24 February 2012 |publisher=Box Office India}}</ref>
<ref name="indiatoday">{{Cite news |date=15 September 1995 |title=Sholay emerges as Bollywood's most successful re-run product even after 20 years |work=[[India Today]] |url=https://www.indiatoday.in/magazine/society-and-the-arts/films/story/19950915-sholay-emerges-as-bollywoods-most-successful-re-run-product-even-after-20-years-807750-1995-09-14 |access-date=9 December 2018 |archive-date=1 January 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170101010917/http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/sholay-emerges-as-bollywoods-most-successful-re-run-product-even-after-20-years/1/289356.html |url-status=live }}</ref>
<ref name="footfalls">[https://boxofficeindia.com/report-details.php?articleid=2988 Bahubali 2 Is The Biggest Hindi Blockbuster This Century] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170824133203/http://www.boxofficeindia.com/report-details.php?articleid=2988 |date=24 August 2017}}, [[Box Office India]], 8 June 2017</ref>
<ref name="soviet">{{Cite web |title="Месть и закон" (Sholay, 1975) |url=https://www.kinopoisk.ru/film/40451/ |access-date=3 February 2019 |website=[[KinoPoisk]] |language=ru-RU |archive-date=28 August 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200828011232/https://www.kinopoisk.ru/film/40451/ |url-status=live }}</ref>
<ref name="uiowa">{{Cite web |last=Lutgendorf |first=Philip |title=Sholay |url=http://www.uiowa.edu/~incinema/sholay.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150102025542/http://www.uiowa.edu/~incinema/sholay.html |archive-date=2 January 2015 |access-date=8 December 2010 |publisher=South Asian Studies Program, University of Iowa}}</ref>
<ref name="3D">{{Cite news |last=Roy, Priyanka |date=27 November 2013 |title=Sholay returns — in 3D! |work=The Telegraph (Calcutta) supplement t2 |url=http://www.telegraphindia.com/1131127/jsp/t2/story_17614577.jsp |url-status=dead |access-date=7 December 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131213001755/http://www.telegraphindia.com/1131127/jsp/t2/story_17614577.jsp |archive-date=13 December 2013}}</ref>
<ref name="screens">{{Cite news |last=Jain, Priyanka |date=4 June 2012 |title=Sholay 3D will be more successful, says distributor |work=Hindustan Times |url=http://www.hindustantimes.com/bollywood/sholay-3d-will-be-more-successful-says-distributor/story-QdkIKksj4a8Kly1NHIPssK.html |url-status=live |access-date=7 December 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151005123811/http://www.hindustantimes.com/bollywood/sholay-3d-will-be-more-successful-says-distributor/story-QdkIKksj4a8Kly1NHIPssK.html |archive-date=5 October 2015}}</ref>

</references>

== Bibliography ==
{{Refbegin|30em}}
* {{Cite book |last=Banerjea |first=Koushik |title=Bollyworld: Popular Indian Cinema Through A Transnational Lens |publisher=SAGE |year=2005 |isbn=978-0-7619-3321-2 |editor-last=Kaur |editor-first=Raminder |chapter='Fight Club': Aesthetics, Hybridisation and the Construction of Rogue Masculinities in ''Sholay'' and ''Deewar'' |editor-last2=Sinha |editor-first2=Ajay J |chapter-url=https://books.google.com/books?id=DGtNhQsLl7wC&pg=PA176 }}
* {{Cite book |last1=Banerjee |first1=Shampa |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=zX4GY37rG8kC&pg=PA16 |title=One Hundred Indian Feature Films: An Annotated Filmography |last2=Srivastava |first2=Anil |publisher=Taylor & Francis |year=1988 |isbn=978-0-8240-9483-6 }}
* {{Cite book |last=Chopra |first=Anupama |authorlink=Anupama Chopra |title=Sholay: The Making of a Classic |publisher=Penguin Books, India |year=2000 |isbn=0-14-029970-X }}
* {{Cite book |last=Dissanayake |first=Wimal|author-link=Wimal Dissanayake|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=C-Y6811S3agC |title=Melodrama and Asian Cinema |publisher=Cambridge University Press |year=1993 |isbn=978-0-521-41465-4 |editor-last=Dissanayake |editor-first=Wimal |chapter=The concepts of evil and social order in Indian melodrama: an evolving dialectic }}
* {{Cite book |last1=Dissanayake |first1=Wimal |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=uxJlAAAAMAAJ |title=Sholay, a cultural reading |last2=Sahai |first2=Malti |publisher=Wiley Eastern |year=1992 |isbn=978-81-224-0394-7 }}
* {{Cite book |last1=Dudrah |first1=Rajinder Kumar |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=B6wLAQAAMAAJ |title=The Bollywood Reader |last2=Desai |first2=Jigna |publisher=McGraw-Hill |year=2008 |isbn=978-0-335-22212-4 }}
* {{Cite book |last=Dwyer |first=Rachel |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=u-9kAAAAMAAJ |title=One Hundred Bollywood Films |publisher=BFI |year=2005 |isbn=978-1-84457-098-0 |access-date=15 July 2016 |archive-date=3 January 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140103133858/http://books.google.com/books?id=u-9kAAAAMAAJ |url-status=live }}
* {{Cite book |last1=Elliott |first1=Emory |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=rvPP_xmUwyUC&pg=PA37 |title=Global migration, social change, and cultural transformation |last2=Payne |first2=Jasmine |last3=Ploesch |first3=Patricia |publisher=Macmillan |year=2007 |isbn=978-0-230-60054-6 |access-date=15 July 2016 |archive-date=11 January 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140111233124/http://books.google.com/books?id=rvPP_xmUwyUC&pg=PA37 |url-status=live }}
* {{Cite journal |last=Gallagher |first=Michael |year=1976 |title=Indian and Western Cinema: Film Report |journal=Studies: An Irish Quarterly Review |publisher=Irish Province of the Society of Jesus |volume=65 |issue=260 |pages=344–348 |jstor=30090035}}
* {{Cite book |last=Ganti |first=Tejaswini |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=GTEa93azj9EC |title=Bollywood: a guidebook to popular Hindi cinema |publisher=Taylor & Francis |year=2004 |isbn=978-0-415-28854-5 |access-date=15 July 2016 |archive-date=20 March 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170320134221/https://books.google.com/books?id=GTEa93azj9EC |url-status=live }}
* {{Cite book |last=Hayward |first=S |title=Cinema Studies: The Key Concepts |publisher=Routledge |year=2006 |isbn=0-415-36782-4}}
* {{Cite book |last=Heide |first=William Van der |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=k3HTdu1HuWQC&pg=PA52 |title=Malaysian cinema, Asian film: border crossings and national cultures |publisher=Amsterdam University Press |year=2002 |isbn=978-90-5356-580-3 |access-date=15 July 2016 |archive-date=9 June 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160609195430/https://books.google.com/books?id=k3HTdu1HuWQC |url-status=live }}
* {{Cite book |last=Hogan |first=Patrick Colm |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=O1yubyUWGuMC |title=Understanding Indian Movies: Culture, Cognition, and Cinematic Imagination |publisher=University of TEXAS Press |year=2008 |isbn=978-0-292-77955-6 }}
* {{Cite book |last=Holtzman |first=Dina |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=kGIuatpm-8gC |title=Bollywood and Globalization: Indian Popular Cinema, Nation, and Diaspora |publisher=Anthem Press |year=2011 |isbn=978-0-85728-782-3 |editor-last=Bhattacharya Mehta |editor-first=Rini |chapter=Between ''Yaars'': The Queering of ''Dosti'' in Contemporary Bollywood Films |editor-last2=Pandharipande |editor-first2=Rajeshwari |access-date=15 July 2016 |archive-date=19 February 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170219201636/https://books.google.com/books?id=kGIuatpm-8gC |url-status=live }}
* {{Cite book |last=Jain |first=Manju |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ORE9TDOoU1IC&pg=PA62 |title=Narratives Of Indian Cinema |publisher=Primus Books |year=2009 |isbn=978-81-908918-4-4 }}
* {{Cite book |last=Jess-Cooke |first=Carolyn |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Sw0mjBBbybUC&pg=PA126 |title=Film Sequels: Theory and Practice from Hollywood to Bollywood |publisher=Edinburgh University Press |year=2009 |isbn=978-0-7486-2603-8 }}
* {{Cite book |last=Khan |first=Mohammad Zahir |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=LE8iAAAAMAAJ |title=Dacoity in Chambal Valley |publisher=National |year=1981 }}
* {{Cite book |last=Mishra |first=Vijay |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=8Q8Z9Ukwn6EC |title=Bollywood Cinema: Temples of Desire |publisher=Routledge |year=2002 |isbn=978-0-415-93015-4 |access-date=15 July 2016 |archive-date=17 June 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160617214223/https://books.google.com/books?id=8Q8Z9Ukwn6EC |url-status=live }}
* {{Cite book |last=Morcom |first=Anna |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=kfVdxiSm-aYC&pg=PA212 |title=Hindi film songs and the cinema |publisher=Ashgate Publishing, Ltd. |year=2007 |isbn=978-0-7546-5198-7 |access-date=15 July 2016 |archive-date=17 May 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160517041801/https://books.google.com/books?id=kfVdxiSm-aYC&pg=PA212 |url-status=live }}
* {{Cite book |last=Prasad |first=M. Madhava |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=6OBkAAAAMAAJ |title=Ideology of the Hindi Film: A Historical Construction |publisher=Oxford University Press, Incorporated |year=1998 |isbn=978-0-19-564218-6 |access-date=15 July 2016 |archive-date=11 June 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140611095042/http://books.google.com/books?id=6OBkAAAAMAAJ |url-status=live }}
* {{Cite book |last=Rao |first=Maithili |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=8y8vN9A14nkC |title=Encyclopaedia of Hindi Cinema |publisher=Encyclopædia Britannica, Popular Prakashan |year=2003 |isbn=978-81-7991-066-5 |editor-last=Gulzar |chapter=1976–1989: Rebels without a Cause |editor-last2=Nihalani |editor-first2=Govind |editor-last3=Chatterjee |editor-first3=Saibal |access-date=15 July 2016 |archive-date=5 April 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190405040645/https://books.google.com/books?id=8y8vN9A14nkC |url-status=live }}
* {{Cite book |last=Roy |first=Sharmishta |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=8y8vN9A14nkC |title=Encyclopaedia of Hindi Cinema |publisher=Encyclopædia Britannica, Popular Prakashan |year=2003 |isbn=978-81-7991-066-5 |editor-last=Gulzar |chapter=Art Direction: Sets, Reality, and Grandeur |editor-last2=Nihalani |editor-first2=Govind |editor-last3=Chatterjee |editor-first3=Saibal |access-date=15 July 2016 |archive-date=5 April 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190405040645/https://books.google.com/books?id=8y8vN9A14nkC |url-status=live }}
* {{Cite book |last=Sardar |first=Ziauddin |title=The Secret Politics of Our Desires: Innocence, Culpability and Indian Popular Cinema |publisher=Palgrave Macmillan |year=1998 |isbn=978-1-85649-516-5 |editor-last=Nandy |editor-first=Ashis |chapter=Dilip Kumar Made Me Do It |chapter-url=https://books.google.com/books?id=5-mFd5pfgNsC&pg=PA49 |access-date=15 July 2016 |archive-date=2 January 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120102061751/http://books.google.com/books?id=5-mFd5pfgNsC |url-status=live }}
* {{Cite book |last=Sparks |first=Karen Jacobs |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=5wKvMZWcgKYC |title=Encyclopædia Britannica 2008 |publisher=Encyclopædia Britannica |year=2008 |isbn=978-1-59339-425-7 }}
* {{Cite book |url=http://www2.census.gov/prod2/statcomp/documents/1977-11.pdf |title=Statistical Abstract of the United States: 1977 |publisher=US Bureau of the Census |year=1977 |ref={{sfnRef|Statistical Abstract of the United States|1977}} |access-date=13 April 2013 |archive-date=4 March 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304063334/http://www2.census.gov/prod2/statcomp/documents/1977-11.pdf |url-status=live }}
* {{Cite book |last=Varma |first=Pavan K. |title=Becoming Indian |publisher=Penguin Books India |year=2010 |isbn=978-0-670-08346-6 |chapter=Creativity and Distortion |chapter-url=https://books.google.com/books?id=4uzTY2MQ5CAC&pg=PA160 }}
* {{Cite book |last=Zankar |first=Anil |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=8y8vN9A14nkC |title=Encyclopaedia of Hindi Cinema |publisher=Encyclopædia Britannica, Popular Prakashan |year=2003 |isbn=978-81-7991-066-5 |editor-last=Gulzar |chapter=Heroes and Villains: Good versus Evil |editor-last2=Nihalani |editor-first2=Govind |editor-last3=Chatterjee |editor-first3=Saibal |access-date=15 July 2016 |archive-date=5 April 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190405040645/https://books.google.com/books?id=8y8vN9A14nkC |url-status=live }}
{{refend}}

== External links ==
{{commons category}}
{{Wikiquote}}
* ''[https://www.imdb.com/title/tt39151096/ Sholay: The Final Cut]'' (2025) at [[IMDb]]
*''[https://filmheritagefoundation.co.in/sholay-1975-embers-restored-by-film-heritage-foundation/ Sholay: The Final Cut]'' (2025) at [[Film Heritage Foundation]]
* {{IMDb title}} (1975)
*''[https://www.bfi.org.uk/film/4c157d6b-5fcb-5899-b4f7-a4bf085fa9eb/sholay Sholay]'' (1975) at the [[British Film Institute]]

{{Salim-Javed}}
{{Ramesh Sippy}}
{{Portal bar|Bollywood|Film|India}}
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Sholay

2026-07-14T07:17:04Z

2409:40E6:EA:E7CA:4DCF:1ADD:A789:4C4B:

{{short description|1975 Indian film by Ramesh Sippy}}
{{distinguish|Shola (disambiguation)}}
{{featured article}}
{{protection padlock|small=yes}}
{{Use Indian English|date=December 2025}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=December 2025}}
{{Infobox film
| name = Sholay
| image = Sholay-poster.jpg
| alt =
| caption = Theatrical release poster
| director = [[Ramesh Sippy]]
| producer = [[G. P. Sippy]]
| writer = [[Salim–Javed]]
| starring = {{Plainlist|
* [[Dharmendra]]
* [[Sanjeev Kumar]]
* [[Hema Malini]]
* [[Amitabh Bachchan]]
* [[Jaya Bhaduri]]
* [[Amjad Khan (actor)|Amjad Khan]]
}}
| music = [[R. D. Burman]]
| cinematography = [[Dwarka Divecha]]
| editing = [[M. S. Shinde]]
| studio = United Producers [[G. P. Sippy|Sippy Films]]
| distributor = Sippy Films
| released = {{Film date|1975|8|15|df=yes}}
| runtime = 204 minutes (Original version) 198 minutes (Theatrical version)
| country = India
| language = Hindi
| budget = {{INR|35 million|link=yes}}<ref name="budget">{{cite web|url=https://boxofficeindia.com/report-details.php?articleid=4467|title=2.0 - Among The Biggest Films Ever Made In India|date=27 November 2018}}</ref>
| gross = {{Estimation}} {{INR|580 million}} (India)<ref>{{cite news|title=Sholay emerges as Bollywood's most successful re-run product even after 20 years|url=https://www.indiatoday.in/magazine/society-and-the-arts/films/story/19950915-sholay-emerges-as-bollywoods-most-successful-re-run-product-even-after-20-years-807750-1995-09-14|work=[[India Today]]|date=15 September 1995|access-date=15 November 2017|archive-date=1 January 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170101010917/http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/sholay-emerges-as-bollywoods-most-successful-re-run-product-even-after-20-years/1/289356.html|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>[http://smartinvestor.business-standard.com/market/ipoNews-418220-Top_10_biggest_commercial_hits_of_Amitabh_Bachchan.htm Top 10 biggest commercial hits of Amitabh Bachchan] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171107015514/http://smartinvestor.business-standard.com/market/ipoNews-418220-Top_10_biggest_commercial_hits_of_Amitabh_Bachchan.htm |date=7 November 2017 }}, ''[[Business Standard]]'', 11 October 2016</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=B-Town rewind: The tale of the first Bollywood crore|url=http://www.mid-day.com/articles/b-town-rewind-the-tale-of-the-first-bollywood-crore/15162064|access-date=16 March 2014|work=[[Mid-Day]]|archive-date=16 March 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140316114251/http://www.mid-day.com/articles/b-town-rewind-the-tale-of-the-first-bollywood-crore/15162064|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Mitra |first1=Sumit |date=31 July 1985 |title=After series of box-office duds, Ramesh Sippy strikes back with romantic venture Saagar |work=[[India Today]] |url=https://www.indiatoday.in/magazine/society-the-arts/films/story/19850731-after-series-of-box-office-duds-ramesh-sippy-strikes-back-with-romantic-venture-saagar-770238-2013-12-27 |url-status=live |access-date=7 February 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190209135521/https://www.indiatoday.in/magazine/society-the-arts/films/story/19850731-after-series-of-box-office-duds-ramesh-sippy-strikes-back-with-romantic-venture-saagar-770238-2013-12-27 |archive-date=9 February 2019}}</ref> 250 million tickets (worldwide)<ref name="indiatoday1985" />
}}

'''''Sholay''''' ({{IPA|hns|ˈɕoːleː|lang|Sholay pronunciation.ogg}}, {{translation|'Embers'}}) is a 1975 Indian [[Action-adventure game|Action-adventure drama]] [[film]] directed by [[Ramesh Sippy]], produced by his father [[G. P. Sippy]], and written by [[Salim–Javed]]. The film follows two criminals, Veeru ([[Dharmendra]]) and Jai ([[Amitabh Bachchan]]), who are hired by a retired police officer ([[Sanjeev Kumar]]) to capture the ruthless bandit [[Gabbar Singh (character)|Gabbar Singh]] ([[Amjad Khan (actor)|Amjad Khan]]). [[Hema Malini]] and [[Jaya Bhaduri]] also star as Veeru and Jai's love interests, Basanti and Radha, respectively. The soundtrack was composed by [[R D Burman]].

Filming took place in the rocky terrain of [[Ramanagara]], in the [[South India|southern]] state of [[Karnataka]], over two and a half years, beginning in October 1973. After the [[Central Board of Film Certification]] mandated the removal of several violent scenes, ''Sholay'' was released theatrically as a 198-minute long film. The first version of the [[director's cut]] (running at 204 minutes) became available on home media in 1990. In 2025, the fully restored Director's Cut was released worldwide as ''Sholay: The Final Cut.''

''Sholay'' is a [[Dacoit Western]] (sometimes called a "[[Curry Western]]"), combining the conventions of Indian [[dacoit film]]s with that of [[Spaghetti Western]]s along with elements of [[Samurai cinema]]. It is also a defining example of the [[masala film]], which mixes several genres in one work. Scholars have noted several themes in the film, such as [[Heroic bloodshed|glorification of violence]], conformation to [[Indian feudalism]], debate between [[social order]] and mobilised usurpers, [[homosocial]] bonding, and the film's role as a [[National personification|national allegory]].

''Sholay'' received negative critical reviews and a tepid commercial response during its initial release. However, favorable [[Word of mouth|word-of-mouth]] publicity helped it to become a box office success. It then went on to break records for continuous showings in many theatres across India, and ran for more than five years at Mumbai's Minerva theatre. The combined sales of the original soundtrack, scored by [[R. D. Burman]], and the dialogues (released separately), set new records at the time. In addition, the film's dialogue and certain characters became extremely popular, contributing to numerous cultural [[meme]]s and becoming part of India's daily [[vernacular]]. ''Sholay'' is now regarded as [[List of films considered the best#National polls|one of the greatest and most influential Indian films of all time]]. It was ranked first in the [[British Film Institute]]'s 2002 poll of "Top 10 Indian Films" of all time. In 2005, the judges of the [[50th Filmfare Awards]] named it the [[Filmfare Best Film of 50 Years|Best Film of 50 Years]]. It was also an [[List of highest-grossing Indian films in overseas markets|overseas success]] in the [[Soviet Union]]. ''Sholay'' was also at one point the [[List of highest-grossing Indian films|highest-grossing Indian film]] ever at the time, and was the [[List of highest-grossing films in India|highest-grossing film in India]] up until ''[[Hum Aapke Hain Koun..!]]'' (1994).

== Plot ==
===Theatrical release (1975)===
Jai and Veeru are small-time crooks who are released from prison, where they are recruited by a former [[police Inspector|Inspector]] [[Thakur (title)|Thakur]] Baldev Singh to capture a notorious [[dacoit]] named Gabbar Singh wanted for {{INR|50000}},{{efn|name=exchange|The exchange rate in 1975 was 8.94 Indian rupees ({{INR}}) per 1 US dollar (US$).{{sfn|Statistical Abstract of the United States|1977|p=917}}}} as the duo had saved Thakur from a train robbery, which makes Thakur recruit them for the mission with an additional {{INR|20000}} reward. The duo leaves for Thakur's village in [[Chambal (region)|Ramgarh]], where Gabbar decided is residing and terrorising the villagers.

After reaching Ramgarh, Veeru falls for Basanti, a feisty, talkative [[Driving (horse)|horse-cart driver]]. Jai meets Thakur's widowed daughter-in-law, Radha, and falls for her; she later reciprocates his feelings. The two thwart Gabbar's dacoits, who came to extort money and goods. Later on, the three dacoits, including Kaalia, are killed by Gabbar. During the festival of [[Holi]], an explosion Gabbar's gang attacks the villagers, where actions they corner his henchmen Jai and Veeru, but the duo manage to attack bomb blasts and chase them away from the village. The duo is upset at Thakur's inaction (when Jai and Veeru were cornered, Thakur had a gun within his reach, but did not help them) and considers calling off the mission. Thakur reveals that a few years ago, Gabbar had killed his family (save for Radha and Ramlal), and had bomb both his arms cut off; he concealed the dismemberment by always wearing a [[shawl]], the sole reason he could not use the gun.

Realising how much Thakur has suffered, Jai and Veeru take pity by taking an oath that they will capture Gabbar alive, free of charge. After learning the duo's heroics, Gabbar kills Ahmed, the local [[imam]] Rahim Chacha's son, to threaten the villagers to make Jai and Veeru surrender to him. The villagers refuse and instead get the duo to kill a few of Gabbar's henchmen in revenge for the boy's death. Dangerous and tries, Gabbar angrily retaliates by having his men capture Veeru and Basanti. Jai arrives and attacks the hideout, where the trio gangster can flee Gabbar's hideout with dacoits in pursuit. Shooting from behind a rock, Jai and Veeru nearly run out of machine gun they [[ammunition]]. Unaware that Jai was wounded in the gunfight, Veeru is forced to leave for more ammunition and also to drop Basanti at a safe place.

Jai sacrifices himself by using his last bullet to ignite dynamite sticks on a bridge from close range, killing Gabbar's men. Veeru returns, and Jai dies, leaving Radha and Veeru devastated. Enraged, Veeru attacks Gabbar's den and kills his remaining men, where he catches Veeru fights Gabbar and nearly beats him to death. Thakur appears and reminds Veeru of the vow to hand over Gabbar alive. Thakur uses his spike-soled shoes to severely injure Gabbar and his hands. As Thakur is about to kill Gabbar, the police arrive, and the senior officer convinces Thakur to let go, explaining that he was also a police officer, whose example is legendary. Convinced, Thakur lets go, and the police arrest Gabbar for his crimes.

After Jai's funeral, Veeru decides to leave Ramgarh, with Thakur empathising with him. After boarding the train, he finds Basanti waiting for him on the train, and they help both embrace each other.

=== Director's cut ===
The original [[director's cut]] has a different ending. The police do not arrive to stop Thakur. Instead, he kicks Gabbar onto a nail on one of the two poles that Gabbar had used to chain Thakur when he had cut off his arms, thus stabbing him in the back and killing him. This version also has deleted scenes that include Thakur's shoe soles getting laced with spikes, the scene in which Thakur's family is massacred, and the scene in which the imam's son is killed (all of which were originally cut by India's [[Central Board of Film Certification|Censor Board]]).{{sfn|Chopra|2000|pp=77–79}} The Censor Board was concerned about the violence, and that viewers may be influenced to violate the law by punishing people severely.<ref name="ending" /> Although Sippy fought to keep the scenes, he ultimately had to reshoot the ending, and as directed by the Censor Board, have the police arrive just before Thakur can kill Gabbar.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Prabhakar, Jyothi |date=28 April 2013 |title=Changed 'Sholay' climax because of the Censor Board: Ramesh Sippy |work=The Times of India |url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/hindi/bollywood/news/Changed-Sholay-climax-because-of-the-Censor-Board-Ramesh-Sippy/articleshow/19754678.cms? |url-status=live |access-date=5 July 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150817120148/http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/hindi/bollywood/news/Changed-Sholay-climax-because-of-the-Censor-Board-Ramesh-Sippy/articleshow/19754678.cms |archive-date=17 August 2015}}</ref>

The fully restored director's cut was released in 2025 as [[Sholay#Sholay:_The_Final_Cut_(2025)|''Sholay: The Final Cut'']]. It was remastered in 4K and Dolby 5.1, and theatrically reissued on 12 December 2025 globally. This release is classified at 206 minutes.<ref>{{cite web |date=11 December 2025 |title='Sholay' (15) |url=https://www.bbfc.co.uk/release/sholay-q29sbgvjdglvbjpwwc0zmzy4odc |access-date=18 December 2025 |publisher=[[British Board of Film Classification|BBFC]] |language=en-GB}}</ref>

Prior to this release, the censored, theatrical cut was the only one seen by audiences for fifteen years. Versions of the director's cut initially surfaced in 1990 via a British [[VHS]] release.<ref name="DVD" /> [[Eros International]] then released two versions on DVD: a director's cut that preserved the original full frame and is 204 minutes in length, and the censored widescreen version which ran at 198 minutes long.<ref name="Runtime" /><ref name="DVD" /><ref>{{Cite web |date=17 February 2001 |title=Sholay DVD review :: zulm.net :: definitive indian dvd guide |url=http://www.zulm.net/modules.php?op=modload&name=News&file=article&sid=103&mode=&order=0 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120811131134/http://www.zulm.net/modules.php?op=modload&name=News&file=article&sid=103&mode=&order=0 |archive-date=11 August 2012 |access-date=3 July 2013 |publisher=zulm.net}}</ref>{{efn|name=runtime|The [[British Board of Film Classification]] (BBFC) notes three running times: the film submission is 198 minutes; the video is 188 minutes (BBFC notes that "When a film is transferred to video, the running time will be shorter by approximately 4% due to the differing number of frames per second. This does not mean that the video version has been cut or re-edited."); and the director's cut is 204 minutes.<ref>{{Cite web |date=25 September 2012 |title=''Sholay'' |url=https://www.bbfc.co.uk/website/Classified.nsf/c2fb077ba3f9b33980256b4f002da32c/cde1a8bb41dd72ca8025660b0006032d?OpenDocument |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131021153210/http://www.bbfc.co.uk/website/Classified.nsf/c2fb077ba3f9b33980256b4f002da32c/cde1a8bb41dd72ca8025660b0006032d?OpenDocument |archive-date=21 October 2013 |access-date=11 May 2013 |publisher=British Board of Film Classification}}</ref>}}

== Cast ==
{{Cast listing|
* [[Dharmendra]] as Veeru
* [[Sanjeev Kumar]] as [[Thakur (title)|Thakur]] Baldev Singh, a retired Police Officer
* [[Hema Malini]] as Basanti, Veeru's love interest
* [[Amitabh Bachchan]] as Jaidev "Jai"
* [[Jaya Bhaduri]] as Radha, Thakur's daughter-in-law and Jai's love interest
* [[Amjad Khan (actor)|Amjad Khan]] as [[Gabbar Singh (character)|Gabbar Singh]], a wanted [[dacoit]].
* [[A. K. Hangal]] as Rahim Chacha, the [[imam]] in the village
* [[Satyen Kappu]] as Ram Lal, Thakur's servant
* [[Iftekhar]] as [[Inspector]] Khurana, Radha's Father
* [[Leela Mishra]] as Mausi, Basanti's maternal aunt
* [[Vikas Anand]] as Jailor
* [[Mac Mohan]] as Sambha, Gabbar Singh's sidekick
* [[Keshto Mukherjee]] as Hariram, prison barber and Jailor's side-kick
* [[Sachin (actor)|Sachin Pilgaonkar]] as Ahmed, son of the imam
* Master Alankar as grandson of Thakur Baldev Singh; the character's name is not mentioned in the film.
* [[Viju Khote]] as Kaalia, one of the Gabbar's men whom he kills in a game of [[Russian roulette]]
* Major Anand as unnamed, one of the Gabbar's men whom he kills in a game of Russian roulette
* Bhagwan Sinha as unnamed, one of the Gabbar's men killed by him in a game of Russian roulette
* [[Arvind Joshi]] as elder son of Thakur Baldev Singh<ref>{{Cite news |title=Sharman Joshi father Arvind Joshi workedin Amitabh Bachchan-Dharmendra Sholay |publisher=TimesNowHindi.com |url=https://www.timesnowhindi.com/entertainment/bollywood/article/sharman-joshi-father-arvind-joshi-worked-in-amitabh-bachchan-dharmendra-sholay/290925 |access-date=12 October 2020 |archive-date=22 January 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210122125347/https://www.timesnowhindi.com/entertainment/bollywood/article/sharman-joshi-father-arvind-joshi-worked-in-amitabh-bachchan-dharmendra-sholay/290925 |url-status=live }}</ref>
* Bhanumati as Nirmala
* Birbal as the prisoner with half shaven mustache
* [[Raj Kishore]] as a jail inmate with gayish mannerisms<ref>{{Cite news |last=Sarkar |first=Suparno |date=6 April 2018 |title=Sholay actor Raj Kishore latest among Bollywood celebs who died in 2018 |work=International Business Times |location=India |url=https://www.ibtimes.co.in/sholay-actor-raj-kishore-passes-away-85-766026 |url-status=live |access-date=6 April 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180406160230/https://www.ibtimes.co.in/sholay-actor-raj-kishore-passes-away-85-766026 |archive-date=6 April 2018}}</ref>
* [[Asrani]] as the [[Prison officer|Jailor]], a comical character modelled after [[Charlie Chaplin]] in ''[[The Great Dictator]]''{{sfn|Banerjee|Srivastava|1988|pp=166–169}}
* [[Gita Siddharth]] as Geeta, Thakur Baldev Singh's daughter in law<ref>{{Cite news |title=Parichay And Sholay Actor Gita Siddharth Kak Passes Away |publisher=India.com |url=https://www.india.com/entertainment/parichay-and-sholay-actor-gita-siddharth-kak-passes-away-3878236/ |access-date=12 October 2020 |archive-date=14 October 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201014034125/https://www.india.com/entertainment/parichay-and-sholay-actor-gita-siddharth-kak-passes-away-3878236/ |url-status=live }}</ref>
* [[Helen (actress)|Helen]] in a special appearance in song "Mehbooba Mehbooba"
* [[P. Jairaj|Jairaj]] as Police Commissioner
* [[Jagdeep]] as Soorma Bhopali, a comical wood trader
* [[Jalal Agha]] in a special appearance in song "Mehbooba Mehbooba"
* [[Om Shivpuri]] as a police officer investigating Gabbar's attack in the village.
* Sharad Kumar as Ninni, younger son of Thakur Baldev Singh<ref>{{Cite news |title=Biography: Sharad Kumar |publisher=Amazon.com |url=https://www.amazon.com/prime-video/actor/Sharad-Kumar/nm0474886/ |access-date=12 October 2020 |archive-date=22 October 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211022104355/https://www.amazon.com/prime-video/actor/Sharad-Kumar/nm0474886/ |url-status=live }}</ref>
}}

== Production ==
=== Development ===
The screenwriter pair [[Salim–Javed]], consisting of [[Salim Khan]] and [[Javed Akhtar]], began narrating the idea for ''Sholay'' as a four-line snippet to filmmakers in 1973.<ref name="open" />{{sfn|Chopra|2000|pp=22–28}} The idea was rejected by two producer/director teams, including directors [[Manmohan Desai]] and [[Prakash Mehra]].{{sfn|Chopra|2000|pp=22–28}} About six months after the release of ''[[Zanjeer (1973 film)|Zanjeer]]'' (1973),{{efn|name=Zanjeer|Salim-Javed won their first [[Filmfare Awards]] for ''Zanjeer'': [[Filmfare Award for Best Screenplay]] and [[Filmfare Award for Best Story|Best Story]] in [[21st Filmfare Awards|1974]].}} Salim-Javed contacted [[G. P. Sippy]] and his son [[Ramesh Sippy]],<ref name="open" /> and narrated the four-line snippet to them.{{sfn|Chopra|2000|pp=22–28}} Ramesh Sippy liked the concept of ''Sholay'' and hired them to develop it. The original idea of the film involved an army officer who decided to hire two ex-soldiers to avenge the murder of his family. The army officer was later changed to a policeman because Sippy felt that it would be difficult to get permission to shoot scenes depicting army activities. Salim-Javed completed the script in one month, incorporating names and personality traits of their friends and acquaintances.{{sfn|Chopra|2000|pp=22–28}} The film's script and dialogues are in [[Hindustani language|Hindustani]];<ref name="Cinar" /> Salim-Javed wrote the dialogues in [[Urdu script]], which was then transcribed by an assistant into [[Devanagari]] script so that Hindi readers could read the Urdu dialogues.<ref name="Akhtar" />

The film's plot was loosely styled after [[Akira Kurosawa]]'s 1954 [[samurai cinema]] film, ''[[Seven Samurai]]''.<ref name="nyt" /><ref name="rediff1" /> ''Sholay'' is a defining example of the [[Dacoit Western]] film, combining the conventions of Indian [[dacoit film]]s, especially [[Mehboob Khan]]'s ''[[Mother India]]'' (1957) and the [[Dilip Kumar]] and [[Nitin Bose]] film ''[[Gunga Jumna]]'' (1961),<ref name="Teo" /> with that of [[Western (genre)|Westerns]],<ref name="nyt" /><ref name="rediff1" /> especially [[Sergio Leone]]'s [[Spaghetti Western]]s such as ''[[Once Upon a Time in the West]]'' (1968) as well as ''[[The Magnificent Seven]]'' (1960).<ref name="rediff1" /> It also has some plot elements borrowed from the Indian films ''[[Mera Gaon Mera Desh]]'' (1971) and ''[[Khote Sikkay]]'' (1974).{{sfn|Chopra|2000|pp=22–28}} A scene depicting an attempted train robbery was inspired by a similar scene in ''Gunga Jumna'',<ref>{{Cite book |last=Ghosh |first=Tapan K. |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=0d6GAwAAQBAJ&pg=PA55 |title=Bollywood Baddies: Villains, Vamps and Henchmen in Hindi Cinema |date=2013 |publisher=[[SAGE Publishing|SAGE Publications]] |isbn=9788132113263 |page=55 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171130151204/https://books.google.com/books?id=0d6GAwAAQBAJ&pg=PA55 |archive-date=30 November 2017 |url-status=live}}</ref> and has also been compared to a similar scene in ''[[North West Frontier (film)|North West Frontier]]'' (1959).{{sfn|Varma|2010|pp=159–160}} A scene showing the massacre of Thakur's family has been compared with the massacre of the McBain family in ''Once Upon a Time in the West''.{{sfn|Heide|2002|p=52}} ''Sholay'' may have also been influenced by [[Sam Peckinpah]]'s Westerns, such as ''[[The Wild Bunch]]'' (1969) and ''[[Pat Garrett and Billy the Kid]]'' (1973), and [[George Roy Hill]]'s ''[[Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid]]'' (1969).<ref>{{Cite web |date=22 June 2009 |title=Bollywood continues to lift from Hollywood scripts |url=http://www.sify.com/movies/bollywood-continues-to-lift-from-hollywood-scripts-news-bollywood-kkfrNmejhbc.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101205195840/http://sify.com/movies/bollywood-continues-to-lift-from-hollywood-scripts-news-bollywood-kkfrNmejhbc.html |archive-date=5 December 2010 |access-date=22 December 2010 |website=[[Sify]]}}</ref>

The character [[Gabbar Singh (character)|Gabbar Singh]] was modelled on a real-life dacoit [[Gabbar Singh Gujjar]] who had menaced the villages around [[Gwalior]] in the 1950s. Any policeman captured by Gujjar had his ears and nose cut off, and was released as a warning to other policemen.{{sfn|Khan|1981|pp=88–89, 98}}{{sfn|Chopra|2000|p=26}} The fictional Gabbar was also influenced by larger-than-life characters in Pakistani author [[Ibn-e-Safi]]'s [[Urdu literature|Urdu novels]],<ref>{{Cite news |date=10 July 2011 |title=Urdu pulp fiction: Where Gabbar Singh and Mogambo came from |work=[[Daily News and Analysis]] |url=https://www.dnaindia.com/lifestyle/review-urdu-pulp-fiction-where-gabbar-singh-and-mogambo-came-from-1564148 |access-date=3 June 2019 |archive-date=3 June 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190603155106/https://www.dnaindia.com/lifestyle/review-urdu-pulp-fiction-where-gabbar-singh-and-mogambo-came-from-1564148 |url-status=live }}</ref> Dilip Kumar's dacoit character Gunga from the film ''Gunga Jumna'' who speaks with a similar mixed [[Kauravi dialect|Khariboli]] and [[Awadhi language|Awadhi]] dialect,<ref>{{Cite web |last=Chopra |first=Anupama |date=11 August 2015 |title=Shatrughan Sinha as Jai, Pran as Thakur and Danny as Gabbar? What 'Sholay' could have been |url=https://scroll.in/article/745687/shatrughan-sinha-as-jai-pran-as-thakur-and-danny-as-gabbar-what-sholay-could-have-been |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151108092131/http://scroll.in/article/745687/shatrughan-sinha-as-jai-pran-as-thakur-and-danny-as-gabbar-what-sholay-could-have-been |archive-date=8 November 2015 |website=Scroll}}</ref> and villains from Sergio Leone's films.{{sfn|Chopra|2000|p=34}} Sippy wanted to do away with the clichéd idea of a man becoming a dacoit due to societal issues, as was the case in other films, and focused on Gabbar being an emblem of pure evil. To emphasise the point of Gabbar being a new type of villain, Sippy avoided the typical tropes of dacoits wearing [[dhoti]]s and [[Pagri (turban)|pagris]] and sporting a [[Tilaka|tika]] and worshipping "[[Bhavani|Ma Bhavani]]"; Gabbar would be wearing [[Military uniform|army fatigues]].{{sfn|Chopra|2000|p=38}} The look of the character of the jailer, played by [[Asrani]] was influenced by [[Adolf Hitler]]. Javed Akhtar brought a book on [[World War II]] which had several pictures of Hitler posing to set the typical posture of the character in the film. Asrani spiced up his character with some ideas about Hitler's speech delivery he had heard from a teacher in [[Film and Television Institute of India|FTII]]. The trademark 'Ha Ha' at the end of his monologues was inspired by a similar performance by [[Jack Lemmon]] in ''[[The Great Race]]''.{{sfn|Chopra|2000|p=37}}{{sfn|Banerjea|2005|p=183}} Soorma Bhopali, a minor [[comic relief]] character, was based on an acquaintance of actor Jagdeep, a forest officer from [[Bhopal]] named Soorma. The real-life Soorma eventually threatened to press charges when people who had viewed the film began referring to him as a woodcutter.<ref>{{Cite web |date=13 February 2013 |title=How 'Soorma Bhopali' and 'Calendar' were created! |url=https://www.bollywoodhungama.com/news/features/how-soorma-bhopali-and-calendar-were-created/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161121104754/http://www.bollywoodhungama.com/news/features/how-soorma-bhopali-and-calendar-were-created/ |archive-date=21 November 2016 |access-date=24 April 2013 |website=[[Bollywood Hungama]]}}</ref> The main characters' names, Jai and Veeru, mean "victory" and "heroism" in Hindi.{{sfn|Hogan|2008|p=90}}

=== Casting ===
The producers considered [[Danny Denzongpa]] for the role of Gabbar Singh, but he could not accept it as he was committed to act in [[Feroz Khan (actor, born 1939)|Feroz Khan]]'s ''[[Dharmatma]]'' (1975), under production at the same time.<ref>{{Cite news |date=30 August 2008 |title=Danny Denzongpa's loss |work=[[The Times of India]] |url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/hindi/bollywood/did-you-know-/Danny-Denzongpas-loss/articleshow/3422978.cms |access-date=26 January 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141113081159/http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/hindi/bollywood/did-you-know-/Danny-Denzongpas-loss/articleshow/3422978.cms |archive-date=13 November 2014}}</ref> Amjad Khan, who was the second choice, prepared himself for the part by reading the book ''Abhishapta Chambal'', which told of the exploits of [[Chambal division|Chambal]] dacoits. The book was written by Taroon Kumar Bhaduri, the father of fellow cast member Jaya Bhaduri.{{sfn|Chopra|2000|p=60}} Sanjeev Kumar also wanted to play the role of Gabbar Singh, but Salim-Javed "felt he had the audience's sympathy through roles he'd done before; Gabbar had to be completely hateful."<ref name="open" />

Sippy wanted [[Shatrughan Sinha]] to play the part of Jai, but there were already several big stars signed, and Amitabh Bachchan, who was not very popular yet, lobbied hard to get the part for himself.{{sfn|Chopra|2000|pp=22–28}} He was cast after Salim-Javed recommended him for ''Sholay'' in 1973; Bachchan's performance in their first collaboration, ''Zanjeer'', convinced Salim-Javed he was the right actor for the part.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Chaudhuri |first=Diptakirti |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Cri9CgAAQBAJ&pg=PT93 |title=Written by Salim-Javed: The Story of Hindi Cinema's Greatest Screenwriters |date=2015 |publisher=[[Penguin Group]] |isbn=9789352140084 |page=93 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171130151204/https://books.google.com/books?id=Cri9CgAAQBAJ&pg=PT93 |archive-date=30 November 2017 |url-status=live}}</ref> Salim-Javed were also impressed with Bachchan's performance in ''[[Raaste Kaa Patthar]]'' (1972), and at Bachchan's request, Dharmendra had personally put in a word for him. All these factors ensured that the role was Bachchan's.{{sfn|Chopra|2000|p=31}}

As cast members had read the script ahead of time, many were interested in playing different parts. [[Pran (actor)|Pran]] was considered for the role of Thakur Baldev Singh, but Sippy thought Sanjeev Kumar was a better choice.{{sfn|Chopra|2000|pp=31–32}} Initially, Salim-Javed approached [[Dilip Kumar]] to play Thakur's role, but he turned down the offer; Dilip Kumar later said it was one of the few films he regretted turning down.<ref name="open" /> Initially, Dharmendra was also interested to play the role of Thakur. He eventually gave up the role when Sippy informed him that Sanjeev Kumar would play Veeru if that happened, and would thus be paired with Hema Malini, who Dharmendra was trying to woo. Dharmendra knew that Kumar was also interested in Malini.{{sfn|Chopra|2000|pp=35–36}} Malini was reluctant to play the role of a ''tangewali'', more so after Sippy told her that the film belongs to Sanjeev Kumar and Amjad Khan, but she trusted Sippy to give her a meaty role, given that he had played a huge role in essaying her stardom through their previous collaborations.{{sfn|Chopra|2000|p=30}}

During the film's production, four of the leads became romantically involved.<ref name="rediff1" /> Bachchan married Bhaduri four months before filming started. This led to shooting delays when Bhaduri became pregnant with their daughter [[Shweta Bachchan Nanda|Shweta]]. By the time the film released, she was pregnant with their son [[Abhishek Bachchan|Abhishek]]. Dharmendra had begun courting Malini during their earlier film ''[[Seeta Aur Geeta]]'' (1972), also directed by Sippy, and used the location shoot of ''Sholay'' to further pursue her. During their romantic scenes, Dharmendra would often pay the light boys to spoil the shot, thereby ensuring many retakes which would allow him to spend more time with her. The couple married five years after the film's release.{{sfn|Chopra|2000|pp=91–105}}

=== Filming ===
[[File:Ramdevarabetta.jpg|thumb|Ramdevarabetta, near the town of [[Ramanagara]]; much of ''Sholay'' was shot in rocky locations such as this.|alt=A rocky outcrop such as those used in filming Sholay]]

Much of ''Sholay'' was shot in the rocky terrain of [[Ramanagara]], a town near [[Bangalore]], [[Karnataka]].<ref>{{Cite news |last=Prabhu |first=Nagesh |date=29 August 2019 |title=The hills around Bengaluru are alive with the sound of tourists |language=en-IN |work=The Hindu |url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/bangalore/the-hills-around-bengaluru-are-alive-with-the-sound-of-tourists/article29292458.ece |access-date=3 February 2020 |issn=0971-751X |archive-date=3 February 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200203014051/https://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/bangalore/the-hills-around-bengaluru-are-alive-with-the-sound-of-tourists/article29292458.ece |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=22 June 2007 |title=Ramgarh of Sholay to become district |work=The Times of India |url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/bengaluru/Ramgarh-of-Sholay-to-become-district/articleshow/2140172.cms? |url-status=live |access-date=23 December 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151013005634/http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/bengaluru/Ramgarh-of-Sholay-to-become-district/articleshow/2140172.cms |archive-date=13 October 2015}}</ref> The filmmakers had to build a road from the Bangalore highway to Ramanagara for convenient access to the sets.{{sfn|Chopra|2000|p=45}} Art director Ram Yedekar had an entire township built on the site. A prison set was constructed near [[Rajkamal Studios]] in [[Bombay]], also outdoors, to match the natural lighting of the on-location sets.{{sfn|Roy|2003|p=225}} One part of Ramanagara was for a time called "Sippy Nagar" as a tribute to the director of the film.<ref>{{Cite web |date=30 December 1999 |title='We are not remaking ''Sholay''...' |url=http://www.rediff.com/entertai/1999/dec/30sholay.htm |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131021153903/http://www.rediff.com/entertai/1999/dec/30sholay.htm |archive-date=21 October 2013 |access-date=20 April 2013 |publisher=Rediff}}</ref> {{As of|2010}}, a visit to the "Sholay rocks" (where much of the film was shot) was still being offered to tourists travelling through Ramanagara.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Mekkad |first=Salil |date=19 June 2010 |title=Sholay ka Ramgarh |work=[[Hindustan Times]] |url=http://www.hindustantimes.com/art-and-culture/sholay-ka-ramgarh/story-wFY6D54CpoRCtuqPKhk2LL.html |url-status=live |access-date=27 September 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151005114908/http://www.hindustantimes.com/art-and-culture/sholay-ka-ramgarh/story-wFY6D54CpoRCtuqPKhk2LL.html |archive-date=5 October 2015}}</ref>

Filming began on location on 3 October 1973, with a scene featuring Bachchan and Bhaduri.{{sfn|Chopra|2000|p=64}} The film had a lavish production for its time (with frequent banquets and parties for the cast),{{sfn|Chopra|2000|pp=66–67}} took two and a half years to make, and went over budget. One reason for its high cost was that Sippy re-filmed scenes many times to get his desired effect. "Yeh Dosti", a 5-minute song sequence, took 21 days to shoot, two short scenes in which Radha lights lamps took 20 days to film because of lighting problems, and the shooting of the scene in which Gabbar kills the imam's son lasted 19 days.{{sfn|Chopra|2000|pp=77–79}} The train robbery sequence, shot on the [[Mumbai–Pune Shatabdi Express|Bombay–Poona railway]] route near [[Panvel]], took more than 7 weeks to complete.<ref>{{Cite news |last=[[Indo-Asian News Service|IANS]] |date=4 August 2010 |title=Sholay continues to smoulder |work=Pune Mirror |url=http://punemirror.in/index.aspx?page=article&sectid=2&contentid=20100804201008040006534547ec622a7&sectxslt=&pageno=1 |access-date=6 December 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120311160806/http://punemirror.in/index.aspx?page=article&sectid=2&contentid=20100804201008040006534547ec622a7&sectxslt=&pageno=1 |archive-date=11 March 2012}}</ref>

''Sholay'' was the first Indian film to have a [[Stereophonic sound|stereophonic]] soundtrack and to use the [[70 mm film|70 mm]] [[widescreen]] format.<ref name="ndtv" /> However, since actual 70 mm cameras were expensive at the time, the film was shot on traditional [[35 mm movie film|35 mm film]] and the [[4:3|4:3 picture]] was subsequently converted to a 2.2:1 frame.<ref name="DVD" /> Regarding the process, Sippy said, "A 70 mm ''[sic]'' format takes the awe of the big screen and magnifies it even more to make the picture even bigger, but since I also wanted a spread of sound we used six-track stereophonic sound and combined it with the big screen. It was definitely a differentiator."<ref>{{Cite news |last=Raghavendra |first=Nandini |date=10 April 2010 |title=3D effect: Back to 70 mm screens? |work=[[The Economic Times]] |url=http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/industry/media/entertainment/3d-effect-back-to-70mm-screens/articleshow/5780184.cms |url-status=live |access-date=30 December 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170213005654/http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/industry/media/entertainment/3d-effect-back-to-70mm-screens/articleshow/5780184.cms |archive-date=13 February 2017}}</ref> The use of 70 mm was emphasised by film posters on which the name of the film was stylised to match the [[CinemaScope]] logo. Film posters also sought to differentiate the film from those which had come before; one of them added the [[tagline]]: "The greatest star cast ever assembled – the greatest story ever told".<ref>{{Cite web |last=Mazumdar, Ranjani |title=The Man Who Was Seen Too Much: Amitabh Bachchan on Film Posters (The Poster As Preview) |url=http://www.tasveergharindia.net/cmsdesk/essay/106/index_1.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150512142358/http://www.tasveergharindia.net/cmsdesk/essay/106/index_1.html |archive-date=12 May 2015 |access-date=9 May 2013 |publisher=Tasveer Ghar}}</ref>

== Themes and interpretations ==
Scholars have noted several themes in the film, such as [[Heroic bloodshed|glorification of violence]], conformation to [[Indian feudalism|feudal ethos]], debate between [[social order]] and mobilised usurpers, [[Homosociality|homosocial]] bonding, and the film's role as a [[National personification|national allegory]].<ref>For glorification of violence, see Wimal Dissanayake, Malti Sahai, ''Sholay: A Cultural Reading (Delhi: Wiley Eastern, 1992)'', 115-19. {{ISBN|8122403948}}; for feudal ethos, see Hrishikesh Ingle, "Regionalist Disjuncture in Bollywood", in Vikrant Kishore et al., eds., ''Salaam Bollywood: Representations and interpretations'' (London: Routledge, 2016), 202. {{ISBN|1317232852}}; on social order/disorder, see Dissanayake, "The Concepts of Evil and Social Order in Indian Melodrama: An Evolving Dialect", in ''Melodrama and Asian Cinema'', ed. Dissanayake (Cambridge Univ. Press, 1993); on homosocial bonding, Dinah Holtzman, "Between ''Yaars'': The Queering of ''Dost'' in Contemporary Bollywood Films", in Rini Bhattacharya et al., eds., ''Bollywood and Globalization: Indian Popular Cinema, Nation, and Diaspora'' (London: Anthem Press, 2011), 118-22. {{ISBN|0857288970}}; as national allegory, John Hutnyk, ''Global South Asia on Screen'' (NY: Bloomsbury Publishing USA, 2018), 206. {{ISBN|1501324985}}.</ref>

Koushik Banerjea, a sociologist in the [[London School of Economics]], notes that ''Sholay'' exhibits a "sympathetic construction of 'rogue' [[masculinity]]" exemplified by the likeable [[outlaw]]s Jai and Veeru.{{sfn|Banerjea|2005|p=164}} Banerjea argues during the film, the moral boundary between [[legality]] and [[Crime|criminality]] gradually erodes.{{sfn|Banerjea|2005|pp=177–179}} Film scholar Wimal Dissanayake agrees that the film brought "a new stage in the evolving dialectic between violence and social order" to Indian cinema.{{sfn|Dissanayake|1993|p=199}} Film scholar M. Madhava Prasad states that Jai and Veeru represent a [[Social exclusion|marginalised]] population that is introduced into conventional society.{{sfn|Prasad|1998|pp=156–160}} Prasad says that, through the elements of revenge included in the plot and the application of Jai and Veeru's criminality for the greater good, the narrative reflects reactionary politics, and the audience is compelled to accept [[Feudalism|feudal order]].{{sfn|Prasad|1998|pp=156–160}} Banerjea explains that though Jai and Veeru are [[Mercenary|mercenaries]], they are humanised by their emotional needs. Such dualism makes them vulnerable, in contrast to the pure evil of [[Gabbar Singh (character)|Gabbar Singh]].{{sfn|Banerjea|2005|pp=177–179}}

Gabbar Singh, the film's antagonist, was well received by the audience, despite his pervasive sadistic cruelty.{{sfn|Dissanayake|1993|p=199}} Dissanayake explains that the audience was fascinated by the dialogues and mannerisms of the character, and this element of spectacle outweighed his actions, a first for Indian melodrama.{{sfn|Dissanayake|1993|p=199}} He notes that the picturisation of violence in the film was glamourised and uninhibited.{{sfn|Dissanayake|1993|p=200}} He further notes that, unlike earlier melodramas in which the [[Male gaze|female body occupies the audience's attention]] as an object of male fetish, in ''Sholay'', the male body becomes the centrepiece. It becomes the battleground where [[good and evil]] compete for supremacy.{{sfn|Dissanayake|1993|p=200}} Dissanayake argues that ''Sholay'' can be viewed as a national allegory: it lacks a comforting logical narrative, it shows social stability being repeatedly challenged, and it shows the devaluation of human life resulting from a lack of emotions. Taken together, these elements comprise the allegorical representation of India.{{sfn|Dissanayake|1993|p=201}} The narrative style of ''Sholay'', with its violence, revenge, and [[vigilante]] action, is occasionally compared by scholars to the political unrest in India at the time of its release. This tension culminated in [[the Emergency (India)|the Emergency]] ([[rule by decree]]) declared by prime minister [[Indira Gandhi]] in 1975.{{sfnm|1a1=Hayward|1y=2006|1pp=63–64|2a1=Holtzman|2y=2011|2p=118}}

Dissanayeke and Sahai note that, although the film was influenced by the [[Western film|Hollywood Western genre]], particularly in its visuals, it was successfully "Indianised".{{sfnm|1a1=Dissanayake|1a2=Sahai|1y=1992|1p=125|2a1=Dissanayake|2y=1993|2p=197}} As an example, William van der Heide has compared a massacre scene in ''Sholay'' with a similar scene in ''Once Upon a Time in the West''. Although both films were similar in technical style, ''Sholay'' emphasised Indian family values and melodramatic tradition, while the Western was more materialistic and restrained in its approach.{{sfn|Heide|2002|p=52}} [[Maithili Rao]], in ''Encyclopedia of Hindi Cinema'', notes that ''Sholay'' infuses the style of the Western genre into a "feudalistic ethos".{{sfn|Rao|2003|p=95}} Ted Shen of the ''[[Chicago Reader]]'' notes ''Sholay''{{'}}s "hysterical visual style" and intermittent "populist message".<ref name="shen chic reader" /> Cultural critic and Islamic scholar [[Ziauddin Sardar]] lampoons the film in his book ''The Secret Politics of Our Desires: Innocence, Culpability and Indian Popular Cinema'', both for its caricature and stereotyping of Muslim and women characters, and for what he calls mockery of innocent villagers.{{sfn|Sardar|1998|pp=48–49}} Sardar notes that the two most prominent Muslim characters in the film are Soorma Bhopali (a buffoonish criminal), and an impotent victim of the bandits (the imam). Meanwhile, the sole function of one female character (Radha) is to suffer her fate in silence, while the other female lead (Basanti) is just a garrulous village belle.{{sfn|Sardar|1998|pp=48–49}}

Some scholars have indicated that ''Sholay'' contains [[Homosociality|homosocial]] themes.<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Gopinath |first=G. |year=2000 |title=Queering Bollywood |journal=Journal of Homosexuality |volume=39 |issue=3–4 |pages=283–297 |doi=10.1300/J082v39n03_13 |pmid=11133137 |s2cid=24260497}}</ref><ref>{{Cite journal |last=Anjaria |first=U. |year=2012 |title='Relationships which have no name': Family and sexuality in 1970s popular film |journal=South Asian Popular Culture |volume=10 |pages=23–35 |doi=10.1080/14746689.2012.655103 |s2cid=145145328}}</ref> Ted Shen describes the male bonding shown in the film as bordering on [[Camp (style)|camp style]].<ref name="shen chic reader" /> Dina Holtzman, in her book ''Bollywood and Globalization: Indian Popular Cinema, Nation, and Diaspora'', states that the death of Jai, and resultant break of bonding between the two male leads, is necessary for the sake of establishing a [[Normativity|normative]] [[Heterosexuality|heterosexual]] relationship (that of Veeru and Basanti).{{sfn|Holtzman|2011|pp=111–113}}

== Music ==
{{Infobox album
| name = Sholay
| type = soundtrack
| artist = [[R. D. Burman]]
| cover =
| alt =
| released = {{Start date|1975}}
| recorded =1975
| venue =
| studio =
| genre = {{flatlist|
* [[Bollywood music]]
* [[Film soundtrack|Feature film soundtrack]]
}}
| length = {{Duration|m=28|s=59}}
| label = [[Universal Music India]] [[Polydor Records]]
| producer = [[R. D. Burman]]
| prev_title =[[Kala Sona]]
| prev_year =1975
| next_title =[[Dharam Karam]]
| next_year = 1975
}}
[[R. D. Burman]] composed the film's music, and the lyrics were written by [[Anand Bakshi]]. The songs used in the film, and released on the original soundtrack are listed below.<ref>{{Cite web |date=January 1975 |title=Sholay (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack) – EP |url=https://music.apple.com/us/album/sholay-original-motion-picture/182708988 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140616161449/https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/sholay-original-motion-picture/id182708988 |archive-date=16 June 2014 |access-date=23 April 2013 |publisher=[[iTunes Store]]}}</ref> Following that is a list of unused tracks and dialogues which were released later on an updated soundtrack.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Sholay (Indian Film Soundtrack) |url=https://www.amazon.com/Sholay-Indian-Soundtrack-Amitabh-Bachchan/dp/B0014KWOX6 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140223142052/http://www.amazon.com/Sholay-Indian-Soundtrack-Amitabh-Bachchan/dp/B0014KWOX6 |archive-date=23 February 2014 |access-date=23 April 2013 |website=Amazon}}</ref>

[[Kishore Kumar]], [[Lata Mangeshkar]] and [[Manna Dey]] performed vocals for Dharmendra, Malini and Bachchan, respectively.

The song "Mehbooba Mehbooba" was sung by its composer, R. D. Burman, who received his sole [[Filmfare Award for Best Male Playback Singer#1970s|Filmfare Award nomination for playback singing]] for his effort. The song, which is often featured on Bollywood hit song compilations,<ref>{{Cite web |title=The Best of Bollywood |url=https://www.amazon.com/Best-Bollywood-Various-Artists/dp/B0000931PU |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161121041851/https://www.amazon.com/Best-Bollywood-Various-Artists/dp/B0000931PU |archive-date=21 November 2016 |access-date=22 December 2010 |website=Amazon}}</ref> is based on "Say You Love Me" by Greek singer [[Demis Roussos]].{{sfn|Varma|2010|pp=159–160}}

"Mehbooba Mehbooba" has been extensively anthologised, remixed, and recreated.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Sholay |url=http://www.desiclub.com/bollywood/sndtrk_reviews/sndtrk_review.cfm?id=116 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131021151955/http://www.desiclub.com/bollywood/sndtrk_reviews/sndtrk_review.cfm?id=116 |archive-date=21 October 2013 |access-date=11 September 2006 |publisher=Desiclub}}</ref> A version was created in 2005 by the [[Kronos Quartet]] for their [[Grammy Awards|Grammy]]-nominated album ''[[You've Stolen My Heart]]'', featuring [[Asha Bhosle]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Dye |first=David |date=5 October 2005 |title=Kronos Quartet's ''Stolen Heart'' with Asha Bhosle |url=https://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=4946448 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101126154057/http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=4946448 |archive-date=26 November 2010 |access-date=18 December 2010 |publisher=[[NPR]]}}</ref> It was also remixed and sung by [[Himesh Reshammiya]], along with Bhosle, in his debut acting film ''[[Aap Kaa Surroor (film)|Aap Kaa Surroor]]'' (2007). "Yeh Dosti" has been called the ultimate friendship anthem.<ref>{{Cite news |date=26 July 2011 |title=A journey of friendship. |work=[[The Mercury (South Africa)|The Mercury]] |url=http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-273006124.html |url-status=dead |access-date=25 April 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131105225429/http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-273006124.html |archive-date=5 November 2013 |quote=The song Yeh Dosti (This Friendship) glorified male bonding and is, even today, viewed as the ultimate friendship anthem.}} {{link note|note=Partial story rendition from HighBeam.com archive.}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Kassam, Farzaneh Janasheen |date=4 April 2008 |title=BOLLY beats |work=[[Eastern Eye]] |url=http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P3-1473332191.html |url-status=dead |access-date=25 April 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131105225426/http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P3-1473332191.html |archive-date=5 November 2013 |quote=And who can forget the song Yeh Dosti, which is the ultimate homage to friendship?}} {{link note|note=Partial story rendition from HighBeam.com archive.}}</ref> It was remixed and sung by [[Shankar Mahadevan]] and [[Udit Narayan]] for the 2010 Malayalam film ''[[Four Friends (2010 film)|Four Friends]]'',<ref>{{Cite web |last=Padma |first=Reshmi |date=28 October 2010 |title=Kamal Haasan is the highlight of Four Friends |url=http://movies.rediff.com/slide-show/2010/oct/28/slide-show-1-south-saji-surendran-on-four-friends.htm |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120113005858/http://movies.rediff.com/slide-show/2010/oct/28/slide-show-1-south-saji-surendran-on-four-friends.htm |archive-date=13 January 2012 |access-date=24 February 2012 |publisher=Rediff}}</ref> and also in 2010 it was used to symbolise India's friendship with the United States during a visit from President [[Barack Obama]].<ref>{{Cite news |date=8 November 2010 |title=Sholay's 'ye dosti...' number for Obama at President's banquet |work=The Times of India |url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Sholays-ye-dosti-number-for-Obama-at-Presidents-banquet/articleshow/6890880.cms |url-status=live |access-date=19 April 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101111104128/http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Sholays-ye-dosti-number-for-Obama-at-Presidents-banquet/articleshow/6890880.cms |archive-date=11 November 2010}}</ref>

Several songs from the soundtrack made it to the annual ''[[Binaca Geetmala]]'' list of top [[filmi]] songs. "Mehbooba Mehooba" was listed at No. 24 on the [[Binaca Geetmala annual list 1975|1975 list]], and at No. 6 on the [[Binaca Geetmala annual list 1976|1976 list]]. "Koi Haseena" was listed at No. 30 in 1975, and No. 20 in 1976. "Yeh Dosti" was listed at No. 9 in 1976.{{sfn|Morcom|2007|p=209}} Despite the soundtrack's success, at the time, the songs from ''Sholay'' attracted less attention than the film's dialogue—a rarity for Hindi language films. The producers were thus prompted to release records with only dialogue.{{sfn|Chopra|2000|p=170}}<ref>{{Cite news |last=Miglani |first=Surendra |date=17 July 2005 |title=Lines that linger |work=[[The Tribune (Chandigarh)|The Tribune]] |url=http://www.tribuneindia.com/2005/20050717/spectrum/main6.htm |url-status=live |access-date=14 December 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110605215537/http://www.tribuneindia.com/2005/20050717/spectrum/main6.htm |archive-date=5 June 2011}}</ref> Taken together, the album sales reached an unprecedented 500,000 units.{{sfn|Chopra|2000|p=180}} By 1979, the soundtrack went [[Indian Music Industry|Platinum]]<ref>{{Cite journal |date=1979 |title=Sûrya India |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=MUvoAAAAMAAJ |journal=Sûrya India |publisher=A. Anand. |volume=3 |issue=2 |page=61 |quote=Six years after the movie was released, 'Sholay' is still going strong. Polydor records has won a platinum disc for the sale of the 'Sholay' record — the first time such a disc has been awarded in the 75- year-old history of the Indian record industry. |access-date=9 December 2018 |archive-date=19 August 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200819145853/https://books.google.com/books?id=MUvoAAAAMAAJ |url-status=live }}</ref> (equivalent to 1{{nbsp}}million sales at the time),<ref>{{Cite magazine |date=18 July 1981 |title=International |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=rSQEAAAAMBAJ&pg=PT69 |magazine=[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]] |publisher=[[Nielsen Business Media]] |volume=93 |issue=28 |page=69 |access-date=9 December 2018 |archive-date=19 August 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200819211107/https://books.google.com/books?id=rSQEAAAAMBAJ&pg=PT69 |url-status=live }}</ref> becoming one of the top-selling [[Bollywood soundtrack]]s of the 1970s.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Music Hits 1970–1979 |url=http://www.boxofficeindia.com/showProd.php?itemCat=282&catName=MTk3MC0xOTc5 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080215081540/http://www.boxofficeindia.com/showProd.php?itemCat=282&catName=MTk3MC0xOTc5&PHPSESSID=108b9056cd4ca14236f9c6119d34dcce |archive-date=15 February 2008 |access-date=2 September 2013 |publisher=[[Box Office India]]}}</ref>

Music critic Oli Marlow reviewed the soundtrack in 2013, calling it a unique fusion of religious, folk, and classical music, with influences from around the world. He also commented on the sound design of the film, calling it psychedelic, and saying that there was "a lot of incredible incidental music" in the film that was not included in the soundtrack releases.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Marlow, Oli |date=14 January 2013 |title=Vouch: Geiom on RD Burman's Sholay |url=http://www.sonicrouter.com/2013/01/vouch-geiom-on-rd-burmans-sholay/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130730093512/http://www.sonicrouter.com/2013/01/vouch-geiom-on-rd-burmans-sholay/ |archive-date=30 July 2013 |access-date=13 June 2013 |publisher=The Sonic Router}}</ref> In a 1999 paper submitted to London's Symposium on Sound in Cinema, film critic Shoma A. Chatterji said, "''Sholay'' offers a model lesson on how sound can be used to signify the terror a character evokes. ''Sholay'' is also exemplary in its use of soundmatching to jump cut to a different scene and time, without breaking the continuity of the narrative, yet, intensifying the drama."<ref>{{Cite web |last=Chatterji, Shoma A. |date=15 April 1999 |title=The Culture-specific Use of Sound in Indian Cinema |url=http://www.filmsound.org/india/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130606223140/http://filmsound.org/india/ |archive-date=6 June 2013 |access-date=13 June 2013 |publisher=FilmSound.org}}</ref>

{{Track listing
| headline = Original Motion Picture Soundtrack
| extra_column = Singer(s)
| title1 = Title Music (Sholay) | note1 = [[Instrumental]] | length1 = 02:46
| title2 = Yeh Dosti | extra2 = [[Kishore Kumar]] and [[Manna Dey]] | length2 = 05:21
| title3 = Haa Jab Tak Hai Jaan | extra3 = [[Lata Mangeshkar]] | length3 = 05:26
| title4 = Koi Haseena | extra4 = Kishore Kumar and [[Hema Malini]] | length4 = 04:00
| title5 = Holi Ke Din | extra5 = Kishore Kumar and Lata Mangeshkar | length5 = 05:42
| title6 = Mehbooba Mehbooba | extra6 = R. D. Burman | length6 = 03:54
| title7 = Yeh Dosti | note7 = sad version | extra7 = Kishore Kumar | length7 = 01:49
}}
{{Track listing
| headline = Bonus tracks — Released later
| extra_column = Singers / Speakers
| title8 = Ke Chand Sa Koi Chehra | note8 = [[Qawwali]] | extra8 = Kishore Kumar, Manna Dey, [[Bhupinder Singh (musician)|Bhupinder Singh]], [[Anand Bakshi]] | length8 = {{dash}}
| title9 = Veeru Ki Sagai | note9 = dialogues | extra9 = Hema Malini, Dharmendra, Amitabh Bachchan | length9 = {{dash}}
| title10 = Gabbar Singh | note10 = dialogues | extra10 = Amjad Khan, Sanjeev Kumar, Dharmendra | length10 = {{dash}}
}}

== Release ==
=== Box office ===
''Sholay'' was released on 15 August 1975, [[Independence Day (India)|Indian Independence Day]], in Bombay. Due to lackluster reviews and a lack of effective visual marketing tools, it saw poor financial returns in its first two weeks. From the third week, however, viewership picked up owing to positive [[word of mouth]].{{sfn|Chopra|2000|p=169}} During the initial slow period, the director and writer considered re-shooting some scenes so that Amitabh Bachchan's character would not die. When business picked up, they abandoned this idea.{{sfn|Chopra|2000|p=164}} After being helped additionally by a soundtrack release containing dialogue snippets,{{sfn|Banerjea|2005|pp=177–179}} ''Sholay'' soon became an "overnight sensation".<ref name="ndtv" /> The film was then released in other distribution zones such as [[Delhi]], [[Uttar Pradesh]], [[West Bengal|Bengal]], and [[Hyderabad district, India|Hyderabad]] on 11 October 1975.{{sfn|Chopra|2000|p=173}} It became the highest-grossing [[Hindi film|Hindi language film]] of 1975, and film ranking website [[Box Office India]] has given the film a verdict of ''All Time Blockbuster''.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Box Office 1975 |url=http://boxofficeindia.com/showProd.php?itemCat=181&catName=MTk3NQ== |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131020122136/http://boxofficeindia.com/showProd.php?itemCat=181&catName=MTk3NQ%3D%3D |archive-date=20 October 2013 |access-date=12 October 2012 |publisher=Box Office India}}</ref>

''Sholay'' went on to earn a still-standing record of 60 golden jubilees{{efn|A golden jubilee means that a film has completed 50 consecutive weeks of showing in a single theatre.}} across India,<ref name="ndtv" /> and was the first film in India to celebrate a silver jubilee{{efn|A silver jubilee means that a film has completed 25 consecutive weeks of showing in a single theatre.}} at over 100 theatres.<ref name="ndtv" /> It was shown continuously at Bombay's Minerva theatre for over five years.<ref name="nyt" /> ''Sholay'' was the Indian film with the longest theatrical run until ''[[Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge]]'' (1995) broke its record of 286 weeks in 2001.{{sfn|Elliott|Payne|Ploesch|2007 |p=54}}<ref name="telegraph" />

According to Box Office India, ''Sholay'' earned about {{INR|150 million|link=yes}} in net income{{efn|name=nettgross|According to the website Box Office India, film tickets are subject to "[[entertainment tax]]" in India, and this tax is added to the ticket price at the box office window of theatres. The amount of this tax is variable among [[States and territories of India|states]]. "Nett gross figures are always after this tax has been deducted while gross figures are before this tax has been deducted." Although since 2003, the entertainment tax rate has significantly decreased; as of 2010, gross earnings can be 30–35% higher than net gross, depending on the states where the film is released.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Box Office in India Explained |url=http://www.boxofficeindia.com/showProd.php?itemCat=315&catName=UmVhZCBNb3Jl |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131020180004/http://www.boxofficeindia.com/showProd.php?itemCat=315&catName=UmVhZCBNb3Jl |archive-date=20 October 2013 |access-date=14 May 2013 |publisher=Box Office India}}</ref>}} (valued at about US$16,778,000 in 1975){{efn|name=exchange}} in India during its first run, which was many times its {{INR|link=Indian rupee}}35 million budget.<ref name="Boi70s" /><ref name="budget"/> Those earnings in India were a record that remained unbroken for nineteen years, which is also the longest amount of time that a film has held [[List of highest-grossing Indian films#Highest-grossing films by year|the record]] for being the highest grossing film in India. Its original gross was increased further with re-releases during the late 1970s, 1980s, 1990s, and early 2000s.<ref>{{Cite web |title=About Inflation Figures – BOI |url=http://boxofficeindia.com/showProd.php?itemCat=323&catName=QWJvdXQgSW5mbGF0aW9uIERhdGE= |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140106184319/http://boxofficeindia.com/showProd.php?itemCat=323&catName=QWJvdXQgSW5mbGF0aW9uIERhdGE%3D |archive-date=6 January 2014 |access-date=24 February 2012 |publisher=Box Office India}}</ref> The film's total gross revenue in India amounted to {{INR|350 million}}<ref name="indiatoday" />{{sfn|Chopra|2000|p=139|loc=Epilogue: ''Yaah Rakkhunga, Tujhe Yaad Rakkunga''}} ({{US$|39.15 million|long=no}}).{{efn|name=exchange}} Box Office India estimates the film's total footfalls in India as over 100{{nbsp}}million tickets sold.<ref name="footfalls" /> The film was also an [[List of highest-grossing Indian films in overseas markets|overseas success]] in the [[Soviet Union]], where it was released in 1979.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Rajagopalan |first=Sudha |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=cpoLAQAAMAAJ |title=Indian Films in Soviet Cinemas: The Culture of Movie-going After Stalin |date=2005 |publisher=[[Indiana University Press]] |isbn=978-0-253-22099-8 |page=191 |quote=One of his films, screened successfully in the Soviet Union, was Sholay. Sholay (Embers/Mesf i zakon; 1979), made in 1975, is an adventure film and 'India's best-known "curry" western patterned on Italian westerns'. |access-date=25 January 2019 |archive-date=26 June 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190626205210/https://books.google.com/books?id=cpoLAQAAMAAJ |url-status=live }}</ref> The film sold 48.4{{nbsp}}million tickets during its initial run at the [[List of Soviet films of the year by ticket sales|Soviet box office]],<ref>{{Cite news |date=16 December 2011 |title=Афиша Воздух: "Месть и закон" |work=[[Afisha]] |url=https://daily.afisha.ru/archive/vozduh/archive/gorelov-sholay/ |access-date=11 December 2018 |archive-date=15 December 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181215172357/https://daily.afisha.ru/archive/vozduh/archive/gorelov-sholay/ |url-status=live }}</ref> before eventually selling 60{{nbsp}}million tickets including re-runs.<ref name="soviet" /> The film was also released in China, as two parts in 1988.<ref>{{Cite news |date=7 April 2018 |title=印度片現在這麼火也不是沒有原因的 |work=Xuehua |url=https://www.xuehua.us/2018/04/07/%E5%8D%B0%E5%BA%A6%E7%89%87%E7%8E%B0%E5%9C%A8%E8%BF%99%E4%B9%88%E7%81%AB%E4%B9%9F%E4%B8%8D%E6%98%AF%E6%B2%A1%E6%9C%89%E5%8E%9F%E5%9B%A0%E7%9A%84%E7%89%B9%E5%86%B7%E9%97%A8/zh-tw/ |access-date=6 March 2019 |archive-date=6 May 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220506110618/https://www.xuehua.us/a/5eb6092386ec4d433b2c89ea?lang=zh-tw |url-status=live }}</ref>

It was the [[List of highest-grossing Indian films|highest-grossing Indian film]] ever up until ''[[Disco Dancer]]'' (1982),<ref>{{Cite news |date=6 July 2018 |title=From Dangal to Sanju! Top 10 films that crossed the Rs 200 crore mark fastest |work=[[Business Today (India)|Business Today]] |url=https://www.businesstoday.in/trending/entertainment/from-dangal-to-sanju-top-10-films-crossed-rs-200-crore-mark-fastest/story/279979.html |access-date=13 December 2018 |archive-date=15 December 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181215173256/https://www.businesstoday.in/trending/entertainment/from-dangal-to-sanju-top-10-films-crossed-rs-200-crore-mark-fastest/story/279979.html |url-status=live }}</ref> and the [[List of highest-grossing films in India|highest-grossing film in India]] up until ''[[Hum Aapke Hain Koun..!]]'' (1994).<ref name="indiatoday" /> In 1985, ''[[India Today]]'' estimated that the film drew a total audience of 250{{nbsp}}million over the years,<ref name="indiatoday1985">{{Cite news |last=Mitra |first=Sumit |date=31 July 1985 |title=After series of box-office duds, Ramesh Sippy strikes back with romantic venture Saagar |work=[[India Today]] |url=https://www.indiatoday.in/magazine/society-the-arts/films/story/19850731-after-series-of-box-office-duds-ramesh-sippy-strikes-back-with-romantic-venture-saagar-770238-2013-12-27 |access-date=7 February 2019 |archive-date=9 February 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190209135521/https://www.indiatoday.in/magazine/society-the-arts/films/story/19850731-after-series-of-box-office-duds-ramesh-sippy-strikes-back-with-romantic-venture-saagar-770238-2013-12-27 |url-status=live }}</ref> which is comparable to the [[List of films by box office admissions|number of tickets sold]] by some of the world's [[List of highest-grossing films|highest-grossing films of all time]] adjusted for inflation.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Records |first=Guinness World |url=https://archive.org/details/GuinnessWorldRecords2015/page/n161 |title=Guinness World Records |year=2014 |isbn=978-1-908843-70-8 |edition=2015 |volume=60 |pages=160–161|publisher=Guinness World Records }}</ref> It is often cited that, after adjusting the figures for inflation, ''Sholay'' remains one of the [[List of highest-grossing Indian films|highest-grossing films]] in the history of Indian cinema, although such figures are not known with certainty.<ref>{{Cite web |title=The Biggest Blockbusters Ever In Hindi Cinema |url=http://boxofficeindia.com/showProd.php?itemCat=350 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131014214254/http://boxofficeindia.com/showProd.php?itemCat=350 |archive-date=14 October 2013 |access-date=13 April 2013 |publisher=Box Office India}}</ref> Box Office India estimated {{INR|1.63 billion}} as ''Sholay''{{'}}s adjusted domestic net income in 2008,{{efn|name=nettgross|}}<ref>{{Cite web |title=Top Earners 1970–1979 – BOI |url=http://boxofficeindia.com/showProd.php?itemCat=124&catName=MTk3MC0xOTc5 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080118030716/http://www.boxofficeindia.com/showProd.php?itemCat=124&catName=MTk3MC0xOTc5 |archive-date=18 January 2008 |access-date=24 February 2012 |publisher=Box Office India}}</ref> while ''[[Times of India]]'' estimated over {{INR|3 billion}} as the adjusted domestic gross in 2009.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Kazmi |first=Nikhat |date=12 January 2009 |title=Sholay adjusted gross |work=The Times of India |url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Box-Office-With-Rs-200cr-in-kitty-Ghajini-rewrites-records/articleshow/3965713.cms |url-status=live |access-date=23 February 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140430071524/http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Box-Office-With-Rs-200cr-in-kitty-Ghajini-rewrites-records/articleshow/3965713.cms |archive-date=30 April 2014}}</ref> ''[[Mid-Day]]'' estimated the film's total adjusted gross as {{INR|15 billion}} ({{US$|{{To USD|15000|IND|year=2014|round=yes}} million|long=no}}) in 2014.<ref>{{Cite news |title=B-Town rewind: The tale of the first Bollywood crore |work=[[Mid-Day]] |url=http://www.mid-day.com/articles/b-town-rewind-the-tale-of-the-first-bollywood-crore/15162064 |access-date=16 March 2014 |archive-date=16 March 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140316114251/http://www.mid-day.com/articles/b-town-rewind-the-tale-of-the-first-bollywood-crore/15162064 |url-status=live }}</ref>

=== 3D re-release (2013) ===
Filmmaker [[Ketan Mehta]]'s company Maya Digital was responsible for converting ''Sholay'' into the [[Stereoscopic 3D|3D]] format.<ref name="3D" /> Mehta was approached by G. P. Sippy's grandson, Sasha Sippy, about the project in 2010.<ref name="3D" /> In March 2012, Shaan Uttam Singh, the grandson of producer G. P. Sippy, said that he would sponsor a conversion of the film to 3D, and release it in late 2012;<ref>{{Cite news |last=Singh |first=Renu |date=31 March 2012 |title=Sholay 3D to release on Aug 15 |work=The Times of India |url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/bollywood/news-interviews/Sholay-3D-to-release-on-Aug-15/articleshow/12479722.cms |url-status=live |access-date=31 May 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120402041653/http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/bollywood/news-interviews/Sholay-3D-to-release-on-Aug-15/articleshow/12479722.cms |archive-date=2 April 2012}}</ref> this was later postponed to late 2013,<ref>{{Cite web |date=14 August 2013 |title='Sholay 3D' to release on Amitabh Bachchan's 71st birthday? |url=http://www.news18.com/news/india/sholay-3d-to-release-on-big-bs-71st-birthday-630900.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160508200023/http://www.news18.com/news/india/sholay-3d-to-release-on-big-bs-71st-birthday-630900.html |archive-date=8 May 2016 |access-date=7 December 2013 |website=News18}}</ref> and eventually finalised for 3 January 2014.<ref>{{Cite news |date=6 November 2013 |title='Sholay 3D' finally up for release in the first week of 2014 |work=[[Mid-Day]] |url=https://www.mid-day.com/entertainment/bollywood-news/article/-Sholay-3D--finally-up-for-release-in-the-first-week-of-2014-239108 |access-date=9 November 2013 |archive-date=9 October 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231009032305/https://www.mid-day.com/entertainment/bollywood-news/article/-Sholay-3D--finally-up-for-release-in-the-first-week-of-2014-239108 |url-status=live }}</ref> It took {{INRConvert|250|m}} to convert ''Sholay'' to 3D.<ref>{{Cite web |date=8 November 2013 |title=Rs 25 crore spent on Sholay 3D |url=http://movies.ndtv.com/bollywood/rs-25-crore-spent-on-sholay-3d-443612 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131113200519/http://movies.ndtv.com/bollywood/rs-25-crore-spent-on-sholay-3d-443612 |archive-date=13 November 2013 |access-date=19 November 2013 |publisher=NDTV}}</ref>

Under the leadership of computer animator Frank Foster, 350 people worked to convert the film into the digital 3D format, for which every scene had to be individually [[Film preservation|restored]], colour-corrected, and re-composited in 3D to match the depth.{{efn|The 3D version of the film has a run-time of 198 minutes, and the original shots were of standard film frame rate, i.e., 24 frames per second; therefore, this version has {{formatnum:285120}} frames, which were digitised, upscaled to High Definition (HD), and element-mapped.<ref name="screens" /><ref>{{Cite web |last=Coutinho, Natasha |date=25 November 2013 |title=Sholay 3D was a tough challenge |url=http://www.asianage.com/bollywood/sholay-3d-was-tough-challenge-600 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131211104844/http://www.asianage.com/bollywood/sholay-3d-was-tough-challenge-600 |archive-date=11 December 2013 |access-date=7 December 2013 |publisher=[[The Asian Age]]}}</ref> }}<ref name="3D" /> New set-pieces, particularly those suited to the new format were also included, such as digital logs which scatter in the direction of the camera during the first half when the train collides with them, the gunshot scene which frees Jai and Veeru from their handcuffs, and [[Panorama|panoramic]] views of Gabbar's hideout in the caves.<ref name="3D" />

The theatrical trailer and release date were unveiled by the original script-writers Salim Khan and Javed Akhtar.<ref>{{Cite web |date=7 November 2013 |title='Sholay 3D' trailer unvieled [sic] & Updates at Daily News & Analysis |url=http://www.dnaindia.com/entertainment/report-sholay-3d-trailer-unvieled-1915213 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151011124137/http://www.dnaindia.com/entertainment/report-sholay-3d-trailer-unvieled-1915213 |archive-date=11 October 2015 |access-date=7 June 2015 |publisher=[[Daily News and Analysis|DNA]]}}</ref> The two original leads, Bachchan and Dharmendra, were also involved in promoting the re-release.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Mangaokar, Shalvi |date=22 October 2013 |title=Amitabh Bachchan, Dharmendra set to promote Sholay 3D |work=Hindustan Times |url=http://www.hindustantimes.com/bollywood/amitabh-bachchan-dharmendra-set-to-promote-sholay-3d/story-cfY7Yb5Ph2Uw9NHV3TioiK.html |url-status=live |access-date=7 December 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151005112321/http://www.hindustantimes.com/bollywood/amitabh-bachchan-dharmendra-set-to-promote-sholay-3d/story-cfY7Yb5Ph2Uw9NHV3TioiK.html |archive-date=5 October 2015}}</ref>

The film was released in 1,000 screens in India and additional screens overseas.<ref name="screens" /> It earned approximately {{INRConvert|13|c}} during its re-release, becoming the [[List of highest-grossing re-released Indian films|third highest-grossing re-released Indian film of all time]].<ref>{{Cite web |date=18 January 2014 |title=Sholay (Re-Run) Second Week Collection Details |url=http://www.boxofficeindia.com/Details/art_detail/sholay_re-run_second_week_collection_details |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140201202515/http://www.boxofficeindia.com/Details/art_detail/sholay_re-run_second_week_collection_details |archive-date=1 February 2014 |access-date=23 January 2014 |publisher=Box Office India}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=25 September 2024 |title=Tumbbad becomes the highest-grossing re-release in India in 14 years |url=https://www.wionews.com/entertainment/bollywood/news-tumbbad-becomes-the-highest-grossing-re-release-in-india-in-14-years-761680 |access-date=11 January 2025 |website=Wion |language=en}}</ref>

=== ''Sholay: The Final Cut'' (2025) ===
In 2022, Sippy Films collaborated with the [[Film Heritage Foundation]] and L’Immagine Ritrovata for a full restoration in correlation with the film's fiftieth anniversary. Due to significant damage to the original camera negative resulting from severe [[vinegar syndrome]], the restoration utilised an interpositive and two color reversal intermediates located at Iron Mountain and the [[British Film Institute|BFI]] in the UK, a second interpositive from 1978 deposited by Shehzad Sippy to FHF, and the original sound negative and magnetic elements housed in Sippy Films' Mumbai offices. The film was also restored in 4K to its original 70mm aspect ratio of 2.2:1 with assistance from Kamlakar Rao and incorporates the original uncut ending, along with two previously excised scenes that were removed by censors in 1975.<ref name=Bologna/>

The fully restored, uncut version (including Sippy's original ending) was released worldwide as ''Sholay: The Final Cut''.<ref name=Variety>{{cite web |url=https://variety.com/2025/film/news/sholay-trailer-50th-anniversary-release-1236600849/ |title=‘Sholay: The Final Cut’ Trailer Unveiled Ahead of Golden Anniversary Release (EXCLUSIVE) |access-date=14 December 2025 |last=Ramachandran |first=Naman |date=4 December 2025 |work=Variety}}</ref> It premiered at [[Il Cinema Ritrovato]] on 27 June 2025,<ref name=Bologna>{{cite web |title=Sholay (1975, Embers) restored by Film Heritage Foundation with the original ending and deleted scenes had a grand premiere at the Il Cinema Ritrovato Festival in Bologna this June |url=https://filmheritagefoundation.co.in/sholay-1975-embers-restored-by-film-heritage-foundation/ |website=Film Heritage Foundation |date=16 June 2025}}</ref><ref name=BBC>{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cvg8m9z5vv8o|title=Sholay: Bollywood epic roars back to big screen after 50 years with new ending|access-date=14 December 2025|last=Tilak|first=Sudha|date=25 June 2025|work=BBC}}</ref> and released globally on 12 December 2025.<ref name=Variety/> The runtime is classified in 209 minutes.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://in.bookmyshow.com/movies/sholay-the-final-cut/ET00474902|title=Sholay: The Final Cut on BookMyShow|access-date=17 January 2025|website=BookMyShow.com}}</ref>

== Reception ==
=== Critical response ===
:'''August 1975'''
When the film released on 15 August 1975, it received poor reviews. Among contemporary critics, K.L. Amladi of ''[[India Today]]'' called the film a "dead ember" and "a gravely flawed attempt".{{sfn|Chopra|2000|p=161}}<ref>{{cite web |last=Amladi |first=K. L. |date=15 December 1975 |title=Sholay in totality is a depressing film |url=https://www.indiatoday.in/magazine/society-and-the-arts/films/story/19751215-sholay-in-totality-is-a-depressing-film-824046-2014-07-05 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230724160501/https://www.indiatoday.in/magazine/society-and-the-arts/films/story/19751215-sholay-in-totality-is-a-depressing-film-824046-2014-07-05 |archive-date=24 July 2023 |access-date=24 July 2023 |website=[[India Today]]}}</ref> ''[[Filmfare]]'' said that the film was an unsuccessful mincing of Western style with Indian [[Social environment|milieu]], making it an "imitation western—neither here nor there."{{Sfn|Chopra|2000|p=161}} Others labelled it as "sound and fury signifying nothing" and a "second-rate take-off" of the 1971 film ''Mera Gaon Mera Desh''.<ref name="telegraph" /> Trade journals and columnists initially called the film a flop.{{sfn|Chopra|2000|pp=161–168}}

:'''Later August/September 1975-present'''
However, over time the response shifted and it became a cultural icon. It is now considered a classic, and among the greatest Hindi-language films.<ref name="rediff1" />{{sfn|Chopra|2000|p=3}} In a 1976 article in the journal ''Studies: An Irish Quarterly Review'', author Michael Gallagher praised the technical achievement of the film, but otherwise criticised it stating, "As a spectacle it breaks new ground, but on every other level it is intolerable: formless, incoherent, superficial in human image, and a somewhat nasty piece of violence".{{sfn|Gallagher|1976|p=344}}

In a 2005 BBC review, the well-rounded characters and simple narrative of the film were commended, but the comical cameos of Asrani and Jagdeep were considered unnecessary.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Rajput |first=Dharmesh |date=17 August 2005 |title=''Sholay'' (1975) |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/films/2005/08/17/sholay_2005_review.shtml |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121007025157/http://www.bbc.co.uk/films/2005/08/17/sholay_2005_review.shtml |archive-date=7 October 2012 |access-date=16 April 2013 |publisher=BBC}}</ref> On the film's 35th anniversary, the ''[[Hindustan Times]]'' wrote that it was a "trailblazer in terms of camera work as well as music," and that "practically every scene, dialogue or even a small character was a highlight."<ref>{{Cite news |date=15 August 2010 |title=Sholay completes 35 years |work=Hindustan Times |url=http://www.hindustantimes.com/entertainment/sholay-completes-35-years/story-gZIxKfIxNvLThEiQ05KYWP.html |url-status=live |access-date=27 September 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151005160039/http://www.hindustantimes.com/entertainment/sholay-completes-35-years/story-gZIxKfIxNvLThEiQ05KYWP.html |archive-date=5 October 2015}}</ref> In 2006, The [[Film Society of Lincoln Center]] described ''Sholay'' as "an extraordinary and utterly seamless blend of [[Adventure film|adventure]], [[Comedy film|comedy]], [[Musical film|music and dance]]", labelling it an "indisputable classic".<ref>{{Cite web |title=Sholay |url=http://filmlinccom.siteprotect.net/wrt/onsale06/sholay.html |access-date=21 December 2010 |publisher=[[Film Society of Lincoln Center]] |archive-date=21 October 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131021150641/http://filmlinccom.siteprotect.net/wrt/onsale06/sholay.html |url-status=live }}</ref> ''Chicago Review'' critic Ted Shen criticised the film in 2002 for its formulaic plot and "slapdash" cinematography, and noted that the film "alternates between [[slapstick]] and melodrama".<ref name="shen chic reader" /> In their obituary of the producer G.P. Sippy, ''[[The New York Times]]'' said that ''Sholay'' "revolutionized Hindi filmmaking and brought true professionalism to Indian script writing".<ref name="nyt" />

{{Rotten Tomatoes prose|95||19||ref=y|access-date=24 December 2025}}

=== Accolades ===
''Sholay'' was nominated for nine [[Filmfare Awards]], and the only winner was [[M. S. Shinde]], who won the award for [[Filmfare Award for Best Editing|Best Editing]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Filmfare Nominees and {{sic|nolink=1|Winner}} |url=https://archive.org/details/FilmfareAwards |access-date=9 October 2020 |publisher=[[The Times Group]] |via=[[Internet Archive]]}}</ref> The film also won three awards at the 1976 [[Bengal Film Journalists' Association Awards]] (Hindi section): "Best Actor in Supporting Role" for Amjad Khan, "Best Cinematographer (Colour)" for [[Dwarka Divecha]], and "Best Art Director" for Ram Yedekar.<ref>{{Cite web |title=1976: 39th Annual BFJA Awards |url=http://www.bfjaawards.com/legacy/pastwin/197639.htm |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080119012515/http://www.bfjaawards.com/legacy/pastwin/197639.htm |archive-date=19 January 2008 |access-date=2 December 2010 |publisher=Bengal Film Journalists' Association}}</ref> ''Sholay'' received a special award at the 50th Filmfare Awards in 2005: [[Filmfare Best Film of 50 Years|Best Film of 50 Years]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=All Filmfare Awards Winners |url=https://www.filmfare.com/awards/filmfare-awards/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.today/20180227163020/https://www.filmfare.com/awards/filmfare-awards/ |archive-date=27 February 2018 |access-date=27 February 2018 |website=Filmfare}}</ref>
{| class="wikitable"
! Style="width:5%"| Awards
! Style="width:25%"| Category
! Style="width:20%"| Nominee
! Style="width:10%"| Result
|-
|rowspan="3"|[[Bengal Film Journalists Association Awards]]
|Best Supporting Actor
|[[Amjad Khan (actor)|Amjad Khan]]
|rowspan="4"{{won}}
|-
|Best Cinematography
|[[Dwarka Divecha]]
|-
|Best Art Direction
|Ram Yadekar
|-
|rowspan="10"|[[23rd Filmfare Awards]]
|[[Filmfare Best Editing Award|Best Editing]]
|[[M. S. Shinde]]
|-
|[[Filmfare Award for Best Film|Best Film]]
|[[G. P. Sippy]]
|rowspan="9" {{nom}}
|-
|[[Filmfare Award for Best Director|Best Director]]
|[[Ramesh Sippy]]
|-
|[[Filmfare Award for Best Actor|Best Actor]]
|[[Sanjeev Kumar]]
|-
|[[Filmfare Award for Best Supporting Actor|Best Supporting Actor]]
|Amjad Khan
|-
|[[Filmfare Best Comedian Award|Best Comedian]]
|[[Asrani]]
|-
|[[Filmfare Award for Best Story|Best Story]]
|[[Salim-Javed]]
|-
|[[Filmfare Award for Best Music Director|Best Music Director]]
|[[R. D. Burman]]
|-
|[[Filmfare Best Lyricist Award|Best Lyricist]]
|[[Anand Bakshi]] for "Mehbooba Mehbooba"
|-
|[[Filmfare Award for Best Male Playback Singer|Best Male Playback Singer]]
|R. D. Burman
|-
|[[50th Filmfare Awards]]
|Special Award
|Best Film for Completing 50 Years
|{{won|place=1st|Received}}
|-
|}

== Legacy and cultural influence ==
''Sholay'' has received many "Best Film" honours. It was declared the "Film of the Millennium" by [[BBC India]] in 1999.<ref name="nyt" /> It topped the [[British Film Institute]]'s "Top 10 Indian Films" [[Films considered the greatest ever|of all time]] poll of 2002,<ref>{{Cite web |year=2002 |title=Top 10 Indian Films |url=http://www.bfi.org.uk/features/imagineasia/guide/poll/india |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110515101729/http://www.bfi.org.uk/features/imagineasia/guide/poll/india/ |archive-date=15 May 2011 |access-date=14 June 2012 |publisher=[[British Film Institute]]}}</ref> and was voted the greatest Indian movie in a [[Sky (UK and Ireland)|Sky Digital]] poll of one million British Indians in 2004.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Thambirajah, Mohan |date=27 May 2004 |title='Sholay' voted best Indian movie |work=[[New Straits Times]] |url=http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P1-94953889.html |url-status=dead |access-date=25 April 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160225042453/https://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P1-94953889.html |archive-date=25 February 2016 |quote=SHOLAY has been voted the greatest Indian movie in a research by Sky Digital of one million Indians in Britain.}} {{link note|note=Partial story rendition from HighBeam.com archive.}}</ref> It was also included in the magazine ''[[Time (magazine)|Time]]''{{'}}s "Best of Bollywood" list in 2010,<ref>{{Cite magazine |last=Corliss |first=Richard |date=27 October 2010 |title=Sholay – 1975 – Best of Bollywood |url=https://content.time.com/time/specials/packages/article/0,28804,2022076_2022067_2022045,00.html |url-status=live |magazine=[[Time (magazine)|Time]] |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130828050259/http://content.time.com/time/specials/packages/article/0%2C28804%2C2022076_2022067_2022045%2C00.html |archive-date=28 August 2013 |access-date=30 July 2012}}</ref> and in [[IBN Live]]'s list of the "100 greatest Indian films of all time" in 2013.<ref>{{Cite web |date=17 April 2013 |title=100 Years of Indian Cinema: The 100 greatest Indian films of all time |url=http://ibnlive.in.com/photogallery/13200-19.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130425234438/http://ibnlive.in.com/photogallery/13200-19.html |archive-date=25 April 2013 |access-date=12 February 2014 |website=[[IBN Live]]}}</ref> In 2023, [[Time Out (magazine)|Time Out]] ranked it #1 on its list of the "100 Best Bollywood Movies."<ref name="best">{{cite web |date=7 February 2023 |title=The 100 best Bollywood movies |url=https://www.timeout.com/film/the-100-best-bollywood-movies-the-list |access-date=28 November 2023 |work=[[Time Out (magazine)|Time Out]] |archive-date=20 August 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230820130100/https://www.timeout.com/film/the-100-best-bollywood-movies-the-list |url-status=live }}</ref>

''Sholay'' inspired many films and [[pastiche]]s, and spawned a genre of films, the "Curry Western",{{sfnm|1a1=Dudrah|1a2=Desai|1y=2008|1p=5|2a1=Sparks|2y=2008|2p=157}} which is a play on the term [[Spaghetti Western]]. A more accurate label for the genre is the Dacoit Western, due to its roots in earlier Indian dacoit films such as ''[[Mother India]]'' (1957) and ''[[Gunga Jumna]]'' (1961).<ref name="Teo" /> It was also an early and most definitive [[masala film]],<ref name="uiowa" />{{sfn|Hayward|2006|p=67|ps=:"In its truest sense ''Sholay'' was perhaps ''the'' first Masala movie"}} and a trend-setter for "multi-star" films.{{sfn|Jain|2009|p=62}} The film was a watershed for scriptwriters in Hindi language films, who were not paid well before ''Sholay''; after the film's success, its writing duo Salim-Javed became stars in their own right and script writing became a more respected profession.<ref name="ndtv" /> The [[BBC]] has described ''Sholay'' as the "''[[Star Wars]]'' of Bollywood", comparing its impact on Hindi language films to the impact that ''[[Star Wars (film)|Star Wars]]'' (1977) later had on [[Cinema of the United States|Hollywood]], while comparing Gabbar Singh to [[Darth Vader]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Verma |first=Rahul |date=14 August 2015 |title=Sholay: The Star Wars of Bollywood? |url=http://www.bbc.com/culture/story/20150813-sholay-the-star-wars-of-bollywood |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170509192533/http://www.bbc.com/culture/story/20150813-sholay-the-star-wars-of-bollywood |archive-date=9 May 2017 |access-date=28 November 2017 |publisher=BBC}}</ref>

[[File:Gabbar Singh dialogue from Sholay on the back of auto rickshaw.jpg|thumb|A line of Gabbar Singh (''Tera kya hoga'', meaning, "What will happen to you?") and a picture of him is painted on the back of an [[auto rickshaw]], a common mode of public transport. Dialogues and characters from the film have contributed to many cultural tropes in India's daily life.|alt=A dialogue and image of Gabbar Singh painted on the back of an auto rickshaw]]

Certain scenes and dialogues earned iconic status in India, such as "''Kitne aadmi the''" (How many men were there?), "''Jo dar gaya, samjho mar gaya''" (One who is scared is dead), and "''Bahut yaarana laagta hai''" (Looks like you two are very close) – all dialogues of Gabbar Singh.<ref name="rediff1" />{{sfnm|1a1=Chopra|1y=2000|1pp=4–5|2a1=Jess-Cooke|2y=2009|2p=126}} These and other popular dialogues entered the people's daily vernacular.{{sfnm|1a1=Banerjee|1a2=Srivastava|1y=1988|1pp=166–169|2a1=Jess-Cooke|2y=2009|2p=126}} Characters and dialogues from the film continue to be referred to and parodied in popular culture.{{sfnm|1a1=Chopra|1y=2000|1pp=4–5|2a1=Ganti|2y=2004|2p=161}} Gabbar Singh, the sadistic villain, ushered in an era in Hindi films characterised by "seemingly omnipotent oppressors as villains", who play the pivotal role in setting up the context of the story, such as Shakal (played by [[Kulbhushan Kharbanda]]) of ''[[Shaan (1980 film)|Shaan]]'' (1980), Mogambo ([[Amrish Puri]]) of ''[[Mr. India (1987 film)|Mr. India]]'' (1987) and Bhujang (Amrish Puri) of ''[[Tridev]]'' (1989).{{sfn|Zankar|2003|p=365}} ''Filmfare'', in 2013, named Gabbar Singh the most iconic villain in the history of Indian cinema,<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Hashmi, Parampara Patil |date=3 May 2013 |title=Iconic villains of Indian cinema |url=http://www.filmfare.com/features/iconic-villains-of-indian-cinema-3038-2.html |url-status=live |journal=[[Filmfare]] |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131111181042/http://www.filmfare.com/features/iconic-villains-of-indian-cinema-3038-2.html |archive-date=11 November 2013 |access-date=7 July 2013}}</ref> and four actors were included in its 2010 list of "80 Iconic Performances" for their work in this film.<ref>{{Cite journal |date=1 June 2010 |title=Filmfare – 80 Iconic Performances 1/10 |url=http://www.filmfare.com/articles/80-iconic-performances-110-950.html |journal=Filmfare |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120121065253/http://www.filmfare.com/articles/80-iconic-performances-110-950.html |archive-date=21 January 2012 |access-date=8 July 2013}}</ref><ref>{{Cite journal |date=3 June 2010 |title=Filmfare – 80 Iconic Performances 2/10 |url=http://www.filmfare.com/articles/80-iconic-performances-210-952.html |journal=Filmfare |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100705235640/http://www.filmfare.com/articles/80-iconic-performances-210-952.html |archive-date=5 July 2010 |access-date=8 July 2013}}</ref><ref>{{Cite journal |date=6 June 2010 |title=Filmfare – 80 Iconic Performances 6/10 |url=http://www.filmfare.com/articles/80-iconic-performances-610-956.html |journal=Filmfare |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130506122601/http://www.filmfare.com/articles/80-iconic-performances-610-956.html |archive-date=6 May 2013 |access-date=8 July 2013}}</ref><ref>{{Cite journal |date=10 June 2010 |title=Filmfare – 80 Iconic Performances 10/10 |url=http://www.filmfare.com/articles/80-iconic-performances-1010-991.html |journal=Filmfare |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110203173146/http://www.filmfare.com/articles/80-iconic-performances-1010-991.html |archive-date=3 February 2011 |access-date=8 July 2013}}</ref>

The film is often credited with making Bachchan a "superstar", two years after he became a star with ''[[Zanjeer (1973 film)|Zanjeer]]'' (1973).<ref name="uiowa" /><ref>{{Cite web |title=Top Actor |url=http://www.boxofficeindia.com/cpages.php?pageName=top_actors |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131029191201/http://boxofficeindia.com/cpages.php?pageName=top_actors |archive-date=29 October 2013 |access-date=13 October 2012 |publisher=Box Office India}}</ref> Some of the supporting actors remained etched in public memory as the characters they played in ''Sholay''; for example, [[Mac Mohan]] continued to be referred to as "Sambha", even though his character had just one line.<ref>{{Cite news |date=10 May 2010 |title='Sambha' Mac Mohan of 'Sholay' fame dies |work=The Times of India |url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Sambha-Mac-Mohan-of-Sholay-fame-dies/articleshow/5914387.cms |url-status=live |access-date=14 May 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121106153206/http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/India/Sambha-Mac-Mohan-of-Sholay-fame-dies/articleshow/5914387.cms |archive-date=6 November 2012}}</ref> Major and minor characters continue to be used in commercials, promos, films and sitcoms.<ref name="ndtv" />{{sfn|Chopra|2000|pp=4–5}} Amjad Khan acted in many villainous roles later in his career. He also played Gabbar Singh again in the 1991 spoof ''[[Ramgarh Ke Sholay]]'', and reprised the role in commercials.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Khanna |first=Parul |date=6 February 2010 |title=The most hilarious ads ever... |work=Hindustan Times |url=http://www.hindustantimes.com/tv/the-most-hilarious-ads-ever/story-w3DzJypz46bPExmxlqDJsI.html |url-status=live |access-date=17 December 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150925073043/http://www.hindustantimes.com/tv/the-most-hilarious-ads-ever/story-w3DzJypz46bPExmxlqDJsI.html |archive-date=25 September 2015}}</ref> The British Film Institute in 2002 wrote that fear of Gabbar Singh "is still invoked by mothers to put their children to sleep".<ref>{{Cite web |year=2002 |title=1. Sholay (1975) |url=http://www.bfi.org.uk/features/imagineasia/guide/poll/india/01_sholay.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110805124020/http://www.bfi.org.uk/features/imagineasia/guide/poll/india/01_sholay.html |archive-date=5 August 2011 |access-date=27 April 2013 |publisher=[[British Film Institute]]}}</ref> The 2012 film ''[[Gabbar Singh (film)|Gabbar Singh]]'', named after the character, became the highest-grossing [[Cinema of Andhra Pradesh|Telugu film]] up to that point.<ref>{{Cite news |date=19 July 2012 |title=Gabbar Singh highest grosser in south |work=[[India Today]] |url=https://www.indiatoday.in/movies/bollywood/story/gabbar-singh-highest-grosser-110233-2012-07-18 |access-date=3 May 2013 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120719115946/http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/gabbar-singh-highest-grosser/1/209129.html |archive-date=19 July 2012}}</ref> Comedian [[Jagdeep]], who played Soorma Bhopali in the film, attempted to use his ''Sholay'' success to create a spinoff. He directed and played the lead role in the 1988 film ''[[Soorma Bhopali]]'', in which Dharmendra and Bachchan had cameos.<ref>{{Cite web |date=1 January 1988 |title=Soorma Bhopali (1988) Cast and Crew |url=https://www.bollywoodhungama.com/movie/soorma-bhopali/cast/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161121104752/http://www.bollywoodhungama.com/movie/soorma-bhopali/cast/ |archive-date=21 November 2016 |access-date=24 February 2012 |website=[[Bollywood Hungama]]}}</ref>

''Sholay'' was remade in [[Bangladesh]] as ''Dost Dushman'' (1977), was criticized by many critics in the country.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Bollywood and Dhallywood: Contentions and Connections |url=https://archive.thedailystar.net/forum/2011/August/bollywood.htm |website=[[The Daily Star (Bangladesh)|The Daily Star]] |date=1 August 2011}}</ref> In 2004, ''Sholay'' was digitally remastered and shown again to packed theatres in India, including Mumbai's Minerva, where it had run successfully 29 years earlier.<ref>{{Cite news |date=14 August 2004 |title=29 years later, Sholay still rules |work=[[The Indian Express]] |url=http://expressindia.indianexpress.com/news/fullstory.php?newsid=35028 |url-status=live |access-date=30 December 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131109044928/http://expressindia.indianexpress.com/news/fullstory.php?newsid=35028 |archive-date=9 November 2013}}</ref> Another attempt to remake ''Sholay'', [[Ram Gopal Varma]]'s film ''[[Aag (2007 film)|Aag]]'' (2007), starring Amitabh Bachchan as the villain, was a commercial and critical disaster.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Box Office 2007 |url=http://www.boxofficeindia.com/showProd.php?itemCat=214 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131109040918/http://www.boxofficeindia.com/showProd.php?itemCat=214 |archive-date=9 November 2013 |access-date=20 April 2013 |publisher=Box Office India}}</ref>

Because of television and home media, ''Sholay'' is widely available and still popular. Twenty years after its release, ''Sholay'' was first shown on the Indian [[DD National]] television channel, where it drew the highest ratings ever for an Indian film broadcast.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Mahmood |first=Rafay |date=5 April 2012 |title=Bollywood Masterpiece: Sholay in 3D |work=[[The Express Tribune]] |url=http://tribune.com.pk/story/360123/bollywood-masterpiece-sholay-in-3d/ |url-status=live |access-date=12 April 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131109035939/http://tribune.com.pk/story/360123/bollywood-masterpiece-sholay-in-3d/ |archive-date=9 November 2013}}</ref> Video game producer Mobile2win released the ''Sholay Ramgarh Express'' game for mobile phones in 2004, along with other ''Sholay'' themed content such as wallpapers, video clips, and ringtones; another video game ''Sholay: Bullets of Justice'' developed by Gameshastra has also been released.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Bapna |first=Amit |date=29 January 2014 |title=Box office blockbuster Sholay: Ad man's favourite source of inspiration |work=The Economic Times |url=https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/box-office-blockbuster-sholay-ad-mans-favourite-source-of-inspiration/articleshow/29503479.cms?from=mdr |access-date=28 November 2023 |issn=0013-0389}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Sholay - Bullets of Justice |url=http://vroovy.com/Vroovywebsite/v8/sholay-bullets-of-justice.html |access-date=27 September 2023 |website=vroovy.com |archive-date=11 February 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220211173224/http://vroovy.com/Vroovywebsite/v8/sholay-bullets-of-justice.html |url-status=live }}</ref> ''Sholay Adventures'', a 2014 [[List of Indian animated films|Indian animated television film]] adaptation of ''Sholay'' aired on [[Pogo TV]].<ref>{{Cite web |date=23 January 2015 |title=Pogo and Graphic India presents Sholay Adventures |url=http://www.indiantelevision.com/television/tv-channels/kids/pogo-and-graphic-india-presents-sholay-adventures-150123 |access-date=4 June 2017 |archive-date=16 June 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170616091541/http://www.indiantelevision.com/television/tv-channels/kids/pogo-and-graphic-india-presents-sholay-adventures-150123 |url-status=live }}</ref> In 2019, a film titled ''[[The Sholay Girl]]'', based on the stunt woman [[Reshma Pathan]], was released. Pathan had worked as the body double for Malini in the film.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Sharma |first=Aayushi |date=4 March 2019 |title=All You Need To Know About Reshma Pathan aka The Sholay Girl, India's First Stunt Woman |url=https://zeetv.zee5.com/all-you-need-to-know-about-reshma-pathan-aka-the-sholay-girl-indias-first-stunt-woman/ |access-date=10 March 2019 |publisher=Zee TV |archive-date=7 August 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200807033401/https://zeetv.zee5.com/all-you-need-to-know-about-reshma-pathan-aka-the-sholay-girl-indias-first-stunt-woman/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

''Sholay'' has been the subject of two books and many articles. Wimal Dissanayake and Malti Sahai's ''Sholay, A Cultural Reading'' (1992) attempts a comprehensive scholarly study that sets the film within the broader history of popular cinema in India. [[Anupama Chopra]]'s ''Sholay: The Making of a Classic'' (2000) provides an inside look at the film's production based on interviews with the director, stars, and crew members.<ref name="ending" /><ref name="uiowa" />

''Sholay'' has been labelled by Chopra as the gold standard in Indian cinema, and a reference point for audiences and trade analysts. Over the years, the film has reached a mythic stature in popular culture,{{sfn|Chopra|2000|p=3}} and has been called the greatest Hindi film of all time.{{sfn|Dwyer|2005|p=218}} It belongs to only a small collection of films, including ''[[Kismet (1943 film)|Kismet]]'' (1943), ''[[Mother India]]'' (1957), ''[[Mughal-e-Azam]]'' (1960), ''[[Hum Aapke Hain Koun..!]]'' (1994) and ''[[Gadar: Ek Prem Katha]]'' (2001), which are repeatedly watched throughout India, and are viewed as definitive Hindi films with cultural significance.{{sfnm|Mishra|2002|1p=66|Morcom|2007|2pp=139–144}}<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.boxofficeindia.com/report-details.php?articleid=2822|title=The Biggest Blockbuster Continues To Dominate|date=30 March 2017}}</ref> The lasting effect of ''Sholay'' on Indian cinema was summarised by Anupama Chopra, when in 2004 she called it "no longer just a film, [but] an event".<ref>{{Cite news |last=Ahmed |first=Zubair |date=18 August 2004 |title=Hindi classic pulls in the crowds |work=BBC News |url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/3577790.stm |url-status=live |access-date=1 December 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120623054743/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/3577790.stm |archive-date=23 June 2012}}</ref> In the 2000 book ''Sholay: The Making of a Classic'', the noted director [[Shekhar Kapur]] stated "there has never been a more defining film on the Indian screen. Indian film history can be divided into ''Sholay'' BC and ''Sholay'' AD".{{sfn|Chopra|2000|loc=back cover}} The film was jointly released in Pakistan by [[Jang Media Group|Geo films]] and Mandviwalla Entertainment on 17 April 2015, almost 40 years after its theatrical release. The film's premiere in the country was held in [[Karachi]].<ref>{{Cite web |date=18 April 2015 |title='Sholay' releases in Pakistan |url=http://www.thehindu.com/entertainment/sholay-releases-in-pakistan/article7117187.ece |access-date=19 April 2015 |website=The Hindu |agency=Press Trust of India |archive-date=30 November 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171130151204/http://www.thehindu.com/entertainment/sholay-releases-in-pakistan/article7117187.ece |url-status=live }}</ref>

Screenwriter [[V. Vijayendra Prasad]], responsible for a number of blockbusters in the early 21st century, including the South Indian franchise [[Baahubali (franchise)|''Baahubali'']] and the Hindi film ''[[Bajrangi Bhaijaan]]'' (starring Salim's son [[Salman Khan]]), cited ''Sholay'' as a major inspiration on his work.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Singh |first=Suhani |date=17 June 2017 |title=Baahubali writer KV Vijayendra Prasad is going places at 75 |url=https://www.indiatoday.in/magazine/leisure/story/20170626-k-v-vijayendra-prasad-baahubali-writer-magadheera-986633-2017-06-17 |access-date=8 May 2022 |website=[[India Today]] |archive-date=8 May 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220508220818/https://www.indiatoday.in/magazine/leisure/story/20170626-k-v-vijayendra-prasad-baahubali-writer-magadheera-986633-2017-06-17 |url-status=live }}</ref>

==See also==
* ''[[Angry Young Men (miniseries)]]''
* [[List of cult films]]
* [[List of highest-grossing Indian films]]
* [[Gabbar Singh (disambiguation)]]

== Footnotes ==
{{notelist|30em}}

== References ==
<references>

<ref name="Runtime">{{Cite web |title=''Sholay'' (PG) |url=https://www.bbfc.co.uk/releases/sholay-1988 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131109084512/http://www.bbfc.co.uk/releases/sholay-1988 |archive-date=9 November 2013 |access-date=12 April 2013 |publisher=[[British Board of Film Classification]]}}</ref>
<ref name="open">{{Cite journal |last1=Khan |first1=Salim |author-link=Salim Khan |last2=Sukumaran |first2=Shradha |date=14 August 2010 |title=Sholay, the Beginning |url=http://www.openthemagazine.com/article/arts-letters/sholay-the-beginning |url-status=live |journal=[[Open (Indian magazine)|OPEN Magazine]] |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171130151204/http://www.openthemagazine.com/article/arts-letters/sholay-the-beginning |archive-date=30 November 2017}}</ref>
<ref name="Cinar">{{Cite book |last1=Cinar |first1=Alev |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=q-5llJ_MsvgC&pg=PA117 |title=Visualizing Secularism and Religion: Egypt, Lebanon, Turkey, India |last2=Roy |first2=Srirupa |last3=Yahya |first3=Maha |date=2012 |publisher=[[University of Michigan Press]] |isbn=978-0-472-07118-0 |page=117 |quote=one of the most popular Hindi-Urdu films in Bollywood history, ''Sholay'' |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171130151204/https://books.google.com/books?id=q-5llJ_MsvgC&pg=PA117 |archive-date=30 November 2017 |url-status=live}}</ref>
<ref name="Akhtar">{{Cite book |last1=Aḵẖtar |first1=Jāvīd |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=_JILAQAAMAAJ |title=Talking Films: Conversations on Hindi Cinema with Javed Akhtar |last2=Kabir |first2=Nasreen Munni |date=2002 |publisher=[[Oxford University Press]] |isbn=978-0-19-566462-1 |page=49 |quote=JA: I write dialogue in Urdu, but the action and descriptions are in English. Then an assistant transcribes the Urdu dialogue into Devnagari because most people read Hindi. But I write in Urdu. |author-link=Javed Akhtar |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140108035102/http://books.google.com/books?id=_JILAQAAMAAJ |archive-date=8 January 2014 |url-status=live}}</ref>
<ref name="nyt">{{Cite news |last=Pandya |first=Haresh |date=27 December 2007 |title=G. P. Sippy, Indian Filmmaker Whose ''Sholay'' Was a Bollywood Hit, Dies at 93 |work=[[The New York Times]] |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2007/12/27/arts/27Sippy.html |url-status=live |access-date=23 February 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110828135232/http://www.nytimes.com/2007/12/27/arts/27Sippy.html |archive-date=28 August 2011}}</ref>
<ref name="Teo">{{Cite book |last=Teo |first=Stephen |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=pi8lDwAAQBAJ&pg=PA122 |title=Eastern Westerns: Film and Genre Outside and Inside Hollywood |date=2017 |publisher=[[Taylor & Francis]] |isbn=978-1-317-59226-6 |page=122 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171130151204/https://books.google.com/books?id=pi8lDwAAQBAJ&pg=PA122 |archive-date=30 November 2017 |url-status=live}}</ref>
<ref name="rediff1">{{Cite web |last=Raheja |first=Dinesh |date=9 August 2009 |title=Why Sholay is a cult classic |url=http://www.rediff.com/movies/2002/aug/09dinesh.htm |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304122450/http://www.rediff.com/movies/2002/aug/09dinesh.htm |archive-date=4 March 2016 |access-date=1 December 2010 |website=[[Rediff.com]]}}</ref>
<ref name="ndtv">{{Cite web |date=14 August 2010 |title=35 years on, the Sholay fire still burns |url=http://movies.ndtv.com/bollywood/35-years-on-the-sholay-fire-still-burns-44425 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130612074406/http://movies.ndtv.com/bollywood/35-years-on-the-sholay-fire-still-burns-44425 |archive-date=12 June 2013 |access-date=12 April 2013 |publisher=[[NDTV]]}}</ref>
<ref name="ending">{{Cite web |last=Das |first=Ronjita |date=7 February 2001 |title=I didn't even know there was another ending to ''Sholay'' |url=http://im.rediff.com/movies/2001/feb/07anu.htm |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110715164950/http://im.rediff.com/movies/2001/feb/07anu.htm |archive-date=15 July 2011 |access-date=27 September 2010 |publisher=Rediff}}</ref>
<ref name="DVD">{{Cite web |title=Sholay (1975) Region 0 DVD Review |url=http://film.thedigitalfix.com/content.php?contentid=58178 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161121171814/http://film.thedigitalfix.com/content.php?contentid=58178 |archive-date=21 November 2016 |access-date=9 August 2010 |publisher=The Digital Fix}}</ref>
<ref name="shen chic reader">{{Cite news |last=Shen |first=Ted |date=13 December 2002 |title=Sholay |work=[[Chicago Reader]] |url=http://www.chicagoreader.com/chicago/sholay/Film?oid=1063841 |url-status=live |access-date=11 April 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304093713/http://www.chicagoreader.com/chicago/sholay/Film?oid=1063841 |archive-date=4 March 2016}}</ref>
<ref name="telegraph">{{Cite news |date=3 February 2013 |title=900 not out! |work=[[The Telegraph (Calcutta)|The Telegraph]] |url=https://www.telegraphindia.com/1130203/jsp/7days/story_16515999.jsp |url-status=dead |access-date=11 May 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304225327/http://www.telegraphindia.com/1130203/jsp/7days/story_16515999.jsp |archive-date=4 March 2016}}</ref>
<ref name="Boi70s">{{Cite web |title=Top Earners 1970–1979 – BOI |url=http://boxofficeindia.com/showProd.php?itemCat=124&catName=MTk3MC0xOTc5 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131014062240/http://boxofficeindia.com/showProd.php?itemCat=124&catName=MTk3MC0xOTc5 |archive-date=14 October 2013 |access-date=24 February 2012 |publisher=Box Office India}}</ref>
<ref name="indiatoday">{{Cite news |date=15 September 1995 |title=Sholay emerges as Bollywood's most successful re-run product even after 20 years |work=[[India Today]] |url=https://www.indiatoday.in/magazine/society-and-the-arts/films/story/19950915-sholay-emerges-as-bollywoods-most-successful-re-run-product-even-after-20-years-807750-1995-09-14 |access-date=9 December 2018 |archive-date=1 January 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170101010917/http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/sholay-emerges-as-bollywoods-most-successful-re-run-product-even-after-20-years/1/289356.html |url-status=live }}</ref>
<ref name="footfalls">[https://boxofficeindia.com/report-details.php?articleid=2988 Bahubali 2 Is The Biggest Hindi Blockbuster This Century] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170824133203/http://www.boxofficeindia.com/report-details.php?articleid=2988 |date=24 August 2017}}, [[Box Office India]], 8 June 2017</ref>
<ref name="soviet">{{Cite web |title="Месть и закон" (Sholay, 1975) |url=https://www.kinopoisk.ru/film/40451/ |access-date=3 February 2019 |website=[[KinoPoisk]] |language=ru-RU |archive-date=28 August 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200828011232/https://www.kinopoisk.ru/film/40451/ |url-status=live }}</ref>
<ref name="uiowa">{{Cite web |last=Lutgendorf |first=Philip |title=Sholay |url=http://www.uiowa.edu/~incinema/sholay.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150102025542/http://www.uiowa.edu/~incinema/sholay.html |archive-date=2 January 2015 |access-date=8 December 2010 |publisher=South Asian Studies Program, University of Iowa}}</ref>
<ref name="3D">{{Cite news |last=Roy, Priyanka |date=27 November 2013 |title=Sholay returns — in 3D! |work=The Telegraph (Calcutta) supplement t2 |url=http://www.telegraphindia.com/1131127/jsp/t2/story_17614577.jsp |url-status=dead |access-date=7 December 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131213001755/http://www.telegraphindia.com/1131127/jsp/t2/story_17614577.jsp |archive-date=13 December 2013}}</ref>
<ref name="screens">{{Cite news |last=Jain, Priyanka |date=4 June 2012 |title=Sholay 3D will be more successful, says distributor |work=Hindustan Times |url=http://www.hindustantimes.com/bollywood/sholay-3d-will-be-more-successful-says-distributor/story-QdkIKksj4a8Kly1NHIPssK.html |url-status=live |access-date=7 December 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151005123811/http://www.hindustantimes.com/bollywood/sholay-3d-will-be-more-successful-says-distributor/story-QdkIKksj4a8Kly1NHIPssK.html |archive-date=5 October 2015}}</ref>

</references>

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{{refend}}

== External links ==
{{commons category}}
{{Wikiquote}}
* ''[https://www.imdb.com/title/tt39151096/ Sholay: The Final Cut]'' (2025) at [[IMDb]]
*''[https://filmheritagefoundation.co.in/sholay-1975-embers-restored-by-film-heritage-foundation/ Sholay: The Final Cut]'' (2025) at [[Film Heritage Foundation]]
* {{IMDb title}} (1975)
*''[https://www.bfi.org.uk/film/4c157d6b-5fcb-5899-b4f7-a4bf085fa9eb/sholay Sholay]'' (1975) at the [[British Film Institute]]

{{Salim-Javed}}
{{Ramesh Sippy}}
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Sholay

2026-07-14T07:16:16Z

2409:40E6:EA:E7CA:4DCF:1ADD:A789:4C4B:

{{short description|1975 Indian film by Ramesh Sippy}}
{{distinguish|Shola (disambiguation)}}
{{featured article}}
{{protection padlock|small=yes}}
{{Use Indian English|date=December 2025}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=December 2025}}
{{Infobox film
| name = Sholay
| image = Sholay-poster.jpg
| alt =
| caption = Theatrical release poster
| director = [[Ramesh Sippy]]
| producer = [[G. P. Sippy]]
| writer = [[Salim–Javed]]
| starring = {{Plainlist|
* [[Dharmendra]]
* [[Sanjeev Kumar]]
* [[Hema Malini]]
* [[Amitabh Bachchan]]
* [[Jaya Bhaduri]]
* [[Amjad Khan (actor)|Amjad Khan]]
}}
| music = [[R. D. Burman]]
| cinematography = [[Dwarka Divecha]]
| editing = [[M. S. Shinde]]
| studio = United Producers [[G. P. Sippy|Sippy Films]]
| distributor = Sippy Films
| released = {{Film date|1975|8|15|df=yes}}
| runtime = 204 minutes (Original version) 198 minutes (Theatrical version)
| country = India
| language = Hindi
| budget = {{INR|35 million|link=yes}}<ref name="budget">{{cite web|url=https://boxofficeindia.com/report-details.php?articleid=4467|title=2.0 - Among The Biggest Films Ever Made In India|date=27 November 2018}}</ref>
| gross = {{Estimation}} {{INR|580 million}} (India)<ref>{{cite news|title=Sholay emerges as Bollywood's most successful re-run product even after 20 years|url=https://www.indiatoday.in/magazine/society-and-the-arts/films/story/19950915-sholay-emerges-as-bollywoods-most-successful-re-run-product-even-after-20-years-807750-1995-09-14|work=[[India Today]]|date=15 September 1995|access-date=15 November 2017|archive-date=1 January 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170101010917/http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/sholay-emerges-as-bollywoods-most-successful-re-run-product-even-after-20-years/1/289356.html|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>[http://smartinvestor.business-standard.com/market/ipoNews-418220-Top_10_biggest_commercial_hits_of_Amitabh_Bachchan.htm Top 10 biggest commercial hits of Amitabh Bachchan] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171107015514/http://smartinvestor.business-standard.com/market/ipoNews-418220-Top_10_biggest_commercial_hits_of_Amitabh_Bachchan.htm |date=7 November 2017 }}, ''[[Business Standard]]'', 11 October 2016</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=B-Town rewind: The tale of the first Bollywood crore|url=http://www.mid-day.com/articles/b-town-rewind-the-tale-of-the-first-bollywood-crore/15162064|access-date=16 March 2014|work=[[Mid-Day]]|archive-date=16 March 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140316114251/http://www.mid-day.com/articles/b-town-rewind-the-tale-of-the-first-bollywood-crore/15162064|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Mitra |first1=Sumit |date=31 July 1985 |title=After series of box-office duds, Ramesh Sippy strikes back with romantic venture Saagar |work=[[India Today]] |url=https://www.indiatoday.in/magazine/society-the-arts/films/story/19850731-after-series-of-box-office-duds-ramesh-sippy-strikes-back-with-romantic-venture-saagar-770238-2013-12-27 |url-status=live |access-date=7 February 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190209135521/https://www.indiatoday.in/magazine/society-the-arts/films/story/19850731-after-series-of-box-office-duds-ramesh-sippy-strikes-back-with-romantic-venture-saagar-770238-2013-12-27 |archive-date=9 February 2019}}</ref> 250 million tickets (worldwide)<ref name="indiatoday1985" />
}}

'''''Sholay''''' ({{IPA|hns|ˈɕoːleː|lang|Sholay pronunciation.ogg}}, {{translation|'Embers'}}) is a 1975 Indian [[Action-adventure game|Action-adventure drama]] [[film]] directed by [[Ramesh Sippy]], produced by his father [[G. P. Sippy]], and written by [[Salim–Javed]]. The film follows two criminals, Veeru ([[Dharmendra]]) and Jai ([[Amitabh Bachchan]]), who are hired by a retired police officer ([[Sanjeev Kumar]]) to capture the ruthless bandit [[Gabbar Singh (character)|Gabbar Singh]] ([[Amjad Khan (actor)|Amjad Khan]]). [[Hema Malini]] and [[Jaya Bhaduri]] also star as Veeru and Jai's love interests, Basanti and Radha, respectively. The soundtrack was composed by [[R D Burman]].

Filming took place in the rocky terrain of [[Ramanagara]], in the [[South India|southern]] state of [[Karnataka]], over two and a half years, beginning in October 1973. After the [[Central Board of Film Certification]] mandated the removal of several violent scenes, ''Sholay'' was released theatrically as a 198-minute long film. The first version of the [[director's cut]] (running at 204 minutes) became available on home media in 1990. In 2025, the fully restored Director's Cut was released worldwide as ''Sholay: The Final Cut.''

''Sholay'' is a [[Dacoit Western]] (sometimes called a "[[Curry Western]]"), combining the conventions of Indian [[dacoit film]]s with that of [[Spaghetti Western]]s along with elements of [[Samurai cinema]]. It is also a defining example of the [[masala film]], which mixes several genres in one work. Scholars have noted several themes in the film, such as [[Heroic bloodshed|glorification of violence]], conformation to [[Indian feudalism]], debate between [[social order]] and mobilised usurpers, [[homosocial]] bonding, and the film's role as a [[National personification|national allegory]].

''Sholay'' received negative critical reviews and a tepid commercial response during its initial release. However, favorable [[Word of mouth|word-of-mouth]] publicity helped it to become a box office success. It then went on to break records for continuous showings in many theatres across India, and ran for more than five years at Mumbai's Minerva theatre. The combined sales of the original soundtrack, scored by [[R. D. Burman]], and the dialogues (released separately), set new records at the time. In addition, the film's dialogue and certain characters became extremely popular, contributing to numerous cultural [[meme]]s and becoming part of India's daily [[vernacular]]. ''Sholay'' is now regarded as [[List of films considered the best#National polls|one of the greatest and most influential Indian films of all time]]. It was ranked first in the [[British Film Institute]]'s 2002 poll of "Top 10 Indian Films" of all time. In 2005, the judges of the [[50th Filmfare Awards]] named it the [[Filmfare Best Film of 50 Years|Best Film of 50 Years]]. It was also an [[List of highest-grossing Indian films in overseas markets|overseas success]] in the [[Soviet Union]]. ''Sholay'' was also at one point the [[List of highest-grossing Indian films|highest-grossing Indian film]] ever at the time, and was the [[List of highest-grossing films in India|highest-grossing film in India]] up until ''[[Hum Aapke Hain Koun..!]]'' (1994).

== Plot ==
===Theatrical release (1975)===
Jai and Veeru are small-time crooks who are released from prison, where they are recruited by a former [[police Inspector|Inspector]] [[Thakur (title)|Thakur]] Baldev Singh to capture a notorious [[dacoit]] named Gabbar Singh wanted for {{INR|50000}},{{efn|name=exchange|The exchange rate in 1975 was 8.94 Indian rupees ({{INR}}) per 1 US dollar (US$).{{sfn|Statistical Abstract of the United States|1977|p=917}}}} as the duo had saved Thakur from a train robbery, which makes Thakur recruit them for the mission with an additional {{INR|20000}} reward. The duo leaves for Thakur's village in [[Chambal (region)|Ramgarh]], where Gabbar is residing and terrorising the villagers.

After reaching Ramgarh, Veeru falls for Basanti, a feisty, talkative [[Driving (horse)|horse-cart driver]]. Jai meets Thakur's widowed daughter-in-law, Radha, and falls for her; she later reciprocates his feelings. The two thwart Gabbar's dacoits, who came to extort money and goods. Later on, the three dacoits, including Kaalia, are killed by Gabbar. During the festival of [[Holi]], an explosion Gabbar's gang attacks the villagers, where actions they corner his henchmen Jai and Veeru, but the duo manage to attack bomb blasts and chase them away from the village. The duo is upset at Thakur's inaction (when Jai and Veeru were cornered, Thakur had a gun within his reach, but did not help them) and considers calling off the mission. Thakur reveals that a few years ago, Gabbar had killed his family (save for Radha and Ramlal), and had bomb both his arms cut off; he concealed the dismemberment by always wearing a [[shawl]], the sole reason he could not use the gun.

Realising how much Thakur has suffered, Jai and Veeru take pity by taking an oath that they will capture Gabbar alive, free of charge. After learning the duo's heroics, Gabbar kills Ahmed, the local [[imam]] Rahim Chacha's son, to threaten the villagers to make Jai and Veeru surrender to him. The villagers refuse and instead get the duo to kill a few of Gabbar's henchmen in revenge for the boy's death. Dangerous and tries, Gabbar angrily retaliates by having his men capture Veeru and Basanti. Jai arrives and attacks the hideout, where the trio gangster can flee Gabbar's hideout with dacoits in pursuit. Shooting from behind a rock, Jai and Veeru nearly run out of machine gun they [[ammunition]]. Unaware that Jai was wounded in the gunfight, Veeru is forced to leave for more ammunition and also to drop Basanti at a safe place.

Jai sacrifices himself by using his last bullet to ignite dynamite sticks on a bridge from close range, killing Gabbar's men. Veeru returns, and Jai dies, leaving Radha and Veeru devastated. Enraged, Veeru attacks Gabbar's den and kills his remaining men, where he catches Veeru fights Gabbar and nearly beats him to death. Thakur appears and reminds Veeru of the vow to hand over Gabbar alive. Thakur uses his spike-soled shoes to severely injure Gabbar and his hands. As Thakur is about to kill Gabbar, the police arrive, and the senior officer convinces Thakur to let go, explaining that he was also a police officer, whose example is legendary. Convinced, Thakur lets go, and the police arrest Gabbar for his crimes.

After Jai's funeral, Veeru decides to leave Ramgarh, with Thakur empathising with him. After boarding the train, he finds Basanti waiting for him on the train, and they help both embrace each other.

=== Director's cut ===
The original [[director's cut]] has a different ending. The police do not arrive to stop Thakur. Instead, he kicks Gabbar onto a nail on one of the two poles that Gabbar had used to chain Thakur when he had cut off his arms, thus stabbing him in the back and killing him. This version also has deleted scenes that include Thakur's shoe soles getting laced with spikes, the scene in which Thakur's family is massacred, and the scene in which the imam's son is killed (all of which were originally cut by India's [[Central Board of Film Certification|Censor Board]]).{{sfn|Chopra|2000|pp=77–79}} The Censor Board was concerned about the violence, and that viewers may be influenced to violate the law by punishing people severely.<ref name="ending" /> Although Sippy fought to keep the scenes, he ultimately had to reshoot the ending, and as directed by the Censor Board, have the police arrive just before Thakur can kill Gabbar.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Prabhakar, Jyothi |date=28 April 2013 |title=Changed 'Sholay' climax because of the Censor Board: Ramesh Sippy |work=The Times of India |url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/hindi/bollywood/news/Changed-Sholay-climax-because-of-the-Censor-Board-Ramesh-Sippy/articleshow/19754678.cms? |url-status=live |access-date=5 July 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150817120148/http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/hindi/bollywood/news/Changed-Sholay-climax-because-of-the-Censor-Board-Ramesh-Sippy/articleshow/19754678.cms |archive-date=17 August 2015}}</ref>

The fully restored director's cut was released in 2025 as [[Sholay#Sholay:_The_Final_Cut_(2025)|''Sholay: The Final Cut'']]. It was remastered in 4K and Dolby 5.1, and theatrically reissued on 12 December 2025 globally. This release is classified at 206 minutes.<ref>{{cite web |date=11 December 2025 |title='Sholay' (15) |url=https://www.bbfc.co.uk/release/sholay-q29sbgvjdglvbjpwwc0zmzy4odc |access-date=18 December 2025 |publisher=[[British Board of Film Classification|BBFC]] |language=en-GB}}</ref>

Prior to this release, the censored, theatrical cut was the only one seen by audiences for fifteen years. Versions of the director's cut initially surfaced in 1990 via a British [[VHS]] release.<ref name="DVD" /> [[Eros International]] then released two versions on DVD: a director's cut that preserved the original full frame and is 204 minutes in length, and the censored widescreen version which ran at 198 minutes long.<ref name="Runtime" /><ref name="DVD" /><ref>{{Cite web |date=17 February 2001 |title=Sholay DVD review :: zulm.net :: definitive indian dvd guide |url=http://www.zulm.net/modules.php?op=modload&name=News&file=article&sid=103&mode=&order=0 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120811131134/http://www.zulm.net/modules.php?op=modload&name=News&file=article&sid=103&mode=&order=0 |archive-date=11 August 2012 |access-date=3 July 2013 |publisher=zulm.net}}</ref>{{efn|name=runtime|The [[British Board of Film Classification]] (BBFC) notes three running times: the film submission is 198 minutes; the video is 188 minutes (BBFC notes that "When a film is transferred to video, the running time will be shorter by approximately 4% due to the differing number of frames per second. This does not mean that the video version has been cut or re-edited."); and the director's cut is 204 minutes.<ref>{{Cite web |date=25 September 2012 |title=''Sholay'' |url=https://www.bbfc.co.uk/website/Classified.nsf/c2fb077ba3f9b33980256b4f002da32c/cde1a8bb41dd72ca8025660b0006032d?OpenDocument |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131021153210/http://www.bbfc.co.uk/website/Classified.nsf/c2fb077ba3f9b33980256b4f002da32c/cde1a8bb41dd72ca8025660b0006032d?OpenDocument |archive-date=21 October 2013 |access-date=11 May 2013 |publisher=British Board of Film Classification}}</ref>}}

== Cast ==
{{Cast listing|
* [[Dharmendra]] as Veeru
* [[Sanjeev Kumar]] as [[Thakur (title)|Thakur]] Baldev Singh, a retired Police Officer
* [[Hema Malini]] as Basanti, Veeru's love interest
* [[Amitabh Bachchan]] as Jaidev "Jai"
* [[Jaya Bhaduri]] as Radha, Thakur's daughter-in-law and Jai's love interest
* [[Amjad Khan (actor)|Amjad Khan]] as [[Gabbar Singh (character)|Gabbar Singh]], a wanted [[dacoit]].
* [[A. K. Hangal]] as Rahim Chacha, the [[imam]] in the village
* [[Satyen Kappu]] as Ram Lal, Thakur's servant
* [[Iftekhar]] as [[Inspector]] Khurana, Radha's Father
* [[Leela Mishra]] as Mausi, Basanti's maternal aunt
* [[Vikas Anand]] as Jailor
* [[Mac Mohan]] as Sambha, Gabbar Singh's sidekick
* [[Keshto Mukherjee]] as Hariram, prison barber and Jailor's side-kick
* [[Sachin (actor)|Sachin Pilgaonkar]] as Ahmed, son of the imam
* Master Alankar as grandson of Thakur Baldev Singh; the character's name is not mentioned in the film.
* [[Viju Khote]] as Kaalia, one of the Gabbar's men whom he kills in a game of [[Russian roulette]]
* Major Anand as unnamed, one of the Gabbar's men whom he kills in a game of Russian roulette
* Bhagwan Sinha as unnamed, one of the Gabbar's men killed by him in a game of Russian roulette
* [[Arvind Joshi]] as elder son of Thakur Baldev Singh<ref>{{Cite news |title=Sharman Joshi father Arvind Joshi workedin Amitabh Bachchan-Dharmendra Sholay |publisher=TimesNowHindi.com |url=https://www.timesnowhindi.com/entertainment/bollywood/article/sharman-joshi-father-arvind-joshi-worked-in-amitabh-bachchan-dharmendra-sholay/290925 |access-date=12 October 2020 |archive-date=22 January 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210122125347/https://www.timesnowhindi.com/entertainment/bollywood/article/sharman-joshi-father-arvind-joshi-worked-in-amitabh-bachchan-dharmendra-sholay/290925 |url-status=live }}</ref>
* Bhanumati as Nirmala
* Birbal as the prisoner with half shaven mustache
* [[Raj Kishore]] as a jail inmate with gayish mannerisms<ref>{{Cite news |last=Sarkar |first=Suparno |date=6 April 2018 |title=Sholay actor Raj Kishore latest among Bollywood celebs who died in 2018 |work=International Business Times |location=India |url=https://www.ibtimes.co.in/sholay-actor-raj-kishore-passes-away-85-766026 |url-status=live |access-date=6 April 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180406160230/https://www.ibtimes.co.in/sholay-actor-raj-kishore-passes-away-85-766026 |archive-date=6 April 2018}}</ref>
* [[Asrani]] as the [[Prison officer|Jailor]], a comical character modelled after [[Charlie Chaplin]] in ''[[The Great Dictator]]''{{sfn|Banerjee|Srivastava|1988|pp=166–169}}
* [[Gita Siddharth]] as Geeta, Thakur Baldev Singh's daughter in law<ref>{{Cite news |title=Parichay And Sholay Actor Gita Siddharth Kak Passes Away |publisher=India.com |url=https://www.india.com/entertainment/parichay-and-sholay-actor-gita-siddharth-kak-passes-away-3878236/ |access-date=12 October 2020 |archive-date=14 October 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201014034125/https://www.india.com/entertainment/parichay-and-sholay-actor-gita-siddharth-kak-passes-away-3878236/ |url-status=live }}</ref>
* [[Helen (actress)|Helen]] in a special appearance in song "Mehbooba Mehbooba"
* [[P. Jairaj|Jairaj]] as Police Commissioner
* [[Jagdeep]] as Soorma Bhopali, a comical wood trader
* [[Jalal Agha]] in a special appearance in song "Mehbooba Mehbooba"
* [[Om Shivpuri]] as a police officer investigating Gabbar's attack in the village.
* Sharad Kumar as Ninni, younger son of Thakur Baldev Singh<ref>{{Cite news |title=Biography: Sharad Kumar |publisher=Amazon.com |url=https://www.amazon.com/prime-video/actor/Sharad-Kumar/nm0474886/ |access-date=12 October 2020 |archive-date=22 October 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211022104355/https://www.amazon.com/prime-video/actor/Sharad-Kumar/nm0474886/ |url-status=live }}</ref>
}}

== Production ==
=== Development ===
The screenwriter pair [[Salim–Javed]], consisting of [[Salim Khan]] and [[Javed Akhtar]], began narrating the idea for ''Sholay'' as a four-line snippet to filmmakers in 1973.<ref name="open" />{{sfn|Chopra|2000|pp=22–28}} The idea was rejected by two producer/director teams, including directors [[Manmohan Desai]] and [[Prakash Mehra]].{{sfn|Chopra|2000|pp=22–28}} About six months after the release of ''[[Zanjeer (1973 film)|Zanjeer]]'' (1973),{{efn|name=Zanjeer|Salim-Javed won their first [[Filmfare Awards]] for ''Zanjeer'': [[Filmfare Award for Best Screenplay]] and [[Filmfare Award for Best Story|Best Story]] in [[21st Filmfare Awards|1974]].}} Salim-Javed contacted [[G. P. Sippy]] and his son [[Ramesh Sippy]],<ref name="open" /> and narrated the four-line snippet to them.{{sfn|Chopra|2000|pp=22–28}} Ramesh Sippy liked the concept of ''Sholay'' and hired them to develop it. The original idea of the film involved an army officer who decided to hire two ex-soldiers to avenge the murder of his family. The army officer was later changed to a policeman because Sippy felt that it would be difficult to get permission to shoot scenes depicting army activities. Salim-Javed completed the script in one month, incorporating names and personality traits of their friends and acquaintances.{{sfn|Chopra|2000|pp=22–28}} The film's script and dialogues are in [[Hindustani language|Hindustani]];<ref name="Cinar" /> Salim-Javed wrote the dialogues in [[Urdu script]], which was then transcribed by an assistant into [[Devanagari]] script so that Hindi readers could read the Urdu dialogues.<ref name="Akhtar" />

The film's plot was loosely styled after [[Akira Kurosawa]]'s 1954 [[samurai cinema]] film, ''[[Seven Samurai]]''.<ref name="nyt" /><ref name="rediff1" /> ''Sholay'' is a defining example of the [[Dacoit Western]] film, combining the conventions of Indian [[dacoit film]]s, especially [[Mehboob Khan]]'s ''[[Mother India]]'' (1957) and the [[Dilip Kumar]] and [[Nitin Bose]] film ''[[Gunga Jumna]]'' (1961),<ref name="Teo" /> with that of [[Western (genre)|Westerns]],<ref name="nyt" /><ref name="rediff1" /> especially [[Sergio Leone]]'s [[Spaghetti Western]]s such as ''[[Once Upon a Time in the West]]'' (1968) as well as ''[[The Magnificent Seven]]'' (1960).<ref name="rediff1" /> It also has some plot elements borrowed from the Indian films ''[[Mera Gaon Mera Desh]]'' (1971) and ''[[Khote Sikkay]]'' (1974).{{sfn|Chopra|2000|pp=22–28}} A scene depicting an attempted train robbery was inspired by a similar scene in ''Gunga Jumna'',<ref>{{Cite book |last=Ghosh |first=Tapan K. |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=0d6GAwAAQBAJ&pg=PA55 |title=Bollywood Baddies: Villains, Vamps and Henchmen in Hindi Cinema |date=2013 |publisher=[[SAGE Publishing|SAGE Publications]] |isbn=9788132113263 |page=55 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171130151204/https://books.google.com/books?id=0d6GAwAAQBAJ&pg=PA55 |archive-date=30 November 2017 |url-status=live}}</ref> and has also been compared to a similar scene in ''[[North West Frontier (film)|North West Frontier]]'' (1959).{{sfn|Varma|2010|pp=159–160}} A scene showing the massacre of Thakur's family has been compared with the massacre of the McBain family in ''Once Upon a Time in the West''.{{sfn|Heide|2002|p=52}} ''Sholay'' may have also been influenced by [[Sam Peckinpah]]'s Westerns, such as ''[[The Wild Bunch]]'' (1969) and ''[[Pat Garrett and Billy the Kid]]'' (1973), and [[George Roy Hill]]'s ''[[Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid]]'' (1969).<ref>{{Cite web |date=22 June 2009 |title=Bollywood continues to lift from Hollywood scripts |url=http://www.sify.com/movies/bollywood-continues-to-lift-from-hollywood-scripts-news-bollywood-kkfrNmejhbc.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101205195840/http://sify.com/movies/bollywood-continues-to-lift-from-hollywood-scripts-news-bollywood-kkfrNmejhbc.html |archive-date=5 December 2010 |access-date=22 December 2010 |website=[[Sify]]}}</ref>

The character [[Gabbar Singh (character)|Gabbar Singh]] was modelled on a real-life dacoit [[Gabbar Singh Gujjar]] who had menaced the villages around [[Gwalior]] in the 1950s. Any policeman captured by Gujjar had his ears and nose cut off, and was released as a warning to other policemen.{{sfn|Khan|1981|pp=88–89, 98}}{{sfn|Chopra|2000|p=26}} The fictional Gabbar was also influenced by larger-than-life characters in Pakistani author [[Ibn-e-Safi]]'s [[Urdu literature|Urdu novels]],<ref>{{Cite news |date=10 July 2011 |title=Urdu pulp fiction: Where Gabbar Singh and Mogambo came from |work=[[Daily News and Analysis]] |url=https://www.dnaindia.com/lifestyle/review-urdu-pulp-fiction-where-gabbar-singh-and-mogambo-came-from-1564148 |access-date=3 June 2019 |archive-date=3 June 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190603155106/https://www.dnaindia.com/lifestyle/review-urdu-pulp-fiction-where-gabbar-singh-and-mogambo-came-from-1564148 |url-status=live }}</ref> Dilip Kumar's dacoit character Gunga from the film ''Gunga Jumna'' who speaks with a similar mixed [[Kauravi dialect|Khariboli]] and [[Awadhi language|Awadhi]] dialect,<ref>{{Cite web |last=Chopra |first=Anupama |date=11 August 2015 |title=Shatrughan Sinha as Jai, Pran as Thakur and Danny as Gabbar? What 'Sholay' could have been |url=https://scroll.in/article/745687/shatrughan-sinha-as-jai-pran-as-thakur-and-danny-as-gabbar-what-sholay-could-have-been |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151108092131/http://scroll.in/article/745687/shatrughan-sinha-as-jai-pran-as-thakur-and-danny-as-gabbar-what-sholay-could-have-been |archive-date=8 November 2015 |website=Scroll}}</ref> and villains from Sergio Leone's films.{{sfn|Chopra|2000|p=34}} Sippy wanted to do away with the clichéd idea of a man becoming a dacoit due to societal issues, as was the case in other films, and focused on Gabbar being an emblem of pure evil. To emphasise the point of Gabbar being a new type of villain, Sippy avoided the typical tropes of dacoits wearing [[dhoti]]s and [[Pagri (turban)|pagris]] and sporting a [[Tilaka|tika]] and worshipping "[[Bhavani|Ma Bhavani]]"; Gabbar would be wearing [[Military uniform|army fatigues]].{{sfn|Chopra|2000|p=38}} The look of the character of the jailer, played by [[Asrani]] was influenced by [[Adolf Hitler]]. Javed Akhtar brought a book on [[World War II]] which had several pictures of Hitler posing to set the typical posture of the character in the film. Asrani spiced up his character with some ideas about Hitler's speech delivery he had heard from a teacher in [[Film and Television Institute of India|FTII]]. The trademark 'Ha Ha' at the end of his monologues was inspired by a similar performance by [[Jack Lemmon]] in ''[[The Great Race]]''.{{sfn|Chopra|2000|p=37}}{{sfn|Banerjea|2005|p=183}} Soorma Bhopali, a minor [[comic relief]] character, was based on an acquaintance of actor Jagdeep, a forest officer from [[Bhopal]] named Soorma. The real-life Soorma eventually threatened to press charges when people who had viewed the film began referring to him as a woodcutter.<ref>{{Cite web |date=13 February 2013 |title=How 'Soorma Bhopali' and 'Calendar' were created! |url=https://www.bollywoodhungama.com/news/features/how-soorma-bhopali-and-calendar-were-created/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161121104754/http://www.bollywoodhungama.com/news/features/how-soorma-bhopali-and-calendar-were-created/ |archive-date=21 November 2016 |access-date=24 April 2013 |website=[[Bollywood Hungama]]}}</ref> The main characters' names, Jai and Veeru, mean "victory" and "heroism" in Hindi.{{sfn|Hogan|2008|p=90}}

=== Casting ===
The producers considered [[Danny Denzongpa]] for the role of Gabbar Singh, but he could not accept it as he was committed to act in [[Feroz Khan (actor, born 1939)|Feroz Khan]]'s ''[[Dharmatma]]'' (1975), under production at the same time.<ref>{{Cite news |date=30 August 2008 |title=Danny Denzongpa's loss |work=[[The Times of India]] |url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/hindi/bollywood/did-you-know-/Danny-Denzongpas-loss/articleshow/3422978.cms |access-date=26 January 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141113081159/http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/hindi/bollywood/did-you-know-/Danny-Denzongpas-loss/articleshow/3422978.cms |archive-date=13 November 2014}}</ref> Amjad Khan, who was the second choice, prepared himself for the part by reading the book ''Abhishapta Chambal'', which told of the exploits of [[Chambal division|Chambal]] dacoits. The book was written by Taroon Kumar Bhaduri, the father of fellow cast member Jaya Bhaduri.{{sfn|Chopra|2000|p=60}} Sanjeev Kumar also wanted to play the role of Gabbar Singh, but Salim-Javed "felt he had the audience's sympathy through roles he'd done before; Gabbar had to be completely hateful."<ref name="open" />

Sippy wanted [[Shatrughan Sinha]] to play the part of Jai, but there were already several big stars signed, and Amitabh Bachchan, who was not very popular yet, lobbied hard to get the part for himself.{{sfn|Chopra|2000|pp=22–28}} He was cast after Salim-Javed recommended him for ''Sholay'' in 1973; Bachchan's performance in their first collaboration, ''Zanjeer'', convinced Salim-Javed he was the right actor for the part.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Chaudhuri |first=Diptakirti |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Cri9CgAAQBAJ&pg=PT93 |title=Written by Salim-Javed: The Story of Hindi Cinema's Greatest Screenwriters |date=2015 |publisher=[[Penguin Group]] |isbn=9789352140084 |page=93 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171130151204/https://books.google.com/books?id=Cri9CgAAQBAJ&pg=PT93 |archive-date=30 November 2017 |url-status=live}}</ref> Salim-Javed were also impressed with Bachchan's performance in ''[[Raaste Kaa Patthar]]'' (1972), and at Bachchan's request, Dharmendra had personally put in a word for him. All these factors ensured that the role was Bachchan's.{{sfn|Chopra|2000|p=31}}

As cast members had read the script ahead of time, many were interested in playing different parts. [[Pran (actor)|Pran]] was considered for the role of Thakur Baldev Singh, but Sippy thought Sanjeev Kumar was a better choice.{{sfn|Chopra|2000|pp=31–32}} Initially, Salim-Javed approached [[Dilip Kumar]] to play Thakur's role, but he turned down the offer; Dilip Kumar later said it was one of the few films he regretted turning down.<ref name="open" /> Initially, Dharmendra was also interested to play the role of Thakur. He eventually gave up the role when Sippy informed him that Sanjeev Kumar would play Veeru if that happened, and would thus be paired with Hema Malini, who Dharmendra was trying to woo. Dharmendra knew that Kumar was also interested in Malini.{{sfn|Chopra|2000|pp=35–36}} Malini was reluctant to play the role of a ''tangewali'', more so after Sippy told her that the film belongs to Sanjeev Kumar and Amjad Khan, but she trusted Sippy to give her a meaty role, given that he had played a huge role in essaying her stardom through their previous collaborations.{{sfn|Chopra|2000|p=30}}

During the film's production, four of the leads became romantically involved.<ref name="rediff1" /> Bachchan married Bhaduri four months before filming started. This led to shooting delays when Bhaduri became pregnant with their daughter [[Shweta Bachchan Nanda|Shweta]]. By the time the film released, she was pregnant with their son [[Abhishek Bachchan|Abhishek]]. Dharmendra had begun courting Malini during their earlier film ''[[Seeta Aur Geeta]]'' (1972), also directed by Sippy, and used the location shoot of ''Sholay'' to further pursue her. During their romantic scenes, Dharmendra would often pay the light boys to spoil the shot, thereby ensuring many retakes which would allow him to spend more time with her. The couple married five years after the film's release.{{sfn|Chopra|2000|pp=91–105}}

=== Filming ===
[[File:Ramdevarabetta.jpg|thumb|Ramdevarabetta, near the town of [[Ramanagara]]; much of ''Sholay'' was shot in rocky locations such as this.|alt=A rocky outcrop such as those used in filming Sholay]]

Much of ''Sholay'' was shot in the rocky terrain of [[Ramanagara]], a town near [[Bangalore]], [[Karnataka]].<ref>{{Cite news |last=Prabhu |first=Nagesh |date=29 August 2019 |title=The hills around Bengaluru are alive with the sound of tourists |language=en-IN |work=The Hindu |url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/bangalore/the-hills-around-bengaluru-are-alive-with-the-sound-of-tourists/article29292458.ece |access-date=3 February 2020 |issn=0971-751X |archive-date=3 February 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200203014051/https://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/bangalore/the-hills-around-bengaluru-are-alive-with-the-sound-of-tourists/article29292458.ece |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=22 June 2007 |title=Ramgarh of Sholay to become district |work=The Times of India |url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/bengaluru/Ramgarh-of-Sholay-to-become-district/articleshow/2140172.cms? |url-status=live |access-date=23 December 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151013005634/http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/bengaluru/Ramgarh-of-Sholay-to-become-district/articleshow/2140172.cms |archive-date=13 October 2015}}</ref> The filmmakers had to build a road from the Bangalore highway to Ramanagara for convenient access to the sets.{{sfn|Chopra|2000|p=45}} Art director Ram Yedekar had an entire township built on the site. A prison set was constructed near [[Rajkamal Studios]] in [[Bombay]], also outdoors, to match the natural lighting of the on-location sets.{{sfn|Roy|2003|p=225}} One part of Ramanagara was for a time called "Sippy Nagar" as a tribute to the director of the film.<ref>{{Cite web |date=30 December 1999 |title='We are not remaking ''Sholay''...' |url=http://www.rediff.com/entertai/1999/dec/30sholay.htm |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131021153903/http://www.rediff.com/entertai/1999/dec/30sholay.htm |archive-date=21 October 2013 |access-date=20 April 2013 |publisher=Rediff}}</ref> {{As of|2010}}, a visit to the "Sholay rocks" (where much of the film was shot) was still being offered to tourists travelling through Ramanagara.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Mekkad |first=Salil |date=19 June 2010 |title=Sholay ka Ramgarh |work=[[Hindustan Times]] |url=http://www.hindustantimes.com/art-and-culture/sholay-ka-ramgarh/story-wFY6D54CpoRCtuqPKhk2LL.html |url-status=live |access-date=27 September 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151005114908/http://www.hindustantimes.com/art-and-culture/sholay-ka-ramgarh/story-wFY6D54CpoRCtuqPKhk2LL.html |archive-date=5 October 2015}}</ref>

Filming began on location on 3 October 1973, with a scene featuring Bachchan and Bhaduri.{{sfn|Chopra|2000|p=64}} The film had a lavish production for its time (with frequent banquets and parties for the cast),{{sfn|Chopra|2000|pp=66–67}} took two and a half years to make, and went over budget. One reason for its high cost was that Sippy re-filmed scenes many times to get his desired effect. "Yeh Dosti", a 5-minute song sequence, took 21 days to shoot, two short scenes in which Radha lights lamps took 20 days to film because of lighting problems, and the shooting of the scene in which Gabbar kills the imam's son lasted 19 days.{{sfn|Chopra|2000|pp=77–79}} The train robbery sequence, shot on the [[Mumbai–Pune Shatabdi Express|Bombay–Poona railway]] route near [[Panvel]], took more than 7 weeks to complete.<ref>{{Cite news |last=[[Indo-Asian News Service|IANS]] |date=4 August 2010 |title=Sholay continues to smoulder |work=Pune Mirror |url=http://punemirror.in/index.aspx?page=article&sectid=2&contentid=20100804201008040006534547ec622a7&sectxslt=&pageno=1 |access-date=6 December 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120311160806/http://punemirror.in/index.aspx?page=article&sectid=2&contentid=20100804201008040006534547ec622a7&sectxslt=&pageno=1 |archive-date=11 March 2012}}</ref>

''Sholay'' was the first Indian film to have a [[Stereophonic sound|stereophonic]] soundtrack and to use the [[70 mm film|70 mm]] [[widescreen]] format.<ref name="ndtv" /> However, since actual 70 mm cameras were expensive at the time, the film was shot on traditional [[35 mm movie film|35 mm film]] and the [[4:3|4:3 picture]] was subsequently converted to a 2.2:1 frame.<ref name="DVD" /> Regarding the process, Sippy said, "A 70 mm ''[sic]'' format takes the awe of the big screen and magnifies it even more to make the picture even bigger, but since I also wanted a spread of sound we used six-track stereophonic sound and combined it with the big screen. It was definitely a differentiator."<ref>{{Cite news |last=Raghavendra |first=Nandini |date=10 April 2010 |title=3D effect: Back to 70 mm screens? |work=[[The Economic Times]] |url=http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/industry/media/entertainment/3d-effect-back-to-70mm-screens/articleshow/5780184.cms |url-status=live |access-date=30 December 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170213005654/http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/industry/media/entertainment/3d-effect-back-to-70mm-screens/articleshow/5780184.cms |archive-date=13 February 2017}}</ref> The use of 70 mm was emphasised by film posters on which the name of the film was stylised to match the [[CinemaScope]] logo. Film posters also sought to differentiate the film from those which had come before; one of them added the [[tagline]]: "The greatest star cast ever assembled – the greatest story ever told".<ref>{{Cite web |last=Mazumdar, Ranjani |title=The Man Who Was Seen Too Much: Amitabh Bachchan on Film Posters (The Poster As Preview) |url=http://www.tasveergharindia.net/cmsdesk/essay/106/index_1.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150512142358/http://www.tasveergharindia.net/cmsdesk/essay/106/index_1.html |archive-date=12 May 2015 |access-date=9 May 2013 |publisher=Tasveer Ghar}}</ref>

== Themes and interpretations ==
Scholars have noted several themes in the film, such as [[Heroic bloodshed|glorification of violence]], conformation to [[Indian feudalism|feudal ethos]], debate between [[social order]] and mobilised usurpers, [[Homosociality|homosocial]] bonding, and the film's role as a [[National personification|national allegory]].<ref>For glorification of violence, see Wimal Dissanayake, Malti Sahai, ''Sholay: A Cultural Reading (Delhi: Wiley Eastern, 1992)'', 115-19. {{ISBN|8122403948}}; for feudal ethos, see Hrishikesh Ingle, "Regionalist Disjuncture in Bollywood", in Vikrant Kishore et al., eds., ''Salaam Bollywood: Representations and interpretations'' (London: Routledge, 2016), 202. {{ISBN|1317232852}}; on social order/disorder, see Dissanayake, "The Concepts of Evil and Social Order in Indian Melodrama: An Evolving Dialect", in ''Melodrama and Asian Cinema'', ed. Dissanayake (Cambridge Univ. Press, 1993); on homosocial bonding, Dinah Holtzman, "Between ''Yaars'': The Queering of ''Dost'' in Contemporary Bollywood Films", in Rini Bhattacharya et al., eds., ''Bollywood and Globalization: Indian Popular Cinema, Nation, and Diaspora'' (London: Anthem Press, 2011), 118-22. {{ISBN|0857288970}}; as national allegory, John Hutnyk, ''Global South Asia on Screen'' (NY: Bloomsbury Publishing USA, 2018), 206. {{ISBN|1501324985}}.</ref>

Koushik Banerjea, a sociologist in the [[London School of Economics]], notes that ''Sholay'' exhibits a "sympathetic construction of 'rogue' [[masculinity]]" exemplified by the likeable [[outlaw]]s Jai and Veeru.{{sfn|Banerjea|2005|p=164}} Banerjea argues during the film, the moral boundary between [[legality]] and [[Crime|criminality]] gradually erodes.{{sfn|Banerjea|2005|pp=177–179}} Film scholar Wimal Dissanayake agrees that the film brought "a new stage in the evolving dialectic between violence and social order" to Indian cinema.{{sfn|Dissanayake|1993|p=199}} Film scholar M. Madhava Prasad states that Jai and Veeru represent a [[Social exclusion|marginalised]] population that is introduced into conventional society.{{sfn|Prasad|1998|pp=156–160}} Prasad says that, through the elements of revenge included in the plot and the application of Jai and Veeru's criminality for the greater good, the narrative reflects reactionary politics, and the audience is compelled to accept [[Feudalism|feudal order]].{{sfn|Prasad|1998|pp=156–160}} Banerjea explains that though Jai and Veeru are [[Mercenary|mercenaries]], they are humanised by their emotional needs. Such dualism makes them vulnerable, in contrast to the pure evil of [[Gabbar Singh (character)|Gabbar Singh]].{{sfn|Banerjea|2005|pp=177–179}}

Gabbar Singh, the film's antagonist, was well received by the audience, despite his pervasive sadistic cruelty.{{sfn|Dissanayake|1993|p=199}} Dissanayake explains that the audience was fascinated by the dialogues and mannerisms of the character, and this element of spectacle outweighed his actions, a first for Indian melodrama.{{sfn|Dissanayake|1993|p=199}} He notes that the picturisation of violence in the film was glamourised and uninhibited.{{sfn|Dissanayake|1993|p=200}} He further notes that, unlike earlier melodramas in which the [[Male gaze|female body occupies the audience's attention]] as an object of male fetish, in ''Sholay'', the male body becomes the centrepiece. It becomes the battleground where [[good and evil]] compete for supremacy.{{sfn|Dissanayake|1993|p=200}} Dissanayake argues that ''Sholay'' can be viewed as a national allegory: it lacks a comforting logical narrative, it shows social stability being repeatedly challenged, and it shows the devaluation of human life resulting from a lack of emotions. Taken together, these elements comprise the allegorical representation of India.{{sfn|Dissanayake|1993|p=201}} The narrative style of ''Sholay'', with its violence, revenge, and [[vigilante]] action, is occasionally compared by scholars to the political unrest in India at the time of its release. This tension culminated in [[the Emergency (India)|the Emergency]] ([[rule by decree]]) declared by prime minister [[Indira Gandhi]] in 1975.{{sfnm|1a1=Hayward|1y=2006|1pp=63–64|2a1=Holtzman|2y=2011|2p=118}}

Dissanayeke and Sahai note that, although the film was influenced by the [[Western film|Hollywood Western genre]], particularly in its visuals, it was successfully "Indianised".{{sfnm|1a1=Dissanayake|1a2=Sahai|1y=1992|1p=125|2a1=Dissanayake|2y=1993|2p=197}} As an example, William van der Heide has compared a massacre scene in ''Sholay'' with a similar scene in ''Once Upon a Time in the West''. Although both films were similar in technical style, ''Sholay'' emphasised Indian family values and melodramatic tradition, while the Western was more materialistic and restrained in its approach.{{sfn|Heide|2002|p=52}} [[Maithili Rao]], in ''Encyclopedia of Hindi Cinema'', notes that ''Sholay'' infuses the style of the Western genre into a "feudalistic ethos".{{sfn|Rao|2003|p=95}} Ted Shen of the ''[[Chicago Reader]]'' notes ''Sholay''{{'}}s "hysterical visual style" and intermittent "populist message".<ref name="shen chic reader" /> Cultural critic and Islamic scholar [[Ziauddin Sardar]] lampoons the film in his book ''The Secret Politics of Our Desires: Innocence, Culpability and Indian Popular Cinema'', both for its caricature and stereotyping of Muslim and women characters, and for what he calls mockery of innocent villagers.{{sfn|Sardar|1998|pp=48–49}} Sardar notes that the two most prominent Muslim characters in the film are Soorma Bhopali (a buffoonish criminal), and an impotent victim of the bandits (the imam). Meanwhile, the sole function of one female character (Radha) is to suffer her fate in silence, while the other female lead (Basanti) is just a garrulous village belle.{{sfn|Sardar|1998|pp=48–49}}

Some scholars have indicated that ''Sholay'' contains [[Homosociality|homosocial]] themes.<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Gopinath |first=G. |year=2000 |title=Queering Bollywood |journal=Journal of Homosexuality |volume=39 |issue=3–4 |pages=283–297 |doi=10.1300/J082v39n03_13 |pmid=11133137 |s2cid=24260497}}</ref><ref>{{Cite journal |last=Anjaria |first=U. |year=2012 |title='Relationships which have no name': Family and sexuality in 1970s popular film |journal=South Asian Popular Culture |volume=10 |pages=23–35 |doi=10.1080/14746689.2012.655103 |s2cid=145145328}}</ref> Ted Shen describes the male bonding shown in the film as bordering on [[Camp (style)|camp style]].<ref name="shen chic reader" /> Dina Holtzman, in her book ''Bollywood and Globalization: Indian Popular Cinema, Nation, and Diaspora'', states that the death of Jai, and resultant break of bonding between the two male leads, is necessary for the sake of establishing a [[Normativity|normative]] [[Heterosexuality|heterosexual]] relationship (that of Veeru and Basanti).{{sfn|Holtzman|2011|pp=111–113}}

== Music ==
{{Infobox album
| name = Sholay
| type = soundtrack
| artist = [[R. D. Burman]]
| cover =
| alt =
| released = {{Start date|1975}}
| recorded =1975
| venue =
| studio =
| genre = {{flatlist|
* [[Bollywood music]]
* [[Film soundtrack|Feature film soundtrack]]
}}
| length = {{Duration|m=28|s=59}}
| label = [[Universal Music India]] [[Polydor Records]]
| producer = [[R. D. Burman]]
| prev_title =[[Kala Sona]]
| prev_year =1975
| next_title =[[Dharam Karam]]
| next_year = 1975
}}
[[R. D. Burman]] composed the film's music, and the lyrics were written by [[Anand Bakshi]]. The songs used in the film, and released on the original soundtrack are listed below.<ref>{{Cite web |date=January 1975 |title=Sholay (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack) – EP |url=https://music.apple.com/us/album/sholay-original-motion-picture/182708988 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140616161449/https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/sholay-original-motion-picture/id182708988 |archive-date=16 June 2014 |access-date=23 April 2013 |publisher=[[iTunes Store]]}}</ref> Following that is a list of unused tracks and dialogues which were released later on an updated soundtrack.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Sholay (Indian Film Soundtrack) |url=https://www.amazon.com/Sholay-Indian-Soundtrack-Amitabh-Bachchan/dp/B0014KWOX6 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140223142052/http://www.amazon.com/Sholay-Indian-Soundtrack-Amitabh-Bachchan/dp/B0014KWOX6 |archive-date=23 February 2014 |access-date=23 April 2013 |website=Amazon}}</ref>

[[Kishore Kumar]], [[Lata Mangeshkar]] and [[Manna Dey]] performed vocals for Dharmendra, Malini and Bachchan, respectively.

The song "Mehbooba Mehbooba" was sung by its composer, R. D. Burman, who received his sole [[Filmfare Award for Best Male Playback Singer#1970s|Filmfare Award nomination for playback singing]] for his effort. The song, which is often featured on Bollywood hit song compilations,<ref>{{Cite web |title=The Best of Bollywood |url=https://www.amazon.com/Best-Bollywood-Various-Artists/dp/B0000931PU |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161121041851/https://www.amazon.com/Best-Bollywood-Various-Artists/dp/B0000931PU |archive-date=21 November 2016 |access-date=22 December 2010 |website=Amazon}}</ref> is based on "Say You Love Me" by Greek singer [[Demis Roussos]].{{sfn|Varma|2010|pp=159–160}}

"Mehbooba Mehbooba" has been extensively anthologised, remixed, and recreated.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Sholay |url=http://www.desiclub.com/bollywood/sndtrk_reviews/sndtrk_review.cfm?id=116 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131021151955/http://www.desiclub.com/bollywood/sndtrk_reviews/sndtrk_review.cfm?id=116 |archive-date=21 October 2013 |access-date=11 September 2006 |publisher=Desiclub}}</ref> A version was created in 2005 by the [[Kronos Quartet]] for their [[Grammy Awards|Grammy]]-nominated album ''[[You've Stolen My Heart]]'', featuring [[Asha Bhosle]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Dye |first=David |date=5 October 2005 |title=Kronos Quartet's ''Stolen Heart'' with Asha Bhosle |url=https://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=4946448 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101126154057/http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=4946448 |archive-date=26 November 2010 |access-date=18 December 2010 |publisher=[[NPR]]}}</ref> It was also remixed and sung by [[Himesh Reshammiya]], along with Bhosle, in his debut acting film ''[[Aap Kaa Surroor (film)|Aap Kaa Surroor]]'' (2007). "Yeh Dosti" has been called the ultimate friendship anthem.<ref>{{Cite news |date=26 July 2011 |title=A journey of friendship. |work=[[The Mercury (South Africa)|The Mercury]] |url=http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-273006124.html |url-status=dead |access-date=25 April 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131105225429/http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-273006124.html |archive-date=5 November 2013 |quote=The song Yeh Dosti (This Friendship) glorified male bonding and is, even today, viewed as the ultimate friendship anthem.}} {{link note|note=Partial story rendition from HighBeam.com archive.}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Kassam, Farzaneh Janasheen |date=4 April 2008 |title=BOLLY beats |work=[[Eastern Eye]] |url=http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P3-1473332191.html |url-status=dead |access-date=25 April 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131105225426/http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P3-1473332191.html |archive-date=5 November 2013 |quote=And who can forget the song Yeh Dosti, which is the ultimate homage to friendship?}} {{link note|note=Partial story rendition from HighBeam.com archive.}}</ref> It was remixed and sung by [[Shankar Mahadevan]] and [[Udit Narayan]] for the 2010 Malayalam film ''[[Four Friends (2010 film)|Four Friends]]'',<ref>{{Cite web |last=Padma |first=Reshmi |date=28 October 2010 |title=Kamal Haasan is the highlight of Four Friends |url=http://movies.rediff.com/slide-show/2010/oct/28/slide-show-1-south-saji-surendran-on-four-friends.htm |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120113005858/http://movies.rediff.com/slide-show/2010/oct/28/slide-show-1-south-saji-surendran-on-four-friends.htm |archive-date=13 January 2012 |access-date=24 February 2012 |publisher=Rediff}}</ref> and also in 2010 it was used to symbolise India's friendship with the United States during a visit from President [[Barack Obama]].<ref>{{Cite news |date=8 November 2010 |title=Sholay's 'ye dosti...' number for Obama at President's banquet |work=The Times of India |url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Sholays-ye-dosti-number-for-Obama-at-Presidents-banquet/articleshow/6890880.cms |url-status=live |access-date=19 April 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101111104128/http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Sholays-ye-dosti-number-for-Obama-at-Presidents-banquet/articleshow/6890880.cms |archive-date=11 November 2010}}</ref>

Several songs from the soundtrack made it to the annual ''[[Binaca Geetmala]]'' list of top [[filmi]] songs. "Mehbooba Mehooba" was listed at No. 24 on the [[Binaca Geetmala annual list 1975|1975 list]], and at No. 6 on the [[Binaca Geetmala annual list 1976|1976 list]]. "Koi Haseena" was listed at No. 30 in 1975, and No. 20 in 1976. "Yeh Dosti" was listed at No. 9 in 1976.{{sfn|Morcom|2007|p=209}} Despite the soundtrack's success, at the time, the songs from ''Sholay'' attracted less attention than the film's dialogue—a rarity for Hindi language films. The producers were thus prompted to release records with only dialogue.{{sfn|Chopra|2000|p=170}}<ref>{{Cite news |last=Miglani |first=Surendra |date=17 July 2005 |title=Lines that linger |work=[[The Tribune (Chandigarh)|The Tribune]] |url=http://www.tribuneindia.com/2005/20050717/spectrum/main6.htm |url-status=live |access-date=14 December 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110605215537/http://www.tribuneindia.com/2005/20050717/spectrum/main6.htm |archive-date=5 June 2011}}</ref> Taken together, the album sales reached an unprecedented 500,000 units.{{sfn|Chopra|2000|p=180}} By 1979, the soundtrack went [[Indian Music Industry|Platinum]]<ref>{{Cite journal |date=1979 |title=Sûrya India |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=MUvoAAAAMAAJ |journal=Sûrya India |publisher=A. Anand. |volume=3 |issue=2 |page=61 |quote=Six years after the movie was released, 'Sholay' is still going strong. Polydor records has won a platinum disc for the sale of the 'Sholay' record — the first time such a disc has been awarded in the 75- year-old history of the Indian record industry. |access-date=9 December 2018 |archive-date=19 August 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200819145853/https://books.google.com/books?id=MUvoAAAAMAAJ |url-status=live }}</ref> (equivalent to 1{{nbsp}}million sales at the time),<ref>{{Cite magazine |date=18 July 1981 |title=International |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=rSQEAAAAMBAJ&pg=PT69 |magazine=[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]] |publisher=[[Nielsen Business Media]] |volume=93 |issue=28 |page=69 |access-date=9 December 2018 |archive-date=19 August 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200819211107/https://books.google.com/books?id=rSQEAAAAMBAJ&pg=PT69 |url-status=live }}</ref> becoming one of the top-selling [[Bollywood soundtrack]]s of the 1970s.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Music Hits 1970–1979 |url=http://www.boxofficeindia.com/showProd.php?itemCat=282&catName=MTk3MC0xOTc5 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080215081540/http://www.boxofficeindia.com/showProd.php?itemCat=282&catName=MTk3MC0xOTc5&PHPSESSID=108b9056cd4ca14236f9c6119d34dcce |archive-date=15 February 2008 |access-date=2 September 2013 |publisher=[[Box Office India]]}}</ref>

Music critic Oli Marlow reviewed the soundtrack in 2013, calling it a unique fusion of religious, folk, and classical music, with influences from around the world. He also commented on the sound design of the film, calling it psychedelic, and saying that there was "a lot of incredible incidental music" in the film that was not included in the soundtrack releases.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Marlow, Oli |date=14 January 2013 |title=Vouch: Geiom on RD Burman's Sholay |url=http://www.sonicrouter.com/2013/01/vouch-geiom-on-rd-burmans-sholay/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130730093512/http://www.sonicrouter.com/2013/01/vouch-geiom-on-rd-burmans-sholay/ |archive-date=30 July 2013 |access-date=13 June 2013 |publisher=The Sonic Router}}</ref> In a 1999 paper submitted to London's Symposium on Sound in Cinema, film critic Shoma A. Chatterji said, "''Sholay'' offers a model lesson on how sound can be used to signify the terror a character evokes. ''Sholay'' is also exemplary in its use of soundmatching to jump cut to a different scene and time, without breaking the continuity of the narrative, yet, intensifying the drama."<ref>{{Cite web |last=Chatterji, Shoma A. |date=15 April 1999 |title=The Culture-specific Use of Sound in Indian Cinema |url=http://www.filmsound.org/india/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130606223140/http://filmsound.org/india/ |archive-date=6 June 2013 |access-date=13 June 2013 |publisher=FilmSound.org}}</ref>

{{Track listing
| headline = Original Motion Picture Soundtrack
| extra_column = Singer(s)
| title1 = Title Music (Sholay) | note1 = [[Instrumental]] | length1 = 02:46
| title2 = Yeh Dosti | extra2 = [[Kishore Kumar]] and [[Manna Dey]] | length2 = 05:21
| title3 = Haa Jab Tak Hai Jaan | extra3 = [[Lata Mangeshkar]] | length3 = 05:26
| title4 = Koi Haseena | extra4 = Kishore Kumar and [[Hema Malini]] | length4 = 04:00
| title5 = Holi Ke Din | extra5 = Kishore Kumar and Lata Mangeshkar | length5 = 05:42
| title6 = Mehbooba Mehbooba | extra6 = R. D. Burman | length6 = 03:54
| title7 = Yeh Dosti | note7 = sad version | extra7 = Kishore Kumar | length7 = 01:49
}}
{{Track listing
| headline = Bonus tracks — Released later
| extra_column = Singers / Speakers
| title8 = Ke Chand Sa Koi Chehra | note8 = [[Qawwali]] | extra8 = Kishore Kumar, Manna Dey, [[Bhupinder Singh (musician)|Bhupinder Singh]], [[Anand Bakshi]] | length8 = {{dash}}
| title9 = Veeru Ki Sagai | note9 = dialogues | extra9 = Hema Malini, Dharmendra, Amitabh Bachchan | length9 = {{dash}}
| title10 = Gabbar Singh | note10 = dialogues | extra10 = Amjad Khan, Sanjeev Kumar, Dharmendra | length10 = {{dash}}
}}

== Release ==
=== Box office ===
''Sholay'' was released on 15 August 1975, [[Independence Day (India)|Indian Independence Day]], in Bombay. Due to lackluster reviews and a lack of effective visual marketing tools, it saw poor financial returns in its first two weeks. From the third week, however, viewership picked up owing to positive [[word of mouth]].{{sfn|Chopra|2000|p=169}} During the initial slow period, the director and writer considered re-shooting some scenes so that Amitabh Bachchan's character would not die. When business picked up, they abandoned this idea.{{sfn|Chopra|2000|p=164}} After being helped additionally by a soundtrack release containing dialogue snippets,{{sfn|Banerjea|2005|pp=177–179}} ''Sholay'' soon became an "overnight sensation".<ref name="ndtv" /> The film was then released in other distribution zones such as [[Delhi]], [[Uttar Pradesh]], [[West Bengal|Bengal]], and [[Hyderabad district, India|Hyderabad]] on 11 October 1975.{{sfn|Chopra|2000|p=173}} It became the highest-grossing [[Hindi film|Hindi language film]] of 1975, and film ranking website [[Box Office India]] has given the film a verdict of ''All Time Blockbuster''.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Box Office 1975 |url=http://boxofficeindia.com/showProd.php?itemCat=181&catName=MTk3NQ== |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131020122136/http://boxofficeindia.com/showProd.php?itemCat=181&catName=MTk3NQ%3D%3D |archive-date=20 October 2013 |access-date=12 October 2012 |publisher=Box Office India}}</ref>

''Sholay'' went on to earn a still-standing record of 60 golden jubilees{{efn|A golden jubilee means that a film has completed 50 consecutive weeks of showing in a single theatre.}} across India,<ref name="ndtv" /> and was the first film in India to celebrate a silver jubilee{{efn|A silver jubilee means that a film has completed 25 consecutive weeks of showing in a single theatre.}} at over 100 theatres.<ref name="ndtv" /> It was shown continuously at Bombay's Minerva theatre for over five years.<ref name="nyt" /> ''Sholay'' was the Indian film with the longest theatrical run until ''[[Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge]]'' (1995) broke its record of 286 weeks in 2001.{{sfn|Elliott|Payne|Ploesch|2007 |p=54}}<ref name="telegraph" />

According to Box Office India, ''Sholay'' earned about {{INR|150 million|link=yes}} in net income{{efn|name=nettgross|According to the website Box Office India, film tickets are subject to "[[entertainment tax]]" in India, and this tax is added to the ticket price at the box office window of theatres. The amount of this tax is variable among [[States and territories of India|states]]. "Nett gross figures are always after this tax has been deducted while gross figures are before this tax has been deducted." Although since 2003, the entertainment tax rate has significantly decreased; as of 2010, gross earnings can be 30–35% higher than net gross, depending on the states where the film is released.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Box Office in India Explained |url=http://www.boxofficeindia.com/showProd.php?itemCat=315&catName=UmVhZCBNb3Jl |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131020180004/http://www.boxofficeindia.com/showProd.php?itemCat=315&catName=UmVhZCBNb3Jl |archive-date=20 October 2013 |access-date=14 May 2013 |publisher=Box Office India}}</ref>}} (valued at about US$16,778,000 in 1975){{efn|name=exchange}} in India during its first run, which was many times its {{INR|link=Indian rupee}}35 million budget.<ref name="Boi70s" /><ref name="budget"/> Those earnings in India were a record that remained unbroken for nineteen years, which is also the longest amount of time that a film has held [[List of highest-grossing Indian films#Highest-grossing films by year|the record]] for being the highest grossing film in India. Its original gross was increased further with re-releases during the late 1970s, 1980s, 1990s, and early 2000s.<ref>{{Cite web |title=About Inflation Figures – BOI |url=http://boxofficeindia.com/showProd.php?itemCat=323&catName=QWJvdXQgSW5mbGF0aW9uIERhdGE= |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140106184319/http://boxofficeindia.com/showProd.php?itemCat=323&catName=QWJvdXQgSW5mbGF0aW9uIERhdGE%3D |archive-date=6 January 2014 |access-date=24 February 2012 |publisher=Box Office India}}</ref> The film's total gross revenue in India amounted to {{INR|350 million}}<ref name="indiatoday" />{{sfn|Chopra|2000|p=139|loc=Epilogue: ''Yaah Rakkhunga, Tujhe Yaad Rakkunga''}} ({{US$|39.15 million|long=no}}).{{efn|name=exchange}} Box Office India estimates the film's total footfalls in India as over 100{{nbsp}}million tickets sold.<ref name="footfalls" /> The film was also an [[List of highest-grossing Indian films in overseas markets|overseas success]] in the [[Soviet Union]], where it was released in 1979.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Rajagopalan |first=Sudha |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=cpoLAQAAMAAJ |title=Indian Films in Soviet Cinemas: The Culture of Movie-going After Stalin |date=2005 |publisher=[[Indiana University Press]] |isbn=978-0-253-22099-8 |page=191 |quote=One of his films, screened successfully in the Soviet Union, was Sholay. Sholay (Embers/Mesf i zakon; 1979), made in 1975, is an adventure film and 'India's best-known "curry" western patterned on Italian westerns'. |access-date=25 January 2019 |archive-date=26 June 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190626205210/https://books.google.com/books?id=cpoLAQAAMAAJ |url-status=live }}</ref> The film sold 48.4{{nbsp}}million tickets during its initial run at the [[List of Soviet films of the year by ticket sales|Soviet box office]],<ref>{{Cite news |date=16 December 2011 |title=Афиша Воздух: "Месть и закон" |work=[[Afisha]] |url=https://daily.afisha.ru/archive/vozduh/archive/gorelov-sholay/ |access-date=11 December 2018 |archive-date=15 December 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181215172357/https://daily.afisha.ru/archive/vozduh/archive/gorelov-sholay/ |url-status=live }}</ref> before eventually selling 60{{nbsp}}million tickets including re-runs.<ref name="soviet" /> The film was also released in China, as two parts in 1988.<ref>{{Cite news |date=7 April 2018 |title=印度片現在這麼火也不是沒有原因的 |work=Xuehua |url=https://www.xuehua.us/2018/04/07/%E5%8D%B0%E5%BA%A6%E7%89%87%E7%8E%B0%E5%9C%A8%E8%BF%99%E4%B9%88%E7%81%AB%E4%B9%9F%E4%B8%8D%E6%98%AF%E6%B2%A1%E6%9C%89%E5%8E%9F%E5%9B%A0%E7%9A%84%E7%89%B9%E5%86%B7%E9%97%A8/zh-tw/ |access-date=6 March 2019 |archive-date=6 May 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220506110618/https://www.xuehua.us/a/5eb6092386ec4d433b2c89ea?lang=zh-tw |url-status=live }}</ref>

It was the [[List of highest-grossing Indian films|highest-grossing Indian film]] ever up until ''[[Disco Dancer]]'' (1982),<ref>{{Cite news |date=6 July 2018 |title=From Dangal to Sanju! Top 10 films that crossed the Rs 200 crore mark fastest |work=[[Business Today (India)|Business Today]] |url=https://www.businesstoday.in/trending/entertainment/from-dangal-to-sanju-top-10-films-crossed-rs-200-crore-mark-fastest/story/279979.html |access-date=13 December 2018 |archive-date=15 December 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181215173256/https://www.businesstoday.in/trending/entertainment/from-dangal-to-sanju-top-10-films-crossed-rs-200-crore-mark-fastest/story/279979.html |url-status=live }}</ref> and the [[List of highest-grossing films in India|highest-grossing film in India]] up until ''[[Hum Aapke Hain Koun..!]]'' (1994).<ref name="indiatoday" /> In 1985, ''[[India Today]]'' estimated that the film drew a total audience of 250{{nbsp}}million over the years,<ref name="indiatoday1985">{{Cite news |last=Mitra |first=Sumit |date=31 July 1985 |title=After series of box-office duds, Ramesh Sippy strikes back with romantic venture Saagar |work=[[India Today]] |url=https://www.indiatoday.in/magazine/society-the-arts/films/story/19850731-after-series-of-box-office-duds-ramesh-sippy-strikes-back-with-romantic-venture-saagar-770238-2013-12-27 |access-date=7 February 2019 |archive-date=9 February 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190209135521/https://www.indiatoday.in/magazine/society-the-arts/films/story/19850731-after-series-of-box-office-duds-ramesh-sippy-strikes-back-with-romantic-venture-saagar-770238-2013-12-27 |url-status=live }}</ref> which is comparable to the [[List of films by box office admissions|number of tickets sold]] by some of the world's [[List of highest-grossing films|highest-grossing films of all time]] adjusted for inflation.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Records |first=Guinness World |url=https://archive.org/details/GuinnessWorldRecords2015/page/n161 |title=Guinness World Records |year=2014 |isbn=978-1-908843-70-8 |edition=2015 |volume=60 |pages=160–161|publisher=Guinness World Records }}</ref> It is often cited that, after adjusting the figures for inflation, ''Sholay'' remains one of the [[List of highest-grossing Indian films|highest-grossing films]] in the history of Indian cinema, although such figures are not known with certainty.<ref>{{Cite web |title=The Biggest Blockbusters Ever In Hindi Cinema |url=http://boxofficeindia.com/showProd.php?itemCat=350 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131014214254/http://boxofficeindia.com/showProd.php?itemCat=350 |archive-date=14 October 2013 |access-date=13 April 2013 |publisher=Box Office India}}</ref> Box Office India estimated {{INR|1.63 billion}} as ''Sholay''{{'}}s adjusted domestic net income in 2008,{{efn|name=nettgross|}}<ref>{{Cite web |title=Top Earners 1970–1979 – BOI |url=http://boxofficeindia.com/showProd.php?itemCat=124&catName=MTk3MC0xOTc5 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080118030716/http://www.boxofficeindia.com/showProd.php?itemCat=124&catName=MTk3MC0xOTc5 |archive-date=18 January 2008 |access-date=24 February 2012 |publisher=Box Office India}}</ref> while ''[[Times of India]]'' estimated over {{INR|3 billion}} as the adjusted domestic gross in 2009.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Kazmi |first=Nikhat |date=12 January 2009 |title=Sholay adjusted gross |work=The Times of India |url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Box-Office-With-Rs-200cr-in-kitty-Ghajini-rewrites-records/articleshow/3965713.cms |url-status=live |access-date=23 February 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140430071524/http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Box-Office-With-Rs-200cr-in-kitty-Ghajini-rewrites-records/articleshow/3965713.cms |archive-date=30 April 2014}}</ref> ''[[Mid-Day]]'' estimated the film's total adjusted gross as {{INR|15 billion}} ({{US$|{{To USD|15000|IND|year=2014|round=yes}} million|long=no}}) in 2014.<ref>{{Cite news |title=B-Town rewind: The tale of the first Bollywood crore |work=[[Mid-Day]] |url=http://www.mid-day.com/articles/b-town-rewind-the-tale-of-the-first-bollywood-crore/15162064 |access-date=16 March 2014 |archive-date=16 March 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140316114251/http://www.mid-day.com/articles/b-town-rewind-the-tale-of-the-first-bollywood-crore/15162064 |url-status=live }}</ref>

=== 3D re-release (2013) ===
Filmmaker [[Ketan Mehta]]'s company Maya Digital was responsible for converting ''Sholay'' into the [[Stereoscopic 3D|3D]] format.<ref name="3D" /> Mehta was approached by G. P. Sippy's grandson, Sasha Sippy, about the project in 2010.<ref name="3D" /> In March 2012, Shaan Uttam Singh, the grandson of producer G. P. Sippy, said that he would sponsor a conversion of the film to 3D, and release it in late 2012;<ref>{{Cite news |last=Singh |first=Renu |date=31 March 2012 |title=Sholay 3D to release on Aug 15 |work=The Times of India |url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/bollywood/news-interviews/Sholay-3D-to-release-on-Aug-15/articleshow/12479722.cms |url-status=live |access-date=31 May 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120402041653/http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/bollywood/news-interviews/Sholay-3D-to-release-on-Aug-15/articleshow/12479722.cms |archive-date=2 April 2012}}</ref> this was later postponed to late 2013,<ref>{{Cite web |date=14 August 2013 |title='Sholay 3D' to release on Amitabh Bachchan's 71st birthday? |url=http://www.news18.com/news/india/sholay-3d-to-release-on-big-bs-71st-birthday-630900.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160508200023/http://www.news18.com/news/india/sholay-3d-to-release-on-big-bs-71st-birthday-630900.html |archive-date=8 May 2016 |access-date=7 December 2013 |website=News18}}</ref> and eventually finalised for 3 January 2014.<ref>{{Cite news |date=6 November 2013 |title='Sholay 3D' finally up for release in the first week of 2014 |work=[[Mid-Day]] |url=https://www.mid-day.com/entertainment/bollywood-news/article/-Sholay-3D--finally-up-for-release-in-the-first-week-of-2014-239108 |access-date=9 November 2013 |archive-date=9 October 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231009032305/https://www.mid-day.com/entertainment/bollywood-news/article/-Sholay-3D--finally-up-for-release-in-the-first-week-of-2014-239108 |url-status=live }}</ref> It took {{INRConvert|250|m}} to convert ''Sholay'' to 3D.<ref>{{Cite web |date=8 November 2013 |title=Rs 25 crore spent on Sholay 3D |url=http://movies.ndtv.com/bollywood/rs-25-crore-spent-on-sholay-3d-443612 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131113200519/http://movies.ndtv.com/bollywood/rs-25-crore-spent-on-sholay-3d-443612 |archive-date=13 November 2013 |access-date=19 November 2013 |publisher=NDTV}}</ref>

Under the leadership of computer animator Frank Foster, 350 people worked to convert the film into the digital 3D format, for which every scene had to be individually [[Film preservation|restored]], colour-corrected, and re-composited in 3D to match the depth.{{efn|The 3D version of the film has a run-time of 198 minutes, and the original shots were of standard film frame rate, i.e., 24 frames per second; therefore, this version has {{formatnum:285120}} frames, which were digitised, upscaled to High Definition (HD), and element-mapped.<ref name="screens" /><ref>{{Cite web |last=Coutinho, Natasha |date=25 November 2013 |title=Sholay 3D was a tough challenge |url=http://www.asianage.com/bollywood/sholay-3d-was-tough-challenge-600 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131211104844/http://www.asianage.com/bollywood/sholay-3d-was-tough-challenge-600 |archive-date=11 December 2013 |access-date=7 December 2013 |publisher=[[The Asian Age]]}}</ref> }}<ref name="3D" /> New set-pieces, particularly those suited to the new format were also included, such as digital logs which scatter in the direction of the camera during the first half when the train collides with them, the gunshot scene which frees Jai and Veeru from their handcuffs, and [[Panorama|panoramic]] views of Gabbar's hideout in the caves.<ref name="3D" />

The theatrical trailer and release date were unveiled by the original script-writers Salim Khan and Javed Akhtar.<ref>{{Cite web |date=7 November 2013 |title='Sholay 3D' trailer unvieled [sic] & Updates at Daily News & Analysis |url=http://www.dnaindia.com/entertainment/report-sholay-3d-trailer-unvieled-1915213 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151011124137/http://www.dnaindia.com/entertainment/report-sholay-3d-trailer-unvieled-1915213 |archive-date=11 October 2015 |access-date=7 June 2015 |publisher=[[Daily News and Analysis|DNA]]}}</ref> The two original leads, Bachchan and Dharmendra, were also involved in promoting the re-release.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Mangaokar, Shalvi |date=22 October 2013 |title=Amitabh Bachchan, Dharmendra set to promote Sholay 3D |work=Hindustan Times |url=http://www.hindustantimes.com/bollywood/amitabh-bachchan-dharmendra-set-to-promote-sholay-3d/story-cfY7Yb5Ph2Uw9NHV3TioiK.html |url-status=live |access-date=7 December 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151005112321/http://www.hindustantimes.com/bollywood/amitabh-bachchan-dharmendra-set-to-promote-sholay-3d/story-cfY7Yb5Ph2Uw9NHV3TioiK.html |archive-date=5 October 2015}}</ref>

The film was released in 1,000 screens in India and additional screens overseas.<ref name="screens" /> It earned approximately {{INRConvert|13|c}} during its re-release, becoming the [[List of highest-grossing re-released Indian films|third highest-grossing re-released Indian film of all time]].<ref>{{Cite web |date=18 January 2014 |title=Sholay (Re-Run) Second Week Collection Details |url=http://www.boxofficeindia.com/Details/art_detail/sholay_re-run_second_week_collection_details |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140201202515/http://www.boxofficeindia.com/Details/art_detail/sholay_re-run_second_week_collection_details |archive-date=1 February 2014 |access-date=23 January 2014 |publisher=Box Office India}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=25 September 2024 |title=Tumbbad becomes the highest-grossing re-release in India in 14 years |url=https://www.wionews.com/entertainment/bollywood/news-tumbbad-becomes-the-highest-grossing-re-release-in-india-in-14-years-761680 |access-date=11 January 2025 |website=Wion |language=en}}</ref>

=== ''Sholay: The Final Cut'' (2025) ===
In 2022, Sippy Films collaborated with the [[Film Heritage Foundation]] and L’Immagine Ritrovata for a full restoration in correlation with the film's fiftieth anniversary. Due to significant damage to the original camera negative resulting from severe [[vinegar syndrome]], the restoration utilised an interpositive and two color reversal intermediates located at Iron Mountain and the [[British Film Institute|BFI]] in the UK, a second interpositive from 1978 deposited by Shehzad Sippy to FHF, and the original sound negative and magnetic elements housed in Sippy Films' Mumbai offices. The film was also restored in 4K to its original 70mm aspect ratio of 2.2:1 with assistance from Kamlakar Rao and incorporates the original uncut ending, along with two previously excised scenes that were removed by censors in 1975.<ref name=Bologna/>

The fully restored, uncut version (including Sippy's original ending) was released worldwide as ''Sholay: The Final Cut''.<ref name=Variety>{{cite web |url=https://variety.com/2025/film/news/sholay-trailer-50th-anniversary-release-1236600849/ |title=‘Sholay: The Final Cut’ Trailer Unveiled Ahead of Golden Anniversary Release (EXCLUSIVE) |access-date=14 December 2025 |last=Ramachandran |first=Naman |date=4 December 2025 |work=Variety}}</ref> It premiered at [[Il Cinema Ritrovato]] on 27 June 2025,<ref name=Bologna>{{cite web |title=Sholay (1975, Embers) restored by Film Heritage Foundation with the original ending and deleted scenes had a grand premiere at the Il Cinema Ritrovato Festival in Bologna this June |url=https://filmheritagefoundation.co.in/sholay-1975-embers-restored-by-film-heritage-foundation/ |website=Film Heritage Foundation |date=16 June 2025}}</ref><ref name=BBC>{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cvg8m9z5vv8o|title=Sholay: Bollywood epic roars back to big screen after 50 years with new ending|access-date=14 December 2025|last=Tilak|first=Sudha|date=25 June 2025|work=BBC}}</ref> and released globally on 12 December 2025.<ref name=Variety/> The runtime is classified in 209 minutes.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://in.bookmyshow.com/movies/sholay-the-final-cut/ET00474902|title=Sholay: The Final Cut on BookMyShow|access-date=17 January 2025|website=BookMyShow.com}}</ref>

== Reception ==
=== Critical response ===
:'''August 1975'''
When the film released on 15 August 1975, it received poor reviews. Among contemporary critics, K.L. Amladi of ''[[India Today]]'' called the film a "dead ember" and "a gravely flawed attempt".{{sfn|Chopra|2000|p=161}}<ref>{{cite web |last=Amladi |first=K. L. |date=15 December 1975 |title=Sholay in totality is a depressing film |url=https://www.indiatoday.in/magazine/society-and-the-arts/films/story/19751215-sholay-in-totality-is-a-depressing-film-824046-2014-07-05 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230724160501/https://www.indiatoday.in/magazine/society-and-the-arts/films/story/19751215-sholay-in-totality-is-a-depressing-film-824046-2014-07-05 |archive-date=24 July 2023 |access-date=24 July 2023 |website=[[India Today]]}}</ref> ''[[Filmfare]]'' said that the film was an unsuccessful mincing of Western style with Indian [[Social environment|milieu]], making it an "imitation western—neither here nor there."{{Sfn|Chopra|2000|p=161}} Others labelled it as "sound and fury signifying nothing" and a "second-rate take-off" of the 1971 film ''Mera Gaon Mera Desh''.<ref name="telegraph" /> Trade journals and columnists initially called the film a flop.{{sfn|Chopra|2000|pp=161–168}}

:'''Later August/September 1975-present'''
However, over time the response shifted and it became a cultural icon. It is now considered a classic, and among the greatest Hindi-language films.<ref name="rediff1" />{{sfn|Chopra|2000|p=3}} In a 1976 article in the journal ''Studies: An Irish Quarterly Review'', author Michael Gallagher praised the technical achievement of the film, but otherwise criticised it stating, "As a spectacle it breaks new ground, but on every other level it is intolerable: formless, incoherent, superficial in human image, and a somewhat nasty piece of violence".{{sfn|Gallagher|1976|p=344}}

In a 2005 BBC review, the well-rounded characters and simple narrative of the film were commended, but the comical cameos of Asrani and Jagdeep were considered unnecessary.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Rajput |first=Dharmesh |date=17 August 2005 |title=''Sholay'' (1975) |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/films/2005/08/17/sholay_2005_review.shtml |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121007025157/http://www.bbc.co.uk/films/2005/08/17/sholay_2005_review.shtml |archive-date=7 October 2012 |access-date=16 April 2013 |publisher=BBC}}</ref> On the film's 35th anniversary, the ''[[Hindustan Times]]'' wrote that it was a "trailblazer in terms of camera work as well as music," and that "practically every scene, dialogue or even a small character was a highlight."<ref>{{Cite news |date=15 August 2010 |title=Sholay completes 35 years |work=Hindustan Times |url=http://www.hindustantimes.com/entertainment/sholay-completes-35-years/story-gZIxKfIxNvLThEiQ05KYWP.html |url-status=live |access-date=27 September 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151005160039/http://www.hindustantimes.com/entertainment/sholay-completes-35-years/story-gZIxKfIxNvLThEiQ05KYWP.html |archive-date=5 October 2015}}</ref> In 2006, The [[Film Society of Lincoln Center]] described ''Sholay'' as "an extraordinary and utterly seamless blend of [[Adventure film|adventure]], [[Comedy film|comedy]], [[Musical film|music and dance]]", labelling it an "indisputable classic".<ref>{{Cite web |title=Sholay |url=http://filmlinccom.siteprotect.net/wrt/onsale06/sholay.html |access-date=21 December 2010 |publisher=[[Film Society of Lincoln Center]] |archive-date=21 October 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131021150641/http://filmlinccom.siteprotect.net/wrt/onsale06/sholay.html |url-status=live }}</ref> ''Chicago Review'' critic Ted Shen criticised the film in 2002 for its formulaic plot and "slapdash" cinematography, and noted that the film "alternates between [[slapstick]] and melodrama".<ref name="shen chic reader" /> In their obituary of the producer G.P. Sippy, ''[[The New York Times]]'' said that ''Sholay'' "revolutionized Hindi filmmaking and brought true professionalism to Indian script writing".<ref name="nyt" />

{{Rotten Tomatoes prose|95||19||ref=y|access-date=24 December 2025}}

=== Accolades ===
''Sholay'' was nominated for nine [[Filmfare Awards]], and the only winner was [[M. S. Shinde]], who won the award for [[Filmfare Award for Best Editing|Best Editing]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Filmfare Nominees and {{sic|nolink=1|Winner}} |url=https://archive.org/details/FilmfareAwards |access-date=9 October 2020 |publisher=[[The Times Group]] |via=[[Internet Archive]]}}</ref> The film also won three awards at the 1976 [[Bengal Film Journalists' Association Awards]] (Hindi section): "Best Actor in Supporting Role" for Amjad Khan, "Best Cinematographer (Colour)" for [[Dwarka Divecha]], and "Best Art Director" for Ram Yedekar.<ref>{{Cite web |title=1976: 39th Annual BFJA Awards |url=http://www.bfjaawards.com/legacy/pastwin/197639.htm |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080119012515/http://www.bfjaawards.com/legacy/pastwin/197639.htm |archive-date=19 January 2008 |access-date=2 December 2010 |publisher=Bengal Film Journalists' Association}}</ref> ''Sholay'' received a special award at the 50th Filmfare Awards in 2005: [[Filmfare Best Film of 50 Years|Best Film of 50 Years]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=All Filmfare Awards Winners |url=https://www.filmfare.com/awards/filmfare-awards/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.today/20180227163020/https://www.filmfare.com/awards/filmfare-awards/ |archive-date=27 February 2018 |access-date=27 February 2018 |website=Filmfare}}</ref>
{| class="wikitable"
! Style="width:5%"| Awards
! Style="width:25%"| Category
! Style="width:20%"| Nominee
! Style="width:10%"| Result
|-
|rowspan="3"|[[Bengal Film Journalists Association Awards]]
|Best Supporting Actor
|[[Amjad Khan (actor)|Amjad Khan]]
|rowspan="4"{{won}}
|-
|Best Cinematography
|[[Dwarka Divecha]]
|-
|Best Art Direction
|Ram Yadekar
|-
|rowspan="10"|[[23rd Filmfare Awards]]
|[[Filmfare Best Editing Award|Best Editing]]
|[[M. S. Shinde]]
|-
|[[Filmfare Award for Best Film|Best Film]]
|[[G. P. Sippy]]
|rowspan="9" {{nom}}
|-
|[[Filmfare Award for Best Director|Best Director]]
|[[Ramesh Sippy]]
|-
|[[Filmfare Award for Best Actor|Best Actor]]
|[[Sanjeev Kumar]]
|-
|[[Filmfare Award for Best Supporting Actor|Best Supporting Actor]]
|Amjad Khan
|-
|[[Filmfare Best Comedian Award|Best Comedian]]
|[[Asrani]]
|-
|[[Filmfare Award for Best Story|Best Story]]
|[[Salim-Javed]]
|-
|[[Filmfare Award for Best Music Director|Best Music Director]]
|[[R. D. Burman]]
|-
|[[Filmfare Best Lyricist Award|Best Lyricist]]
|[[Anand Bakshi]] for "Mehbooba Mehbooba"
|-
|[[Filmfare Award for Best Male Playback Singer|Best Male Playback Singer]]
|R. D. Burman
|-
|[[50th Filmfare Awards]]
|Special Award
|Best Film for Completing 50 Years
|{{won|place=1st|Received}}
|-
|}

== Legacy and cultural influence ==
''Sholay'' has received many "Best Film" honours. It was declared the "Film of the Millennium" by [[BBC India]] in 1999.<ref name="nyt" /> It topped the [[British Film Institute]]'s "Top 10 Indian Films" [[Films considered the greatest ever|of all time]] poll of 2002,<ref>{{Cite web |year=2002 |title=Top 10 Indian Films |url=http://www.bfi.org.uk/features/imagineasia/guide/poll/india |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110515101729/http://www.bfi.org.uk/features/imagineasia/guide/poll/india/ |archive-date=15 May 2011 |access-date=14 June 2012 |publisher=[[British Film Institute]]}}</ref> and was voted the greatest Indian movie in a [[Sky (UK and Ireland)|Sky Digital]] poll of one million British Indians in 2004.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Thambirajah, Mohan |date=27 May 2004 |title='Sholay' voted best Indian movie |work=[[New Straits Times]] |url=http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P1-94953889.html |url-status=dead |access-date=25 April 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160225042453/https://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P1-94953889.html |archive-date=25 February 2016 |quote=SHOLAY has been voted the greatest Indian movie in a research by Sky Digital of one million Indians in Britain.}} {{link note|note=Partial story rendition from HighBeam.com archive.}}</ref> It was also included in the magazine ''[[Time (magazine)|Time]]''{{'}}s "Best of Bollywood" list in 2010,<ref>{{Cite magazine |last=Corliss |first=Richard |date=27 October 2010 |title=Sholay – 1975 – Best of Bollywood |url=https://content.time.com/time/specials/packages/article/0,28804,2022076_2022067_2022045,00.html |url-status=live |magazine=[[Time (magazine)|Time]] |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130828050259/http://content.time.com/time/specials/packages/article/0%2C28804%2C2022076_2022067_2022045%2C00.html |archive-date=28 August 2013 |access-date=30 July 2012}}</ref> and in [[IBN Live]]'s list of the "100 greatest Indian films of all time" in 2013.<ref>{{Cite web |date=17 April 2013 |title=100 Years of Indian Cinema: The 100 greatest Indian films of all time |url=http://ibnlive.in.com/photogallery/13200-19.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130425234438/http://ibnlive.in.com/photogallery/13200-19.html |archive-date=25 April 2013 |access-date=12 February 2014 |website=[[IBN Live]]}}</ref> In 2023, [[Time Out (magazine)|Time Out]] ranked it #1 on its list of the "100 Best Bollywood Movies."<ref name="best">{{cite web |date=7 February 2023 |title=The 100 best Bollywood movies |url=https://www.timeout.com/film/the-100-best-bollywood-movies-the-list |access-date=28 November 2023 |work=[[Time Out (magazine)|Time Out]] |archive-date=20 August 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230820130100/https://www.timeout.com/film/the-100-best-bollywood-movies-the-list |url-status=live }}</ref>

''Sholay'' inspired many films and [[pastiche]]s, and spawned a genre of films, the "Curry Western",{{sfnm|1a1=Dudrah|1a2=Desai|1y=2008|1p=5|2a1=Sparks|2y=2008|2p=157}} which is a play on the term [[Spaghetti Western]]. A more accurate label for the genre is the Dacoit Western, due to its roots in earlier Indian dacoit films such as ''[[Mother India]]'' (1957) and ''[[Gunga Jumna]]'' (1961).<ref name="Teo" /> It was also an early and most definitive [[masala film]],<ref name="uiowa" />{{sfn|Hayward|2006|p=67|ps=:"In its truest sense ''Sholay'' was perhaps ''the'' first Masala movie"}} and a trend-setter for "multi-star" films.{{sfn|Jain|2009|p=62}} The film was a watershed for scriptwriters in Hindi language films, who were not paid well before ''Sholay''; after the film's success, its writing duo Salim-Javed became stars in their own right and script writing became a more respected profession.<ref name="ndtv" /> The [[BBC]] has described ''Sholay'' as the "''[[Star Wars]]'' of Bollywood", comparing its impact on Hindi language films to the impact that ''[[Star Wars (film)|Star Wars]]'' (1977) later had on [[Cinema of the United States|Hollywood]], while comparing Gabbar Singh to [[Darth Vader]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Verma |first=Rahul |date=14 August 2015 |title=Sholay: The Star Wars of Bollywood? |url=http://www.bbc.com/culture/story/20150813-sholay-the-star-wars-of-bollywood |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170509192533/http://www.bbc.com/culture/story/20150813-sholay-the-star-wars-of-bollywood |archive-date=9 May 2017 |access-date=28 November 2017 |publisher=BBC}}</ref>

[[File:Gabbar Singh dialogue from Sholay on the back of auto rickshaw.jpg|thumb|A line of Gabbar Singh (''Tera kya hoga'', meaning, "What will happen to you?") and a picture of him is painted on the back of an [[auto rickshaw]], a common mode of public transport. Dialogues and characters from the film have contributed to many cultural tropes in India's daily life.|alt=A dialogue and image of Gabbar Singh painted on the back of an auto rickshaw]]

Certain scenes and dialogues earned iconic status in India, such as "''Kitne aadmi the''" (How many men were there?), "''Jo dar gaya, samjho mar gaya''" (One who is scared is dead), and "''Bahut yaarana laagta hai''" (Looks like you two are very close) – all dialogues of Gabbar Singh.<ref name="rediff1" />{{sfnm|1a1=Chopra|1y=2000|1pp=4–5|2a1=Jess-Cooke|2y=2009|2p=126}} These and other popular dialogues entered the people's daily vernacular.{{sfnm|1a1=Banerjee|1a2=Srivastava|1y=1988|1pp=166–169|2a1=Jess-Cooke|2y=2009|2p=126}} Characters and dialogues from the film continue to be referred to and parodied in popular culture.{{sfnm|1a1=Chopra|1y=2000|1pp=4–5|2a1=Ganti|2y=2004|2p=161}} Gabbar Singh, the sadistic villain, ushered in an era in Hindi films characterised by "seemingly omnipotent oppressors as villains", who play the pivotal role in setting up the context of the story, such as Shakal (played by [[Kulbhushan Kharbanda]]) of ''[[Shaan (1980 film)|Shaan]]'' (1980), Mogambo ([[Amrish Puri]]) of ''[[Mr. India (1987 film)|Mr. India]]'' (1987) and Bhujang (Amrish Puri) of ''[[Tridev]]'' (1989).{{sfn|Zankar|2003|p=365}} ''Filmfare'', in 2013, named Gabbar Singh the most iconic villain in the history of Indian cinema,<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Hashmi, Parampara Patil |date=3 May 2013 |title=Iconic villains of Indian cinema |url=http://www.filmfare.com/features/iconic-villains-of-indian-cinema-3038-2.html |url-status=live |journal=[[Filmfare]] |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131111181042/http://www.filmfare.com/features/iconic-villains-of-indian-cinema-3038-2.html |archive-date=11 November 2013 |access-date=7 July 2013}}</ref> and four actors were included in its 2010 list of "80 Iconic Performances" for their work in this film.<ref>{{Cite journal |date=1 June 2010 |title=Filmfare – 80 Iconic Performances 1/10 |url=http://www.filmfare.com/articles/80-iconic-performances-110-950.html |journal=Filmfare |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120121065253/http://www.filmfare.com/articles/80-iconic-performances-110-950.html |archive-date=21 January 2012 |access-date=8 July 2013}}</ref><ref>{{Cite journal |date=3 June 2010 |title=Filmfare – 80 Iconic Performances 2/10 |url=http://www.filmfare.com/articles/80-iconic-performances-210-952.html |journal=Filmfare |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100705235640/http://www.filmfare.com/articles/80-iconic-performances-210-952.html |archive-date=5 July 2010 |access-date=8 July 2013}}</ref><ref>{{Cite journal |date=6 June 2010 |title=Filmfare – 80 Iconic Performances 6/10 |url=http://www.filmfare.com/articles/80-iconic-performances-610-956.html |journal=Filmfare |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130506122601/http://www.filmfare.com/articles/80-iconic-performances-610-956.html |archive-date=6 May 2013 |access-date=8 July 2013}}</ref><ref>{{Cite journal |date=10 June 2010 |title=Filmfare – 80 Iconic Performances 10/10 |url=http://www.filmfare.com/articles/80-iconic-performances-1010-991.html |journal=Filmfare |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110203173146/http://www.filmfare.com/articles/80-iconic-performances-1010-991.html |archive-date=3 February 2011 |access-date=8 July 2013}}</ref>

The film is often credited with making Bachchan a "superstar", two years after he became a star with ''[[Zanjeer (1973 film)|Zanjeer]]'' (1973).<ref name="uiowa" /><ref>{{Cite web |title=Top Actor |url=http://www.boxofficeindia.com/cpages.php?pageName=top_actors |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131029191201/http://boxofficeindia.com/cpages.php?pageName=top_actors |archive-date=29 October 2013 |access-date=13 October 2012 |publisher=Box Office India}}</ref> Some of the supporting actors remained etched in public memory as the characters they played in ''Sholay''; for example, [[Mac Mohan]] continued to be referred to as "Sambha", even though his character had just one line.<ref>{{Cite news |date=10 May 2010 |title='Sambha' Mac Mohan of 'Sholay' fame dies |work=The Times of India |url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Sambha-Mac-Mohan-of-Sholay-fame-dies/articleshow/5914387.cms |url-status=live |access-date=14 May 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121106153206/http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/India/Sambha-Mac-Mohan-of-Sholay-fame-dies/articleshow/5914387.cms |archive-date=6 November 2012}}</ref> Major and minor characters continue to be used in commercials, promos, films and sitcoms.<ref name="ndtv" />{{sfn|Chopra|2000|pp=4–5}} Amjad Khan acted in many villainous roles later in his career. He also played Gabbar Singh again in the 1991 spoof ''[[Ramgarh Ke Sholay]]'', and reprised the role in commercials.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Khanna |first=Parul |date=6 February 2010 |title=The most hilarious ads ever... |work=Hindustan Times |url=http://www.hindustantimes.com/tv/the-most-hilarious-ads-ever/story-w3DzJypz46bPExmxlqDJsI.html |url-status=live |access-date=17 December 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150925073043/http://www.hindustantimes.com/tv/the-most-hilarious-ads-ever/story-w3DzJypz46bPExmxlqDJsI.html |archive-date=25 September 2015}}</ref> The British Film Institute in 2002 wrote that fear of Gabbar Singh "is still invoked by mothers to put their children to sleep".<ref>{{Cite web |year=2002 |title=1. Sholay (1975) |url=http://www.bfi.org.uk/features/imagineasia/guide/poll/india/01_sholay.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110805124020/http://www.bfi.org.uk/features/imagineasia/guide/poll/india/01_sholay.html |archive-date=5 August 2011 |access-date=27 April 2013 |publisher=[[British Film Institute]]}}</ref> The 2012 film ''[[Gabbar Singh (film)|Gabbar Singh]]'', named after the character, became the highest-grossing [[Cinema of Andhra Pradesh|Telugu film]] up to that point.<ref>{{Cite news |date=19 July 2012 |title=Gabbar Singh highest grosser in south |work=[[India Today]] |url=https://www.indiatoday.in/movies/bollywood/story/gabbar-singh-highest-grosser-110233-2012-07-18 |access-date=3 May 2013 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120719115946/http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/gabbar-singh-highest-grosser/1/209129.html |archive-date=19 July 2012}}</ref> Comedian [[Jagdeep]], who played Soorma Bhopali in the film, attempted to use his ''Sholay'' success to create a spinoff. He directed and played the lead role in the 1988 film ''[[Soorma Bhopali]]'', in which Dharmendra and Bachchan had cameos.<ref>{{Cite web |date=1 January 1988 |title=Soorma Bhopali (1988) Cast and Crew |url=https://www.bollywoodhungama.com/movie/soorma-bhopali/cast/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161121104752/http://www.bollywoodhungama.com/movie/soorma-bhopali/cast/ |archive-date=21 November 2016 |access-date=24 February 2012 |website=[[Bollywood Hungama]]}}</ref>

''Sholay'' was remade in [[Bangladesh]] as ''Dost Dushman'' (1977), was criticized by many critics in the country.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Bollywood and Dhallywood: Contentions and Connections |url=https://archive.thedailystar.net/forum/2011/August/bollywood.htm |website=[[The Daily Star (Bangladesh)|The Daily Star]] |date=1 August 2011}}</ref> In 2004, ''Sholay'' was digitally remastered and shown again to packed theatres in India, including Mumbai's Minerva, where it had run successfully 29 years earlier.<ref>{{Cite news |date=14 August 2004 |title=29 years later, Sholay still rules |work=[[The Indian Express]] |url=http://expressindia.indianexpress.com/news/fullstory.php?newsid=35028 |url-status=live |access-date=30 December 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131109044928/http://expressindia.indianexpress.com/news/fullstory.php?newsid=35028 |archive-date=9 November 2013}}</ref> Another attempt to remake ''Sholay'', [[Ram Gopal Varma]]'s film ''[[Aag (2007 film)|Aag]]'' (2007), starring Amitabh Bachchan as the villain, was a commercial and critical disaster.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Box Office 2007 |url=http://www.boxofficeindia.com/showProd.php?itemCat=214 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131109040918/http://www.boxofficeindia.com/showProd.php?itemCat=214 |archive-date=9 November 2013 |access-date=20 April 2013 |publisher=Box Office India}}</ref>

Because of television and home media, ''Sholay'' is widely available and still popular. Twenty years after its release, ''Sholay'' was first shown on the Indian [[DD National]] television channel, where it drew the highest ratings ever for an Indian film broadcast.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Mahmood |first=Rafay |date=5 April 2012 |title=Bollywood Masterpiece: Sholay in 3D |work=[[The Express Tribune]] |url=http://tribune.com.pk/story/360123/bollywood-masterpiece-sholay-in-3d/ |url-status=live |access-date=12 April 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131109035939/http://tribune.com.pk/story/360123/bollywood-masterpiece-sholay-in-3d/ |archive-date=9 November 2013}}</ref> Video game producer Mobile2win released the ''Sholay Ramgarh Express'' game for mobile phones in 2004, along with other ''Sholay'' themed content such as wallpapers, video clips, and ringtones; another video game ''Sholay: Bullets of Justice'' developed by Gameshastra has also been released.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Bapna |first=Amit |date=29 January 2014 |title=Box office blockbuster Sholay: Ad man's favourite source of inspiration |work=The Economic Times |url=https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/box-office-blockbuster-sholay-ad-mans-favourite-source-of-inspiration/articleshow/29503479.cms?from=mdr |access-date=28 November 2023 |issn=0013-0389}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Sholay - Bullets of Justice |url=http://vroovy.com/Vroovywebsite/v8/sholay-bullets-of-justice.html |access-date=27 September 2023 |website=vroovy.com |archive-date=11 February 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220211173224/http://vroovy.com/Vroovywebsite/v8/sholay-bullets-of-justice.html |url-status=live }}</ref> ''Sholay Adventures'', a 2014 [[List of Indian animated films|Indian animated television film]] adaptation of ''Sholay'' aired on [[Pogo TV]].<ref>{{Cite web |date=23 January 2015 |title=Pogo and Graphic India presents Sholay Adventures |url=http://www.indiantelevision.com/television/tv-channels/kids/pogo-and-graphic-india-presents-sholay-adventures-150123 |access-date=4 June 2017 |archive-date=16 June 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170616091541/http://www.indiantelevision.com/television/tv-channels/kids/pogo-and-graphic-india-presents-sholay-adventures-150123 |url-status=live }}</ref> In 2019, a film titled ''[[The Sholay Girl]]'', based on the stunt woman [[Reshma Pathan]], was released. Pathan had worked as the body double for Malini in the film.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Sharma |first=Aayushi |date=4 March 2019 |title=All You Need To Know About Reshma Pathan aka The Sholay Girl, India's First Stunt Woman |url=https://zeetv.zee5.com/all-you-need-to-know-about-reshma-pathan-aka-the-sholay-girl-indias-first-stunt-woman/ |access-date=10 March 2019 |publisher=Zee TV |archive-date=7 August 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200807033401/https://zeetv.zee5.com/all-you-need-to-know-about-reshma-pathan-aka-the-sholay-girl-indias-first-stunt-woman/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

''Sholay'' has been the subject of two books and many articles. Wimal Dissanayake and Malti Sahai's ''Sholay, A Cultural Reading'' (1992) attempts a comprehensive scholarly study that sets the film within the broader history of popular cinema in India. [[Anupama Chopra]]'s ''Sholay: The Making of a Classic'' (2000) provides an inside look at the film's production based on interviews with the director, stars, and crew members.<ref name="ending" /><ref name="uiowa" />

''Sholay'' has been labelled by Chopra as the gold standard in Indian cinema, and a reference point for audiences and trade analysts. Over the years, the film has reached a mythic stature in popular culture,{{sfn|Chopra|2000|p=3}} and has been called the greatest Hindi film of all time.{{sfn|Dwyer|2005|p=218}} It belongs to only a small collection of films, including ''[[Kismet (1943 film)|Kismet]]'' (1943), ''[[Mother India]]'' (1957), ''[[Mughal-e-Azam]]'' (1960), ''[[Hum Aapke Hain Koun..!]]'' (1994) and ''[[Gadar: Ek Prem Katha]]'' (2001), which are repeatedly watched throughout India, and are viewed as definitive Hindi films with cultural significance.{{sfnm|Mishra|2002|1p=66|Morcom|2007|2pp=139–144}}<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.boxofficeindia.com/report-details.php?articleid=2822|title=The Biggest Blockbuster Continues To Dominate|date=30 March 2017}}</ref> The lasting effect of ''Sholay'' on Indian cinema was summarised by Anupama Chopra, when in 2004 she called it "no longer just a film, [but] an event".<ref>{{Cite news |last=Ahmed |first=Zubair |date=18 August 2004 |title=Hindi classic pulls in the crowds |work=BBC News |url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/3577790.stm |url-status=live |access-date=1 December 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120623054743/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/3577790.stm |archive-date=23 June 2012}}</ref> In the 2000 book ''Sholay: The Making of a Classic'', the noted director [[Shekhar Kapur]] stated "there has never been a more defining film on the Indian screen. Indian film history can be divided into ''Sholay'' BC and ''Sholay'' AD".{{sfn|Chopra|2000|loc=back cover}} The film was jointly released in Pakistan by [[Jang Media Group|Geo films]] and Mandviwalla Entertainment on 17 April 2015, almost 40 years after its theatrical release. The film's premiere in the country was held in [[Karachi]].<ref>{{Cite web |date=18 April 2015 |title='Sholay' releases in Pakistan |url=http://www.thehindu.com/entertainment/sholay-releases-in-pakistan/article7117187.ece |access-date=19 April 2015 |website=The Hindu |agency=Press Trust of India |archive-date=30 November 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171130151204/http://www.thehindu.com/entertainment/sholay-releases-in-pakistan/article7117187.ece |url-status=live }}</ref>

Screenwriter [[V. Vijayendra Prasad]], responsible for a number of blockbusters in the early 21st century, including the South Indian franchise [[Baahubali (franchise)|''Baahubali'']] and the Hindi film ''[[Bajrangi Bhaijaan]]'' (starring Salim's son [[Salman Khan]]), cited ''Sholay'' as a major inspiration on his work.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Singh |first=Suhani |date=17 June 2017 |title=Baahubali writer KV Vijayendra Prasad is going places at 75 |url=https://www.indiatoday.in/magazine/leisure/story/20170626-k-v-vijayendra-prasad-baahubali-writer-magadheera-986633-2017-06-17 |access-date=8 May 2022 |website=[[India Today]] |archive-date=8 May 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220508220818/https://www.indiatoday.in/magazine/leisure/story/20170626-k-v-vijayendra-prasad-baahubali-writer-magadheera-986633-2017-06-17 |url-status=live }}</ref>

==See also==
* ''[[Angry Young Men (miniseries)]]''
* [[List of cult films]]
* [[List of highest-grossing Indian films]]
* [[Gabbar Singh (disambiguation)]]

== Footnotes ==
{{notelist|30em}}

== References ==
<references>

<ref name="Runtime">{{Cite web |title=''Sholay'' (PG) |url=https://www.bbfc.co.uk/releases/sholay-1988 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131109084512/http://www.bbfc.co.uk/releases/sholay-1988 |archive-date=9 November 2013 |access-date=12 April 2013 |publisher=[[British Board of Film Classification]]}}</ref>
<ref name="open">{{Cite journal |last1=Khan |first1=Salim |author-link=Salim Khan |last2=Sukumaran |first2=Shradha |date=14 August 2010 |title=Sholay, the Beginning |url=http://www.openthemagazine.com/article/arts-letters/sholay-the-beginning |url-status=live |journal=[[Open (Indian magazine)|OPEN Magazine]] |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171130151204/http://www.openthemagazine.com/article/arts-letters/sholay-the-beginning |archive-date=30 November 2017}}</ref>
<ref name="Cinar">{{Cite book |last1=Cinar |first1=Alev |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=q-5llJ_MsvgC&pg=PA117 |title=Visualizing Secularism and Religion: Egypt, Lebanon, Turkey, India |last2=Roy |first2=Srirupa |last3=Yahya |first3=Maha |date=2012 |publisher=[[University of Michigan Press]] |isbn=978-0-472-07118-0 |page=117 |quote=one of the most popular Hindi-Urdu films in Bollywood history, ''Sholay'' |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171130151204/https://books.google.com/books?id=q-5llJ_MsvgC&pg=PA117 |archive-date=30 November 2017 |url-status=live}}</ref>
<ref name="Akhtar">{{Cite book |last1=Aḵẖtar |first1=Jāvīd |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=_JILAQAAMAAJ |title=Talking Films: Conversations on Hindi Cinema with Javed Akhtar |last2=Kabir |first2=Nasreen Munni |date=2002 |publisher=[[Oxford University Press]] |isbn=978-0-19-566462-1 |page=49 |quote=JA: I write dialogue in Urdu, but the action and descriptions are in English. Then an assistant transcribes the Urdu dialogue into Devnagari because most people read Hindi. But I write in Urdu. |author-link=Javed Akhtar |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140108035102/http://books.google.com/books?id=_JILAQAAMAAJ |archive-date=8 January 2014 |url-status=live}}</ref>
<ref name="nyt">{{Cite news |last=Pandya |first=Haresh |date=27 December 2007 |title=G. P. Sippy, Indian Filmmaker Whose ''Sholay'' Was a Bollywood Hit, Dies at 93 |work=[[The New York Times]] |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2007/12/27/arts/27Sippy.html |url-status=live |access-date=23 February 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110828135232/http://www.nytimes.com/2007/12/27/arts/27Sippy.html |archive-date=28 August 2011}}</ref>
<ref name="Teo">{{Cite book |last=Teo |first=Stephen |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=pi8lDwAAQBAJ&pg=PA122 |title=Eastern Westerns: Film and Genre Outside and Inside Hollywood |date=2017 |publisher=[[Taylor & Francis]] |isbn=978-1-317-59226-6 |page=122 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171130151204/https://books.google.com/books?id=pi8lDwAAQBAJ&pg=PA122 |archive-date=30 November 2017 |url-status=live}}</ref>
<ref name="rediff1">{{Cite web |last=Raheja |first=Dinesh |date=9 August 2009 |title=Why Sholay is a cult classic |url=http://www.rediff.com/movies/2002/aug/09dinesh.htm |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304122450/http://www.rediff.com/movies/2002/aug/09dinesh.htm |archive-date=4 March 2016 |access-date=1 December 2010 |website=[[Rediff.com]]}}</ref>
<ref name="ndtv">{{Cite web |date=14 August 2010 |title=35 years on, the Sholay fire still burns |url=http://movies.ndtv.com/bollywood/35-years-on-the-sholay-fire-still-burns-44425 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130612074406/http://movies.ndtv.com/bollywood/35-years-on-the-sholay-fire-still-burns-44425 |archive-date=12 June 2013 |access-date=12 April 2013 |publisher=[[NDTV]]}}</ref>
<ref name="ending">{{Cite web |last=Das |first=Ronjita |date=7 February 2001 |title=I didn't even know there was another ending to ''Sholay'' |url=http://im.rediff.com/movies/2001/feb/07anu.htm |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110715164950/http://im.rediff.com/movies/2001/feb/07anu.htm |archive-date=15 July 2011 |access-date=27 September 2010 |publisher=Rediff}}</ref>
<ref name="DVD">{{Cite web |title=Sholay (1975) Region 0 DVD Review |url=http://film.thedigitalfix.com/content.php?contentid=58178 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161121171814/http://film.thedigitalfix.com/content.php?contentid=58178 |archive-date=21 November 2016 |access-date=9 August 2010 |publisher=The Digital Fix}}</ref>
<ref name="shen chic reader">{{Cite news |last=Shen |first=Ted |date=13 December 2002 |title=Sholay |work=[[Chicago Reader]] |url=http://www.chicagoreader.com/chicago/sholay/Film?oid=1063841 |url-status=live |access-date=11 April 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304093713/http://www.chicagoreader.com/chicago/sholay/Film?oid=1063841 |archive-date=4 March 2016}}</ref>
<ref name="telegraph">{{Cite news |date=3 February 2013 |title=900 not out! |work=[[The Telegraph (Calcutta)|The Telegraph]] |url=https://www.telegraphindia.com/1130203/jsp/7days/story_16515999.jsp |url-status=dead |access-date=11 May 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304225327/http://www.telegraphindia.com/1130203/jsp/7days/story_16515999.jsp |archive-date=4 March 2016}}</ref>
<ref name="Boi70s">{{Cite web |title=Top Earners 1970–1979 – BOI |url=http://boxofficeindia.com/showProd.php?itemCat=124&catName=MTk3MC0xOTc5 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131014062240/http://boxofficeindia.com/showProd.php?itemCat=124&catName=MTk3MC0xOTc5 |archive-date=14 October 2013 |access-date=24 February 2012 |publisher=Box Office India}}</ref>
<ref name="indiatoday">{{Cite news |date=15 September 1995 |title=Sholay emerges as Bollywood's most successful re-run product even after 20 years |work=[[India Today]] |url=https://www.indiatoday.in/magazine/society-and-the-arts/films/story/19950915-sholay-emerges-as-bollywoods-most-successful-re-run-product-even-after-20-years-807750-1995-09-14 |access-date=9 December 2018 |archive-date=1 January 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170101010917/http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/sholay-emerges-as-bollywoods-most-successful-re-run-product-even-after-20-years/1/289356.html |url-status=live }}</ref>
<ref name="footfalls">[https://boxofficeindia.com/report-details.php?articleid=2988 Bahubali 2 Is The Biggest Hindi Blockbuster This Century] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170824133203/http://www.boxofficeindia.com/report-details.php?articleid=2988 |date=24 August 2017}}, [[Box Office India]], 8 June 2017</ref>
<ref name="soviet">{{Cite web |title="Месть и закон" (Sholay, 1975) |url=https://www.kinopoisk.ru/film/40451/ |access-date=3 February 2019 |website=[[KinoPoisk]] |language=ru-RU |archive-date=28 August 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200828011232/https://www.kinopoisk.ru/film/40451/ |url-status=live }}</ref>
<ref name="uiowa">{{Cite web |last=Lutgendorf |first=Philip |title=Sholay |url=http://www.uiowa.edu/~incinema/sholay.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150102025542/http://www.uiowa.edu/~incinema/sholay.html |archive-date=2 January 2015 |access-date=8 December 2010 |publisher=South Asian Studies Program, University of Iowa}}</ref>
<ref name="3D">{{Cite news |last=Roy, Priyanka |date=27 November 2013 |title=Sholay returns — in 3D! |work=The Telegraph (Calcutta) supplement t2 |url=http://www.telegraphindia.com/1131127/jsp/t2/story_17614577.jsp |url-status=dead |access-date=7 December 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131213001755/http://www.telegraphindia.com/1131127/jsp/t2/story_17614577.jsp |archive-date=13 December 2013}}</ref>
<ref name="screens">{{Cite news |last=Jain, Priyanka |date=4 June 2012 |title=Sholay 3D will be more successful, says distributor |work=Hindustan Times |url=http://www.hindustantimes.com/bollywood/sholay-3d-will-be-more-successful-says-distributor/story-QdkIKksj4a8Kly1NHIPssK.html |url-status=live |access-date=7 December 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151005123811/http://www.hindustantimes.com/bollywood/sholay-3d-will-be-more-successful-says-distributor/story-QdkIKksj4a8Kly1NHIPssK.html |archive-date=5 October 2015}}</ref>

</references>

== Bibliography ==
{{Refbegin|30em}}
* {{Cite book |last=Banerjea |first=Koushik |title=Bollyworld: Popular Indian Cinema Through A Transnational Lens |publisher=SAGE |year=2005 |isbn=978-0-7619-3321-2 |editor-last=Kaur |editor-first=Raminder |chapter='Fight Club': Aesthetics, Hybridisation and the Construction of Rogue Masculinities in ''Sholay'' and ''Deewar'' |editor-last2=Sinha |editor-first2=Ajay J |chapter-url=https://books.google.com/books?id=DGtNhQsLl7wC&pg=PA176 }}
* {{Cite book |last1=Banerjee |first1=Shampa |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=zX4GY37rG8kC&pg=PA16 |title=One Hundred Indian Feature Films: An Annotated Filmography |last2=Srivastava |first2=Anil |publisher=Taylor & Francis |year=1988 |isbn=978-0-8240-9483-6 }}
* {{Cite book |last=Chopra |first=Anupama |authorlink=Anupama Chopra |title=Sholay: The Making of a Classic |publisher=Penguin Books, India |year=2000 |isbn=0-14-029970-X }}
* {{Cite book |last=Dissanayake |first=Wimal|author-link=Wimal Dissanayake|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=C-Y6811S3agC |title=Melodrama and Asian Cinema |publisher=Cambridge University Press |year=1993 |isbn=978-0-521-41465-4 |editor-last=Dissanayake |editor-first=Wimal |chapter=The concepts of evil and social order in Indian melodrama: an evolving dialectic }}
* {{Cite book |last1=Dissanayake |first1=Wimal |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=uxJlAAAAMAAJ |title=Sholay, a cultural reading |last2=Sahai |first2=Malti |publisher=Wiley Eastern |year=1992 |isbn=978-81-224-0394-7 }}
* {{Cite book |last1=Dudrah |first1=Rajinder Kumar |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=B6wLAQAAMAAJ |title=The Bollywood Reader |last2=Desai |first2=Jigna |publisher=McGraw-Hill |year=2008 |isbn=978-0-335-22212-4 }}
* {{Cite book |last=Dwyer |first=Rachel |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=u-9kAAAAMAAJ |title=One Hundred Bollywood Films |publisher=BFI |year=2005 |isbn=978-1-84457-098-0 |access-date=15 July 2016 |archive-date=3 January 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140103133858/http://books.google.com/books?id=u-9kAAAAMAAJ |url-status=live }}
* {{Cite book |last1=Elliott |first1=Emory |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=rvPP_xmUwyUC&pg=PA37 |title=Global migration, social change, and cultural transformation |last2=Payne |first2=Jasmine |last3=Ploesch |first3=Patricia |publisher=Macmillan |year=2007 |isbn=978-0-230-60054-6 |access-date=15 July 2016 |archive-date=11 January 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140111233124/http://books.google.com/books?id=rvPP_xmUwyUC&pg=PA37 |url-status=live }}
* {{Cite journal |last=Gallagher |first=Michael |year=1976 |title=Indian and Western Cinema: Film Report |journal=Studies: An Irish Quarterly Review |publisher=Irish Province of the Society of Jesus |volume=65 |issue=260 |pages=344–348 |jstor=30090035}}
* {{Cite book |last=Ganti |first=Tejaswini |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=GTEa93azj9EC |title=Bollywood: a guidebook to popular Hindi cinema |publisher=Taylor & Francis |year=2004 |isbn=978-0-415-28854-5 |access-date=15 July 2016 |archive-date=20 March 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170320134221/https://books.google.com/books?id=GTEa93azj9EC |url-status=live }}
* {{Cite book |last=Hayward |first=S |title=Cinema Studies: The Key Concepts |publisher=Routledge |year=2006 |isbn=0-415-36782-4}}
* {{Cite book |last=Heide |first=William Van der |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=k3HTdu1HuWQC&pg=PA52 |title=Malaysian cinema, Asian film: border crossings and national cultures |publisher=Amsterdam University Press |year=2002 |isbn=978-90-5356-580-3 |access-date=15 July 2016 |archive-date=9 June 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160609195430/https://books.google.com/books?id=k3HTdu1HuWQC |url-status=live }}
* {{Cite book |last=Hogan |first=Patrick Colm |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=O1yubyUWGuMC |title=Understanding Indian Movies: Culture, Cognition, and Cinematic Imagination |publisher=University of TEXAS Press |year=2008 |isbn=978-0-292-77955-6 }}
* {{Cite book |last=Holtzman |first=Dina |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=kGIuatpm-8gC |title=Bollywood and Globalization: Indian Popular Cinema, Nation, and Diaspora |publisher=Anthem Press |year=2011 |isbn=978-0-85728-782-3 |editor-last=Bhattacharya Mehta |editor-first=Rini |chapter=Between ''Yaars'': The Queering of ''Dosti'' in Contemporary Bollywood Films |editor-last2=Pandharipande |editor-first2=Rajeshwari |access-date=15 July 2016 |archive-date=19 February 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170219201636/https://books.google.com/books?id=kGIuatpm-8gC |url-status=live }}
* {{Cite book |last=Jain |first=Manju |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ORE9TDOoU1IC&pg=PA62 |title=Narratives Of Indian Cinema |publisher=Primus Books |year=2009 |isbn=978-81-908918-4-4 }}
* {{Cite book |last=Jess-Cooke |first=Carolyn |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Sw0mjBBbybUC&pg=PA126 |title=Film Sequels: Theory and Practice from Hollywood to Bollywood |publisher=Edinburgh University Press |year=2009 |isbn=978-0-7486-2603-8 }}
* {{Cite book |last=Khan |first=Mohammad Zahir |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=LE8iAAAAMAAJ |title=Dacoity in Chambal Valley |publisher=National |year=1981 }}
* {{Cite book |last=Mishra |first=Vijay |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=8Q8Z9Ukwn6EC |title=Bollywood Cinema: Temples of Desire |publisher=Routledge |year=2002 |isbn=978-0-415-93015-4 |access-date=15 July 2016 |archive-date=17 June 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160617214223/https://books.google.com/books?id=8Q8Z9Ukwn6EC |url-status=live }}
* {{Cite book |last=Morcom |first=Anna |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=kfVdxiSm-aYC&pg=PA212 |title=Hindi film songs and the cinema |publisher=Ashgate Publishing, Ltd. |year=2007 |isbn=978-0-7546-5198-7 |access-date=15 July 2016 |archive-date=17 May 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160517041801/https://books.google.com/books?id=kfVdxiSm-aYC&pg=PA212 |url-status=live }}
* {{Cite book |last=Prasad |first=M. Madhava |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=6OBkAAAAMAAJ |title=Ideology of the Hindi Film: A Historical Construction |publisher=Oxford University Press, Incorporated |year=1998 |isbn=978-0-19-564218-6 |access-date=15 July 2016 |archive-date=11 June 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140611095042/http://books.google.com/books?id=6OBkAAAAMAAJ |url-status=live }}
* {{Cite book |last=Rao |first=Maithili |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=8y8vN9A14nkC |title=Encyclopaedia of Hindi Cinema |publisher=Encyclopædia Britannica, Popular Prakashan |year=2003 |isbn=978-81-7991-066-5 |editor-last=Gulzar |chapter=1976–1989: Rebels without a Cause |editor-last2=Nihalani |editor-first2=Govind |editor-last3=Chatterjee |editor-first3=Saibal |access-date=15 July 2016 |archive-date=5 April 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190405040645/https://books.google.com/books?id=8y8vN9A14nkC |url-status=live }}
* {{Cite book |last=Roy |first=Sharmishta |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=8y8vN9A14nkC |title=Encyclopaedia of Hindi Cinema |publisher=Encyclopædia Britannica, Popular Prakashan |year=2003 |isbn=978-81-7991-066-5 |editor-last=Gulzar |chapter=Art Direction: Sets, Reality, and Grandeur |editor-last2=Nihalani |editor-first2=Govind |editor-last3=Chatterjee |editor-first3=Saibal |access-date=15 July 2016 |archive-date=5 April 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190405040645/https://books.google.com/books?id=8y8vN9A14nkC |url-status=live }}
* {{Cite book |last=Sardar |first=Ziauddin |title=The Secret Politics of Our Desires: Innocence, Culpability and Indian Popular Cinema |publisher=Palgrave Macmillan |year=1998 |isbn=978-1-85649-516-5 |editor-last=Nandy |editor-first=Ashis |chapter=Dilip Kumar Made Me Do It |chapter-url=https://books.google.com/books?id=5-mFd5pfgNsC&pg=PA49 |access-date=15 July 2016 |archive-date=2 January 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120102061751/http://books.google.com/books?id=5-mFd5pfgNsC |url-status=live }}
* {{Cite book |last=Sparks |first=Karen Jacobs |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=5wKvMZWcgKYC |title=Encyclopædia Britannica 2008 |publisher=Encyclopædia Britannica |year=2008 |isbn=978-1-59339-425-7 }}
* {{Cite book |url=http://www2.census.gov/prod2/statcomp/documents/1977-11.pdf |title=Statistical Abstract of the United States: 1977 |publisher=US Bureau of the Census |year=1977 |ref={{sfnRef|Statistical Abstract of the United States|1977}} |access-date=13 April 2013 |archive-date=4 March 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304063334/http://www2.census.gov/prod2/statcomp/documents/1977-11.pdf |url-status=live }}
* {{Cite book |last=Varma |first=Pavan K. |title=Becoming Indian |publisher=Penguin Books India |year=2010 |isbn=978-0-670-08346-6 |chapter=Creativity and Distortion |chapter-url=https://books.google.com/books?id=4uzTY2MQ5CAC&pg=PA160 }}
* {{Cite book |last=Zankar |first=Anil |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=8y8vN9A14nkC |title=Encyclopaedia of Hindi Cinema |publisher=Encyclopædia Britannica, Popular Prakashan |year=2003 |isbn=978-81-7991-066-5 |editor-last=Gulzar |chapter=Heroes and Villains: Good versus Evil |editor-last2=Nihalani |editor-first2=Govind |editor-last3=Chatterjee |editor-first3=Saibal |access-date=15 July 2016 |archive-date=5 April 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190405040645/https://books.google.com/books?id=8y8vN9A14nkC |url-status=live }}
{{refend}}

== External links ==
{{commons category}}
{{Wikiquote}}
* ''[https://www.imdb.com/title/tt39151096/ Sholay: The Final Cut]'' (2025) at [[IMDb]]
*''[https://filmheritagefoundation.co.in/sholay-1975-embers-restored-by-film-heritage-foundation/ Sholay: The Final Cut]'' (2025) at [[Film Heritage Foundation]]
* {{IMDb title}} (1975)
*''[https://www.bfi.org.uk/film/4c157d6b-5fcb-5899-b4f7-a4bf085fa9eb/sholay Sholay]'' (1975) at the [[British Film Institute]]

{{Salim-Javed}}
{{Ramesh Sippy}}
{{Portal bar|Bollywood|Film|India}}
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Sholay

2026-07-14T07:09:58Z

2409:40E6:EA:E7CA:4DCF:1ADD:A789:4C4B:

{{short description|1975 Indian film by Ramesh Sippy}}
{{distinguish|Shola (disambiguation)}}
{{featured article}}
{{protection padlock|small=yes}}
{{Use Indian English|date=December 2025}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=December 2025}}
{{Infobox film
| name = Sholay
| image = Sholay-poster.jpg
| alt =
| caption = Theatrical release poster
| director = [[Ramesh Sippy]]
| producer = [[G. P. Sippy]]
| writer = [[Salim–Javed]]
| starring = {{Plainlist|
* [[Dharmendra]]
* [[Sanjeev Kumar]]
* [[Hema Malini]]
* [[Amitabh Bachchan]]
* [[Jaya Bhaduri]]
* [[Amjad Khan (actor)|Amjad Khan]]
}}
| music = [[R. D. Burman]]
| cinematography = [[Dwarka Divecha]]
| editing = [[M. S. Shinde]]
| studio = United Producers [[G. P. Sippy|Sippy Films]]
| distributor = Sippy Films
| released = {{Film date|1975|8|15|df=yes}}
| runtime = 204 minutes (Original version) 198 minutes (Theatrical version)
| country = India
| language = Hindi
| budget = {{INR|35 million|link=yes}}<ref name="budget">{{cite web|url=https://boxofficeindia.com/report-details.php?articleid=4467|title=2.0 - Among The Biggest Films Ever Made In India|date=27 November 2018}}</ref>
| gross = {{Estimation}} {{INR|580 million}} (India)<ref>{{cite news|title=Sholay emerges as Bollywood's most successful re-run product even after 20 years|url=https://www.indiatoday.in/magazine/society-and-the-arts/films/story/19950915-sholay-emerges-as-bollywoods-most-successful-re-run-product-even-after-20-years-807750-1995-09-14|work=[[India Today]]|date=15 September 1995|access-date=15 November 2017|archive-date=1 January 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170101010917/http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/sholay-emerges-as-bollywoods-most-successful-re-run-product-even-after-20-years/1/289356.html|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>[http://smartinvestor.business-standard.com/market/ipoNews-418220-Top_10_biggest_commercial_hits_of_Amitabh_Bachchan.htm Top 10 biggest commercial hits of Amitabh Bachchan] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171107015514/http://smartinvestor.business-standard.com/market/ipoNews-418220-Top_10_biggest_commercial_hits_of_Amitabh_Bachchan.htm |date=7 November 2017 }}, ''[[Business Standard]]'', 11 October 2016</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=B-Town rewind: The tale of the first Bollywood crore|url=http://www.mid-day.com/articles/b-town-rewind-the-tale-of-the-first-bollywood-crore/15162064|access-date=16 March 2014|work=[[Mid-Day]]|archive-date=16 March 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140316114251/http://www.mid-day.com/articles/b-town-rewind-the-tale-of-the-first-bollywood-crore/15162064|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Mitra |first1=Sumit |date=31 July 1985 |title=After series of box-office duds, Ramesh Sippy strikes back with romantic venture Saagar |work=[[India Today]] |url=https://www.indiatoday.in/magazine/society-the-arts/films/story/19850731-after-series-of-box-office-duds-ramesh-sippy-strikes-back-with-romantic-venture-saagar-770238-2013-12-27 |url-status=live |access-date=7 February 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190209135521/https://www.indiatoday.in/magazine/society-the-arts/films/story/19850731-after-series-of-box-office-duds-ramesh-sippy-strikes-back-with-romantic-venture-saagar-770238-2013-12-27 |archive-date=9 February 2019}}</ref> 250 million tickets (worldwide)<ref name="indiatoday1985" />
}}

'''''Sholay''''' ({{IPA|hns|ˈɕoːleː|lang|Sholay pronunciation.ogg}}, {{translation|'Embers'}}) is a 1975 Indian [[Action-adventure game|Action-adventure drama]] [[film]] directed by [[Ramesh Sippy]], produced by his father [[G. P. Sippy]], and written by [[Salim–Javed]]. The film follows two criminals, Veeru ([[Dharmendra]]) and Jai ([[Amitabh Bachchan]]), who are hired by a retired police officer ([[Sanjeev Kumar]]) to capture the ruthless bandit [[Gabbar Singh (character)|Gabbar Singh]] ([[Amjad Khan (actor)|Amjad Khan]]). [[Hema Malini]] and [[Jaya Bhaduri]] also star as Veeru and Jai's love interests, Basanti and Radha, respectively. The soundtrack was composed by [[R D Burman]].

Filming took place in the rocky terrain of [[Ramanagara]], in the [[South India|southern]] state of [[Karnataka]], over two and a half years, beginning in October 1973. After the [[Central Board of Film Certification]] mandated the removal of several violent scenes, ''Sholay'' was released theatrically as a 198-minute long film. The first version of the [[director's cut]] (running at 204 minutes) became available on home media in 1990. In 2025, the fully restored Director's Cut was released worldwide as ''Sholay: The Final Cut.''

''Sholay'' is a [[Dacoit Western]] (sometimes called a "[[Curry Western]]"), combining the conventions of Indian [[dacoit film]]s with that of [[Spaghetti Western]]s along with elements of [[Samurai cinema]]. It is also a defining example of the [[masala film]], which mixes several genres in one work. Scholars have noted several themes in the film, such as [[Heroic bloodshed|glorification of violence]], conformation to [[Indian feudalism]], debate between [[social order]] and mobilised usurpers, [[homosocial]] bonding, and the film's role as a [[National personification|national allegory]].

''Sholay'' received negative critical reviews and a tepid commercial response during its initial release. However, favorable [[Word of mouth|word-of-mouth]] publicity helped it to become a box office success. It then went on to break records for continuous showings in many theatres across India, and ran for more than five years at Mumbai's Minerva theatre. The combined sales of the original soundtrack, scored by [[R. D. Burman]], and the dialogues (released separately), set new records at the time. In addition, the film's dialogue and certain characters became extremely popular, contributing to numerous cultural [[meme]]s and becoming part of India's daily [[vernacular]]. ''Sholay'' is now regarded as [[List of films considered the best#National polls|one of the greatest and most influential Indian films of all time]]. It was ranked first in the [[British Film Institute]]'s 2002 poll of "Top 10 Indian Films" of all time. In 2005, the judges of the [[50th Filmfare Awards]] named it the [[Filmfare Best Film of 50 Years|Best Film of 50 Years]]. It was also an [[List of highest-grossing Indian films in overseas markets|overseas success]] in the [[Soviet Union]]. ''Sholay'' was also at one point the [[List of highest-grossing Indian films|highest-grossing Indian film]] ever at the time, and was the [[List of highest-grossing films in India|highest-grossing film in India]] up until ''[[Hum Aapke Hain Koun..!]]'' (1994).

== Plot ==
===Theatrical release (1975)===
Jai and Veeru are small-time crooks who are released from prison, where they are recruited by a former [[police Inspector|Inspector]] [[Thakur (title)|Thakur]] Baldev Singh to capture a notorious [[dacoit]] named Gabbar Singh wanted for {{INR|50000}},{{efn|name=exchange|The exchange rate in 1975 was 8.94 Indian rupees ({{INR}}) per 1 US dollar (US$).{{sfn|Statistical Abstract of the United States|1977|p=917}}}} as the duo had saved Thakur from a train robbery, which makes Thakur recruit them for the mission with an additional {{INR|20000}} reward. The duo leaves for Thakur's village in [[Chambal (region)|Ramgarh]], where Gabbar is residing and terrorising the villagers.

After reaching Ramgarh, Veeru falls for Basanti, a feisty, talkative [[Driving (horse)|horse-cart driver]]. Jai meets Thakur's widowed daughter-in-law, Radha, and falls for her; she later reciprocates his feelings. The two thwart Gabbar's dacoits, who came to extort money and goods. Later on, the three dacoits, including Kaalia, are killed by Gabbar. During the festival of [[Holi]], Gabbar's gang attacks the villagers, where they corner Jai and Veeru, but the duo manage to attack and chase them away from the village. The duo is upset at Thakur's inaction (when Jai and Veeru were cornered, Thakur had a gun within his reach, but did not help them) and considers calling off the mission. Thakur reveals that a few years ago, Gabbar had killed his family (save for Radha and Ramlal), and had both his arms cut off; he concealed the dismemberment by always wearing a [[shawl]], the sole reason he could not use the gun.

Realising how much Thakur has suffered, Jai and Veeru take pity by taking an oath that they will capture Gabbar alive, free of charge. After learning the duo's heroics, Gabbar kills Ahmed, the local [[imam]] Rahim Chacha's son, to threaten the villagers to make Jai and Veeru surrender to him. The villagers refuse and instead get the duo to kill a few of Gabbar's henchmen in revenge for the boy's death. Gabbar angrily retaliates by having his men capture Veeru and Basanti. Jai arrives and attacks the hideout, where the trio can flee Gabbar's hideout with dacoits in pursuit. Shooting from behind a rock, Jai and Veeru nearly run out of [[ammunition]]. Unaware that Jai was wounded in the gunfight, Veeru is forced to leave for more ammunition and also to drop Basanti at a safe place.

Jai sacrifices himself by using his last bullet to ignite dynamite sticks on a bridge from close range, killing Gabbar's men. Veeru returns, and Jai dies, leaving Radha and Veeru devastated. Enraged, Veeru attacks Gabbar's den and kills his remaining men, where he catches Gabbar and nearly beats him to death. Thakur appears and reminds Veeru of the vow to hand over Gabbar alive. Thakur uses his spike-soled shoes to severely injure Gabbar and his hands. As Thakur is about to kill Gabbar, the police arrive, and the senior officer convinces Thakur to let go, explaining that he was also a police officer, whose example is legendary. Convinced, Thakur lets go, and the police arrest Gabbar for his crimes.

After Jai's funeral, Veeru decides to leave Ramgarh, with Thakur empathising with him. After boarding the train, he finds Basanti waiting for him on the train, and they both embrace each other.

=== Director's cut ===
The original [[director's cut]] has a different ending. The police do not arrive to stop Thakur. Instead, he kicks Gabbar onto a nail on one of the two poles that Gabbar had used to chain Thakur when he had cut off his arms, thus stabbing him in the back and killing him. This version also has deleted scenes that include Thakur's shoe soles getting laced with spikes, the scene in which Thakur's family is massacred, and the scene in which the imam's son is killed (all of which were originally cut by India's [[Central Board of Film Certification|Censor Board]]).{{sfn|Chopra|2000|pp=77–79}} The Censor Board was concerned about the violence, and that viewers may be influenced to violate the law by punishing people severely.<ref name="ending" /> Although Sippy fought to keep the scenes, he ultimately had to reshoot the ending, and as directed by the Censor Board, have the police arrive just before Thakur can kill Gabbar.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Prabhakar, Jyothi |date=28 April 2013 |title=Changed 'Sholay' climax because of the Censor Board: Ramesh Sippy |work=The Times of India |url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/hindi/bollywood/news/Changed-Sholay-climax-because-of-the-Censor-Board-Ramesh-Sippy/articleshow/19754678.cms? |url-status=live |access-date=5 July 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150817120148/http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/hindi/bollywood/news/Changed-Sholay-climax-because-of-the-Censor-Board-Ramesh-Sippy/articleshow/19754678.cms |archive-date=17 August 2015}}</ref>

The fully restored director's cut was released in 2025 as [[Sholay#Sholay:_The_Final_Cut_(2025)|''Sholay: The Final Cut'']]. It was remastered in 4K and Dolby 5.1, and theatrically reissued on 12 December 2025 globally. This release is classified at 206 minutes.<ref>{{cite web |date=11 December 2025 |title='Sholay' (15) |url=https://www.bbfc.co.uk/release/sholay-q29sbgvjdglvbjpwwc0zmzy4odc |access-date=18 December 2025 |publisher=[[British Board of Film Classification|BBFC]] |language=en-GB}}</ref>

Prior to this release, the censored, theatrical cut was the only one seen by audiences for fifteen years. Versions of the director's cut initially surfaced in 1990 via a British [[VHS]] release.<ref name="DVD" /> [[Eros International]] then released two versions on DVD: a director's cut that preserved the original full frame and is 204 minutes in length, and the censored widescreen version which ran at 198 minutes long.<ref name="Runtime" /><ref name="DVD" /><ref>{{Cite web |date=17 February 2001 |title=Sholay DVD review :: zulm.net :: definitive indian dvd guide |url=http://www.zulm.net/modules.php?op=modload&name=News&file=article&sid=103&mode=&order=0 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120811131134/http://www.zulm.net/modules.php?op=modload&name=News&file=article&sid=103&mode=&order=0 |archive-date=11 August 2012 |access-date=3 July 2013 |publisher=zulm.net}}</ref>{{efn|name=runtime|The [[British Board of Film Classification]] (BBFC) notes three running times: the film submission is 198 minutes; the video is 188 minutes (BBFC notes that "When a film is transferred to video, the running time will be shorter by approximately 4% due to the differing number of frames per second. This does not mean that the video version has been cut or re-edited."); and the director's cut is 204 minutes.<ref>{{Cite web |date=25 September 2012 |title=''Sholay'' |url=https://www.bbfc.co.uk/website/Classified.nsf/c2fb077ba3f9b33980256b4f002da32c/cde1a8bb41dd72ca8025660b0006032d?OpenDocument |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131021153210/http://www.bbfc.co.uk/website/Classified.nsf/c2fb077ba3f9b33980256b4f002da32c/cde1a8bb41dd72ca8025660b0006032d?OpenDocument |archive-date=21 October 2013 |access-date=11 May 2013 |publisher=British Board of Film Classification}}</ref>}}

== Cast ==
{{Cast listing|
* [[Dharmendra]] as Veeru
* [[Sanjeev Kumar]] as [[Thakur (title)|Thakur]] Baldev Singh, a retired Police Officer
* [[Hema Malini]] as Basanti, Veeru's love interest
* [[Amitabh Bachchan]] as Jaidev "Jai"
* [[Jaya Bhaduri]] as Radha, Thakur's daughter-in-law and Jai's love interest
* [[Amjad Khan (actor)|Amjad Khan]] as [[Gabbar Singh (character)|Gabbar Singh]], a wanted [[dacoit]].
* [[A. K. Hangal]] as Rahim Chacha, the [[imam]] in the village
* [[Satyen Kappu]] as Ram Lal, Thakur's servant
* [[Iftekhar]] as [[Inspector]] Khurana, Radha's Father
* [[Leela Mishra]] as Mausi, Basanti's maternal aunt
* [[Vikas Anand]] as Jailor
* [[Mac Mohan]] as Sambha, Gabbar Singh's sidekick
* [[Keshto Mukherjee]] as Hariram, prison barber and Jailor's side-kick
* [[Sachin (actor)|Sachin Pilgaonkar]] as Ahmed, son of the imam
* Master Alankar as grandson of Thakur Baldev Singh; the character's name is not mentioned in the film.
* [[Viju Khote]] as Kaalia, one of the Gabbar's men whom he kills in a game of [[Russian roulette]]
* Major Anand as unnamed, one of the Gabbar's men whom he kills in a game of Russian roulette
* Bhagwan Sinha as unnamed, one of the Gabbar's men killed by him in a game of Russian roulette
* [[Arvind Joshi]] as elder son of Thakur Baldev Singh<ref>{{Cite news |title=Sharman Joshi father Arvind Joshi workedin Amitabh Bachchan-Dharmendra Sholay |publisher=TimesNowHindi.com |url=https://www.timesnowhindi.com/entertainment/bollywood/article/sharman-joshi-father-arvind-joshi-worked-in-amitabh-bachchan-dharmendra-sholay/290925 |access-date=12 October 2020 |archive-date=22 January 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210122125347/https://www.timesnowhindi.com/entertainment/bollywood/article/sharman-joshi-father-arvind-joshi-worked-in-amitabh-bachchan-dharmendra-sholay/290925 |url-status=live }}</ref>
* Bhanumati as Nirmala
* Birbal as the prisoner with half shaven mustache
* [[Raj Kishore]] as a jail inmate with gayish mannerisms<ref>{{Cite news |last=Sarkar |first=Suparno |date=6 April 2018 |title=Sholay actor Raj Kishore latest among Bollywood celebs who died in 2018 |work=International Business Times |location=India |url=https://www.ibtimes.co.in/sholay-actor-raj-kishore-passes-away-85-766026 |url-status=live |access-date=6 April 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180406160230/https://www.ibtimes.co.in/sholay-actor-raj-kishore-passes-away-85-766026 |archive-date=6 April 2018}}</ref>
* [[Asrani]] as the [[Prison officer|Jailor]], a comical character modelled after [[Charlie Chaplin]] in ''[[The Great Dictator]]''{{sfn|Banerjee|Srivastava|1988|pp=166–169}}
* [[Gita Siddharth]] as Geeta, Thakur Baldev Singh's daughter in law<ref>{{Cite news |title=Parichay And Sholay Actor Gita Siddharth Kak Passes Away |publisher=India.com |url=https://www.india.com/entertainment/parichay-and-sholay-actor-gita-siddharth-kak-passes-away-3878236/ |access-date=12 October 2020 |archive-date=14 October 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201014034125/https://www.india.com/entertainment/parichay-and-sholay-actor-gita-siddharth-kak-passes-away-3878236/ |url-status=live }}</ref>
* [[Helen (actress)|Helen]] in a special appearance in song "Mehbooba Mehbooba"
* [[P. Jairaj|Jairaj]] as Police Commissioner
* [[Jagdeep]] as Soorma Bhopali, a comical wood trader
* [[Jalal Agha]] in a special appearance in song "Mehbooba Mehbooba"
* [[Om Shivpuri]] as a police officer investigating Gabbar's attack in the village.
* Sharad Kumar as Ninni, younger son of Thakur Baldev Singh<ref>{{Cite news |title=Biography: Sharad Kumar |publisher=Amazon.com |url=https://www.amazon.com/prime-video/actor/Sharad-Kumar/nm0474886/ |access-date=12 October 2020 |archive-date=22 October 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211022104355/https://www.amazon.com/prime-video/actor/Sharad-Kumar/nm0474886/ |url-status=live }}</ref>
}}

== Production ==
=== Development ===
The screenwriter pair [[Salim–Javed]], consisting of [[Salim Khan]] and [[Javed Akhtar]], began narrating the idea for ''Sholay'' as a four-line snippet to filmmakers in 1973.<ref name="open" />{{sfn|Chopra|2000|pp=22–28}} The idea was rejected by two producer/director teams, including directors [[Manmohan Desai]] and [[Prakash Mehra]].{{sfn|Chopra|2000|pp=22–28}} About six months after the release of ''[[Zanjeer (1973 film)|Zanjeer]]'' (1973),{{efn|name=Zanjeer|Salim-Javed won their first [[Filmfare Awards]] for ''Zanjeer'': [[Filmfare Award for Best Screenplay]] and [[Filmfare Award for Best Story|Best Story]] in [[21st Filmfare Awards|1974]].}} Salim-Javed contacted [[G. P. Sippy]] and his son [[Ramesh Sippy]],<ref name="open" /> and narrated the four-line snippet to them.{{sfn|Chopra|2000|pp=22–28}} Ramesh Sippy liked the concept of ''Sholay'' and hired them to develop it. The original idea of the film involved an army officer who decided to hire two ex-soldiers to avenge the murder of his family. The army officer was later changed to a policeman because Sippy felt that it would be difficult to get permission to shoot scenes depicting army activities. Salim-Javed completed the script in one month, incorporating names and personality traits of their friends and acquaintances.{{sfn|Chopra|2000|pp=22–28}} The film's script and dialogues are in [[Hindustani language|Hindustani]];<ref name="Cinar" /> Salim-Javed wrote the dialogues in [[Urdu script]], which was then transcribed by an assistant into [[Devanagari]] script so that Hindi readers could read the Urdu dialogues.<ref name="Akhtar" />

The film's plot was loosely styled after [[Akira Kurosawa]]'s 1954 [[samurai cinema]] film, ''[[Seven Samurai]]''.<ref name="nyt" /><ref name="rediff1" /> ''Sholay'' is a defining example of the [[Dacoit Western]] film, combining the conventions of Indian [[dacoit film]]s, especially [[Mehboob Khan]]'s ''[[Mother India]]'' (1957) and the [[Dilip Kumar]] and [[Nitin Bose]] film ''[[Gunga Jumna]]'' (1961),<ref name="Teo" /> with that of [[Western (genre)|Westerns]],<ref name="nyt" /><ref name="rediff1" /> especially [[Sergio Leone]]'s [[Spaghetti Western]]s such as ''[[Once Upon a Time in the West]]'' (1968) as well as ''[[The Magnificent Seven]]'' (1960).<ref name="rediff1" /> It also has some plot elements borrowed from the Indian films ''[[Mera Gaon Mera Desh]]'' (1971) and ''[[Khote Sikkay]]'' (1974).{{sfn|Chopra|2000|pp=22–28}} A scene depicting an attempted train robbery was inspired by a similar scene in ''Gunga Jumna'',<ref>{{Cite book |last=Ghosh |first=Tapan K. |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=0d6GAwAAQBAJ&pg=PA55 |title=Bollywood Baddies: Villains, Vamps and Henchmen in Hindi Cinema |date=2013 |publisher=[[SAGE Publishing|SAGE Publications]] |isbn=9788132113263 |page=55 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171130151204/https://books.google.com/books?id=0d6GAwAAQBAJ&pg=PA55 |archive-date=30 November 2017 |url-status=live}}</ref> and has also been compared to a similar scene in ''[[North West Frontier (film)|North West Frontier]]'' (1959).{{sfn|Varma|2010|pp=159–160}} A scene showing the massacre of Thakur's family has been compared with the massacre of the McBain family in ''Once Upon a Time in the West''.{{sfn|Heide|2002|p=52}} ''Sholay'' may have also been influenced by [[Sam Peckinpah]]'s Westerns, such as ''[[The Wild Bunch]]'' (1969) and ''[[Pat Garrett and Billy the Kid]]'' (1973), and [[George Roy Hill]]'s ''[[Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid]]'' (1969).<ref>{{Cite web |date=22 June 2009 |title=Bollywood continues to lift from Hollywood scripts |url=http://www.sify.com/movies/bollywood-continues-to-lift-from-hollywood-scripts-news-bollywood-kkfrNmejhbc.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101205195840/http://sify.com/movies/bollywood-continues-to-lift-from-hollywood-scripts-news-bollywood-kkfrNmejhbc.html |archive-date=5 December 2010 |access-date=22 December 2010 |website=[[Sify]]}}</ref>

The character [[Gabbar Singh (character)|Gabbar Singh]] was modelled on a real-life dacoit [[Gabbar Singh Gujjar]] who had menaced the villages around [[Gwalior]] in the 1950s. Any policeman captured by Gujjar had his ears and nose cut off, and was released as a warning to other policemen.{{sfn|Khan|1981|pp=88–89, 98}}{{sfn|Chopra|2000|p=26}} The fictional Gabbar was also influenced by larger-than-life characters in Pakistani author [[Ibn-e-Safi]]'s [[Urdu literature|Urdu novels]],<ref>{{Cite news |date=10 July 2011 |title=Urdu pulp fiction: Where Gabbar Singh and Mogambo came from |work=[[Daily News and Analysis]] |url=https://www.dnaindia.com/lifestyle/review-urdu-pulp-fiction-where-gabbar-singh-and-mogambo-came-from-1564148 |access-date=3 June 2019 |archive-date=3 June 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190603155106/https://www.dnaindia.com/lifestyle/review-urdu-pulp-fiction-where-gabbar-singh-and-mogambo-came-from-1564148 |url-status=live }}</ref> Dilip Kumar's dacoit character Gunga from the film ''Gunga Jumna'' who speaks with a similar mixed [[Kauravi dialect|Khariboli]] and [[Awadhi language|Awadhi]] dialect,<ref>{{Cite web |last=Chopra |first=Anupama |date=11 August 2015 |title=Shatrughan Sinha as Jai, Pran as Thakur and Danny as Gabbar? What 'Sholay' could have been |url=https://scroll.in/article/745687/shatrughan-sinha-as-jai-pran-as-thakur-and-danny-as-gabbar-what-sholay-could-have-been |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151108092131/http://scroll.in/article/745687/shatrughan-sinha-as-jai-pran-as-thakur-and-danny-as-gabbar-what-sholay-could-have-been |archive-date=8 November 2015 |website=Scroll}}</ref> and villains from Sergio Leone's films.{{sfn|Chopra|2000|p=34}} Sippy wanted to do away with the clichéd idea of a man becoming a dacoit due to societal issues, as was the case in other films, and focused on Gabbar being an emblem of pure evil. To emphasise the point of Gabbar being a new type of villain, Sippy avoided the typical tropes of dacoits wearing [[dhoti]]s and [[Pagri (turban)|pagris]] and sporting a [[Tilaka|tika]] and worshipping "[[Bhavani|Ma Bhavani]]"; Gabbar would be wearing [[Military uniform|army fatigues]].{{sfn|Chopra|2000|p=38}} The look of the character of the jailer, played by [[Asrani]] was influenced by [[Adolf Hitler]]. Javed Akhtar brought a book on [[World War II]] which had several pictures of Hitler posing to set the typical posture of the character in the film. Asrani spiced up his character with some ideas about Hitler's speech delivery he had heard from a teacher in [[Film and Television Institute of India|FTII]]. The trademark 'Ha Ha' at the end of his monologues was inspired by a similar performance by [[Jack Lemmon]] in ''[[The Great Race]]''.{{sfn|Chopra|2000|p=37}}{{sfn|Banerjea|2005|p=183}} Soorma Bhopali, a minor [[comic relief]] character, was based on an acquaintance of actor Jagdeep, a forest officer from [[Bhopal]] named Soorma. The real-life Soorma eventually threatened to press charges when people who had viewed the film began referring to him as a woodcutter.<ref>{{Cite web |date=13 February 2013 |title=How 'Soorma Bhopali' and 'Calendar' were created! |url=https://www.bollywoodhungama.com/news/features/how-soorma-bhopali-and-calendar-were-created/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161121104754/http://www.bollywoodhungama.com/news/features/how-soorma-bhopali-and-calendar-were-created/ |archive-date=21 November 2016 |access-date=24 April 2013 |website=[[Bollywood Hungama]]}}</ref> The main characters' names, Jai and Veeru, mean "victory" and "heroism" in Hindi.{{sfn|Hogan|2008|p=90}}

=== Casting ===
The producers considered [[Danny Denzongpa]] for the role of Gabbar Singh, but he could not accept it as he was committed to act in [[Feroz Khan (actor, born 1939)|Feroz Khan]]'s ''[[Dharmatma]]'' (1975), under production at the same time.<ref>{{Cite news |date=30 August 2008 |title=Danny Denzongpa's loss |work=[[The Times of India]] |url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/hindi/bollywood/did-you-know-/Danny-Denzongpas-loss/articleshow/3422978.cms |access-date=26 January 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141113081159/http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/hindi/bollywood/did-you-know-/Danny-Denzongpas-loss/articleshow/3422978.cms |archive-date=13 November 2014}}</ref> Amjad Khan, who was the second choice, prepared himself for the part by reading the book ''Abhishapta Chambal'', which told of the exploits of [[Chambal division|Chambal]] dacoits. The book was written by Taroon Kumar Bhaduri, the father of fellow cast member Jaya Bhaduri.{{sfn|Chopra|2000|p=60}} Sanjeev Kumar also wanted to play the role of Gabbar Singh, but Salim-Javed "felt he had the audience's sympathy through roles he'd done before; Gabbar had to be completely hateful."<ref name="open" />

Sippy wanted [[Shatrughan Sinha]] to play the part of Jai, but there were already several big stars signed, and Amitabh Bachchan, who was not very popular yet, lobbied hard to get the part for himself.{{sfn|Chopra|2000|pp=22–28}} He was cast after Salim-Javed recommended him for ''Sholay'' in 1973; Bachchan's performance in their first collaboration, ''Zanjeer'', convinced Salim-Javed he was the right actor for the part.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Chaudhuri |first=Diptakirti |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Cri9CgAAQBAJ&pg=PT93 |title=Written by Salim-Javed: The Story of Hindi Cinema's Greatest Screenwriters |date=2015 |publisher=[[Penguin Group]] |isbn=9789352140084 |page=93 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171130151204/https://books.google.com/books?id=Cri9CgAAQBAJ&pg=PT93 |archive-date=30 November 2017 |url-status=live}}</ref> Salim-Javed were also impressed with Bachchan's performance in ''[[Raaste Kaa Patthar]]'' (1972), and at Bachchan's request, Dharmendra had personally put in a word for him. All these factors ensured that the role was Bachchan's.{{sfn|Chopra|2000|p=31}}

As cast members had read the script ahead of time, many were interested in playing different parts. [[Pran (actor)|Pran]] was considered for the role of Thakur Baldev Singh, but Sippy thought Sanjeev Kumar was a better choice.{{sfn|Chopra|2000|pp=31–32}} Initially, Salim-Javed approached [[Dilip Kumar]] to play Thakur's role, but he turned down the offer; Dilip Kumar later said it was one of the few films he regretted turning down.<ref name="open" /> Initially, Dharmendra was also interested to play the role of Thakur. He eventually gave up the role when Sippy informed him that Sanjeev Kumar would play Veeru if that happened, and would thus be paired with Hema Malini, who Dharmendra was trying to woo. Dharmendra knew that Kumar was also interested in Malini.{{sfn|Chopra|2000|pp=35–36}} Malini was reluctant to play the role of a ''tangewali'', more so after Sippy told her that the film belongs to Sanjeev Kumar and Amjad Khan, but she trusted Sippy to give her a meaty role, given that he had played a huge role in essaying her stardom through their previous collaborations.{{sfn|Chopra|2000|p=30}}

During the film's production, four of the leads became romantically involved.<ref name="rediff1" /> Bachchan married Bhaduri four months before filming started. This led to shooting delays when Bhaduri became pregnant with their daughter [[Shweta Bachchan Nanda|Shweta]]. By the time the film released, she was pregnant with their son [[Abhishek Bachchan|Abhishek]]. Dharmendra had begun courting Malini during their earlier film ''[[Seeta Aur Geeta]]'' (1972), also directed by Sippy, and used the location shoot of ''Sholay'' to further pursue her. During their romantic scenes, Dharmendra would often pay the light boys to spoil the shot, thereby ensuring many retakes which would allow him to spend more time with her. The couple married five years after the film's release.{{sfn|Chopra|2000|pp=91–105}}

=== Filming ===
[[File:Ramdevarabetta.jpg|thumb|Ramdevarabetta, near the town of [[Ramanagara]]; much of ''Sholay'' was shot in rocky locations such as this.|alt=A rocky outcrop such as those used in filming Sholay]]

Much of ''Sholay'' was shot in the rocky terrain of [[Ramanagara]], a town near [[Bangalore]], [[Karnataka]].<ref>{{Cite news |last=Prabhu |first=Nagesh |date=29 August 2019 |title=The hills around Bengaluru are alive with the sound of tourists |language=en-IN |work=The Hindu |url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/bangalore/the-hills-around-bengaluru-are-alive-with-the-sound-of-tourists/article29292458.ece |access-date=3 February 2020 |issn=0971-751X |archive-date=3 February 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200203014051/https://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/bangalore/the-hills-around-bengaluru-are-alive-with-the-sound-of-tourists/article29292458.ece |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=22 June 2007 |title=Ramgarh of Sholay to become district |work=The Times of India |url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/bengaluru/Ramgarh-of-Sholay-to-become-district/articleshow/2140172.cms? |url-status=live |access-date=23 December 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151013005634/http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/bengaluru/Ramgarh-of-Sholay-to-become-district/articleshow/2140172.cms |archive-date=13 October 2015}}</ref> The filmmakers had to build a road from the Bangalore highway to Ramanagara for convenient access to the sets.{{sfn|Chopra|2000|p=45}} Art director Ram Yedekar had an entire township built on the site. A prison set was constructed near [[Rajkamal Studios]] in [[Bombay]], also outdoors, to match the natural lighting of the on-location sets.{{sfn|Roy|2003|p=225}} One part of Ramanagara was for a time called "Sippy Nagar" as a tribute to the director of the film.<ref>{{Cite web |date=30 December 1999 |title='We are not remaking ''Sholay''...' |url=http://www.rediff.com/entertai/1999/dec/30sholay.htm |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131021153903/http://www.rediff.com/entertai/1999/dec/30sholay.htm |archive-date=21 October 2013 |access-date=20 April 2013 |publisher=Rediff}}</ref> {{As of|2010}}, a visit to the "Sholay rocks" (where much of the film was shot) was still being offered to tourists travelling through Ramanagara.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Mekkad |first=Salil |date=19 June 2010 |title=Sholay ka Ramgarh |work=[[Hindustan Times]] |url=http://www.hindustantimes.com/art-and-culture/sholay-ka-ramgarh/story-wFY6D54CpoRCtuqPKhk2LL.html |url-status=live |access-date=27 September 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151005114908/http://www.hindustantimes.com/art-and-culture/sholay-ka-ramgarh/story-wFY6D54CpoRCtuqPKhk2LL.html |archive-date=5 October 2015}}</ref>

Filming began on location on 3 October 1973, with a scene featuring Bachchan and Bhaduri.{{sfn|Chopra|2000|p=64}} The film had a lavish production for its time (with frequent banquets and parties for the cast),{{sfn|Chopra|2000|pp=66–67}} took two and a half years to make, and went over budget. One reason for its high cost was that Sippy re-filmed scenes many times to get his desired effect. "Yeh Dosti", a 5-minute song sequence, took 21 days to shoot, two short scenes in which Radha lights lamps took 20 days to film because of lighting problems, and the shooting of the scene in which Gabbar kills the imam's son lasted 19 days.{{sfn|Chopra|2000|pp=77–79}} The train robbery sequence, shot on the [[Mumbai–Pune Shatabdi Express|Bombay–Poona railway]] route near [[Panvel]], took more than 7 weeks to complete.<ref>{{Cite news |last=[[Indo-Asian News Service|IANS]] |date=4 August 2010 |title=Sholay continues to smoulder |work=Pune Mirror |url=http://punemirror.in/index.aspx?page=article&sectid=2&contentid=20100804201008040006534547ec622a7&sectxslt=&pageno=1 |access-date=6 December 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120311160806/http://punemirror.in/index.aspx?page=article&sectid=2&contentid=20100804201008040006534547ec622a7&sectxslt=&pageno=1 |archive-date=11 March 2012}}</ref>

''Sholay'' was the first Indian film to have a [[Stereophonic sound|stereophonic]] soundtrack and to use the [[70 mm film|70 mm]] [[widescreen]] format.<ref name="ndtv" /> However, since actual 70 mm cameras were expensive at the time, the film was shot on traditional [[35 mm movie film|35 mm film]] and the [[4:3|4:3 picture]] was subsequently converted to a 2.2:1 frame.<ref name="DVD" /> Regarding the process, Sippy said, "A 70 mm ''[sic]'' format takes the awe of the big screen and magnifies it even more to make the picture even bigger, but since I also wanted a spread of sound we used six-track stereophonic sound and combined it with the big screen. It was definitely a differentiator."<ref>{{Cite news |last=Raghavendra |first=Nandini |date=10 April 2010 |title=3D effect: Back to 70 mm screens? |work=[[The Economic Times]] |url=http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/industry/media/entertainment/3d-effect-back-to-70mm-screens/articleshow/5780184.cms |url-status=live |access-date=30 December 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170213005654/http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/industry/media/entertainment/3d-effect-back-to-70mm-screens/articleshow/5780184.cms |archive-date=13 February 2017}}</ref> The use of 70 mm was emphasised by film posters on which the name of the film was stylised to match the [[CinemaScope]] logo. Film posters also sought to differentiate the film from those which had come before; one of them added the [[tagline]]: "The greatest star cast ever assembled – the greatest story ever told".<ref>{{Cite web |last=Mazumdar, Ranjani |title=The Man Who Was Seen Too Much: Amitabh Bachchan on Film Posters (The Poster As Preview) |url=http://www.tasveergharindia.net/cmsdesk/essay/106/index_1.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150512142358/http://www.tasveergharindia.net/cmsdesk/essay/106/index_1.html |archive-date=12 May 2015 |access-date=9 May 2013 |publisher=Tasveer Ghar}}</ref>

== Themes and interpretations ==
Scholars have noted several themes in the film, such as [[Heroic bloodshed|glorification of violence]], conformation to [[Indian feudalism|feudal ethos]], debate between [[social order]] and mobilised usurpers, [[Homosociality|homosocial]] bonding, and the film's role as a [[National personification|national allegory]].<ref>For glorification of violence, see Wimal Dissanayake, Malti Sahai, ''Sholay: A Cultural Reading (Delhi: Wiley Eastern, 1992)'', 115-19. {{ISBN|8122403948}}; for feudal ethos, see Hrishikesh Ingle, "Regionalist Disjuncture in Bollywood", in Vikrant Kishore et al., eds., ''Salaam Bollywood: Representations and interpretations'' (London: Routledge, 2016), 202. {{ISBN|1317232852}}; on social order/disorder, see Dissanayake, "The Concepts of Evil and Social Order in Indian Melodrama: An Evolving Dialect", in ''Melodrama and Asian Cinema'', ed. Dissanayake (Cambridge Univ. Press, 1993); on homosocial bonding, Dinah Holtzman, "Between ''Yaars'': The Queering of ''Dost'' in Contemporary Bollywood Films", in Rini Bhattacharya et al., eds., ''Bollywood and Globalization: Indian Popular Cinema, Nation, and Diaspora'' (London: Anthem Press, 2011), 118-22. {{ISBN|0857288970}}; as national allegory, John Hutnyk, ''Global South Asia on Screen'' (NY: Bloomsbury Publishing USA, 2018), 206. {{ISBN|1501324985}}.</ref>

Koushik Banerjea, a sociologist in the [[London School of Economics]], notes that ''Sholay'' exhibits a "sympathetic construction of 'rogue' [[masculinity]]" exemplified by the likeable [[outlaw]]s Jai and Veeru.{{sfn|Banerjea|2005|p=164}} Banerjea argues during the film, the moral boundary between [[legality]] and [[Crime|criminality]] gradually erodes.{{sfn|Banerjea|2005|pp=177–179}} Film scholar Wimal Dissanayake agrees that the film brought "a new stage in the evolving dialectic between violence and social order" to Indian cinema.{{sfn|Dissanayake|1993|p=199}} Film scholar M. Madhava Prasad states that Jai and Veeru represent a [[Social exclusion|marginalised]] population that is introduced into conventional society.{{sfn|Prasad|1998|pp=156–160}} Prasad says that, through the elements of revenge included in the plot and the application of Jai and Veeru's criminality for the greater good, the narrative reflects reactionary politics, and the audience is compelled to accept [[Feudalism|feudal order]].{{sfn|Prasad|1998|pp=156–160}} Banerjea explains that though Jai and Veeru are [[Mercenary|mercenaries]], they are humanised by their emotional needs. Such dualism makes them vulnerable, in contrast to the pure evil of [[Gabbar Singh (character)|Gabbar Singh]].{{sfn|Banerjea|2005|pp=177–179}}

Gabbar Singh, the film's antagonist, was well received by the audience, despite his pervasive sadistic cruelty.{{sfn|Dissanayake|1993|p=199}} Dissanayake explains that the audience was fascinated by the dialogues and mannerisms of the character, and this element of spectacle outweighed his actions, a first for Indian melodrama.{{sfn|Dissanayake|1993|p=199}} He notes that the picturisation of violence in the film was glamourised and uninhibited.{{sfn|Dissanayake|1993|p=200}} He further notes that, unlike earlier melodramas in which the [[Male gaze|female body occupies the audience's attention]] as an object of male fetish, in ''Sholay'', the male body becomes the centrepiece. It becomes the battleground where [[good and evil]] compete for supremacy.{{sfn|Dissanayake|1993|p=200}} Dissanayake argues that ''Sholay'' can be viewed as a national allegory: it lacks a comforting logical narrative, it shows social stability being repeatedly challenged, and it shows the devaluation of human life resulting from a lack of emotions. Taken together, these elements comprise the allegorical representation of India.{{sfn|Dissanayake|1993|p=201}} The narrative style of ''Sholay'', with its violence, revenge, and [[vigilante]] action, is occasionally compared by scholars to the political unrest in India at the time of its release. This tension culminated in [[the Emergency (India)|the Emergency]] ([[rule by decree]]) declared by prime minister [[Indira Gandhi]] in 1975.{{sfnm|1a1=Hayward|1y=2006|1pp=63–64|2a1=Holtzman|2y=2011|2p=118}}

Dissanayeke and Sahai note that, although the film was influenced by the [[Western film|Hollywood Western genre]], particularly in its visuals, it was successfully "Indianised".{{sfnm|1a1=Dissanayake|1a2=Sahai|1y=1992|1p=125|2a1=Dissanayake|2y=1993|2p=197}} As an example, William van der Heide has compared a massacre scene in ''Sholay'' with a similar scene in ''Once Upon a Time in the West''. Although both films were similar in technical style, ''Sholay'' emphasised Indian family values and melodramatic tradition, while the Western was more materialistic and restrained in its approach.{{sfn|Heide|2002|p=52}} [[Maithili Rao]], in ''Encyclopedia of Hindi Cinema'', notes that ''Sholay'' infuses the style of the Western genre into a "feudalistic ethos".{{sfn|Rao|2003|p=95}} Ted Shen of the ''[[Chicago Reader]]'' notes ''Sholay''{{'}}s "hysterical visual style" and intermittent "populist message".<ref name="shen chic reader" /> Cultural critic and Islamic scholar [[Ziauddin Sardar]] lampoons the film in his book ''The Secret Politics of Our Desires: Innocence, Culpability and Indian Popular Cinema'', both for its caricature and stereotyping of Muslim and women characters, and for what he calls mockery of innocent villagers.{{sfn|Sardar|1998|pp=48–49}} Sardar notes that the two most prominent Muslim characters in the film are Soorma Bhopali (a buffoonish criminal), and an impotent victim of the bandits (the imam). Meanwhile, the sole function of one female character (Radha) is to suffer her fate in silence, while the other female lead (Basanti) is just a garrulous village belle.{{sfn|Sardar|1998|pp=48–49}}

Some scholars have indicated that ''Sholay'' contains [[Homosociality|homosocial]] themes.<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Gopinath |first=G. |year=2000 |title=Queering Bollywood |journal=Journal of Homosexuality |volume=39 |issue=3–4 |pages=283–297 |doi=10.1300/J082v39n03_13 |pmid=11133137 |s2cid=24260497}}</ref><ref>{{Cite journal |last=Anjaria |first=U. |year=2012 |title='Relationships which have no name': Family and sexuality in 1970s popular film |journal=South Asian Popular Culture |volume=10 |pages=23–35 |doi=10.1080/14746689.2012.655103 |s2cid=145145328}}</ref> Ted Shen describes the male bonding shown in the film as bordering on [[Camp (style)|camp style]].<ref name="shen chic reader" /> Dina Holtzman, in her book ''Bollywood and Globalization: Indian Popular Cinema, Nation, and Diaspora'', states that the death of Jai, and resultant break of bonding between the two male leads, is necessary for the sake of establishing a [[Normativity|normative]] [[Heterosexuality|heterosexual]] relationship (that of Veeru and Basanti).{{sfn|Holtzman|2011|pp=111–113}}

== Music ==
{{Infobox album
| name = Sholay
| type = soundtrack
| artist = [[R. D. Burman]]
| cover =
| alt =
| released = {{Start date|1975}}
| recorded =1975
| venue =
| studio =
| genre = {{flatlist|
* [[Bollywood music]]
* [[Film soundtrack|Feature film soundtrack]]
}}
| length = {{Duration|m=28|s=59}}
| label = [[Universal Music India]] [[Polydor Records]]
| producer = [[R. D. Burman]]
| prev_title =[[Kala Sona]]
| prev_year =1975
| next_title =[[Dharam Karam]]
| next_year = 1975
}}
[[R. D. Burman]] composed the film's music, and the lyrics were written by [[Anand Bakshi]]. The songs used in the film, and released on the original soundtrack are listed below.<ref>{{Cite web |date=January 1975 |title=Sholay (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack) – EP |url=https://music.apple.com/us/album/sholay-original-motion-picture/182708988 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140616161449/https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/sholay-original-motion-picture/id182708988 |archive-date=16 June 2014 |access-date=23 April 2013 |publisher=[[iTunes Store]]}}</ref> Following that is a list of unused tracks and dialogues which were released later on an updated soundtrack.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Sholay (Indian Film Soundtrack) |url=https://www.amazon.com/Sholay-Indian-Soundtrack-Amitabh-Bachchan/dp/B0014KWOX6 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140223142052/http://www.amazon.com/Sholay-Indian-Soundtrack-Amitabh-Bachchan/dp/B0014KWOX6 |archive-date=23 February 2014 |access-date=23 April 2013 |website=Amazon}}</ref>

[[Kishore Kumar]], [[Lata Mangeshkar]] and [[Manna Dey]] performed vocals for Dharmendra, Malini and Bachchan, respectively.

The song "Mehbooba Mehbooba" was sung by its composer, R. D. Burman, who received his sole [[Filmfare Award for Best Male Playback Singer#1970s|Filmfare Award nomination for playback singing]] for his effort. The song, which is often featured on Bollywood hit song compilations,<ref>{{Cite web |title=The Best of Bollywood |url=https://www.amazon.com/Best-Bollywood-Various-Artists/dp/B0000931PU |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161121041851/https://www.amazon.com/Best-Bollywood-Various-Artists/dp/B0000931PU |archive-date=21 November 2016 |access-date=22 December 2010 |website=Amazon}}</ref> is based on "Say You Love Me" by Greek singer [[Demis Roussos]].{{sfn|Varma|2010|pp=159–160}}

"Mehbooba Mehbooba" has been extensively anthologised, remixed, and recreated.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Sholay |url=http://www.desiclub.com/bollywood/sndtrk_reviews/sndtrk_review.cfm?id=116 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131021151955/http://www.desiclub.com/bollywood/sndtrk_reviews/sndtrk_review.cfm?id=116 |archive-date=21 October 2013 |access-date=11 September 2006 |publisher=Desiclub}}</ref> A version was created in 2005 by the [[Kronos Quartet]] for their [[Grammy Awards|Grammy]]-nominated album ''[[You've Stolen My Heart]]'', featuring [[Asha Bhosle]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Dye |first=David |date=5 October 2005 |title=Kronos Quartet's ''Stolen Heart'' with Asha Bhosle |url=https://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=4946448 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101126154057/http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=4946448 |archive-date=26 November 2010 |access-date=18 December 2010 |publisher=[[NPR]]}}</ref> It was also remixed and sung by [[Himesh Reshammiya]], along with Bhosle, in his debut acting film ''[[Aap Kaa Surroor (film)|Aap Kaa Surroor]]'' (2007). "Yeh Dosti" has been called the ultimate friendship anthem.<ref>{{Cite news |date=26 July 2011 |title=A journey of friendship. |work=[[The Mercury (South Africa)|The Mercury]] |url=http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-273006124.html |url-status=dead |access-date=25 April 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131105225429/http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-273006124.html |archive-date=5 November 2013 |quote=The song Yeh Dosti (This Friendship) glorified male bonding and is, even today, viewed as the ultimate friendship anthem.}} {{link note|note=Partial story rendition from HighBeam.com archive.}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Kassam, Farzaneh Janasheen |date=4 April 2008 |title=BOLLY beats |work=[[Eastern Eye]] |url=http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P3-1473332191.html |url-status=dead |access-date=25 April 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131105225426/http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P3-1473332191.html |archive-date=5 November 2013 |quote=And who can forget the song Yeh Dosti, which is the ultimate homage to friendship?}} {{link note|note=Partial story rendition from HighBeam.com archive.}}</ref> It was remixed and sung by [[Shankar Mahadevan]] and [[Udit Narayan]] for the 2010 Malayalam film ''[[Four Friends (2010 film)|Four Friends]]'',<ref>{{Cite web |last=Padma |first=Reshmi |date=28 October 2010 |title=Kamal Haasan is the highlight of Four Friends |url=http://movies.rediff.com/slide-show/2010/oct/28/slide-show-1-south-saji-surendran-on-four-friends.htm |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120113005858/http://movies.rediff.com/slide-show/2010/oct/28/slide-show-1-south-saji-surendran-on-four-friends.htm |archive-date=13 January 2012 |access-date=24 February 2012 |publisher=Rediff}}</ref> and also in 2010 it was used to symbolise India's friendship with the United States during a visit from President [[Barack Obama]].<ref>{{Cite news |date=8 November 2010 |title=Sholay's 'ye dosti...' number for Obama at President's banquet |work=The Times of India |url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Sholays-ye-dosti-number-for-Obama-at-Presidents-banquet/articleshow/6890880.cms |url-status=live |access-date=19 April 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101111104128/http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Sholays-ye-dosti-number-for-Obama-at-Presidents-banquet/articleshow/6890880.cms |archive-date=11 November 2010}}</ref>

Several songs from the soundtrack made it to the annual ''[[Binaca Geetmala]]'' list of top [[filmi]] songs. "Mehbooba Mehooba" was listed at No. 24 on the [[Binaca Geetmala annual list 1975|1975 list]], and at No. 6 on the [[Binaca Geetmala annual list 1976|1976 list]]. "Koi Haseena" was listed at No. 30 in 1975, and No. 20 in 1976. "Yeh Dosti" was listed at No. 9 in 1976.{{sfn|Morcom|2007|p=209}} Despite the soundtrack's success, at the time, the songs from ''Sholay'' attracted less attention than the film's dialogue—a rarity for Hindi language films. The producers were thus prompted to release records with only dialogue.{{sfn|Chopra|2000|p=170}}<ref>{{Cite news |last=Miglani |first=Surendra |date=17 July 2005 |title=Lines that linger |work=[[The Tribune (Chandigarh)|The Tribune]] |url=http://www.tribuneindia.com/2005/20050717/spectrum/main6.htm |url-status=live |access-date=14 December 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110605215537/http://www.tribuneindia.com/2005/20050717/spectrum/main6.htm |archive-date=5 June 2011}}</ref> Taken together, the album sales reached an unprecedented 500,000 units.{{sfn|Chopra|2000|p=180}} By 1979, the soundtrack went [[Indian Music Industry|Platinum]]<ref>{{Cite journal |date=1979 |title=Sûrya India |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=MUvoAAAAMAAJ |journal=Sûrya India |publisher=A. Anand. |volume=3 |issue=2 |page=61 |quote=Six years after the movie was released, 'Sholay' is still going strong. Polydor records has won a platinum disc for the sale of the 'Sholay' record — the first time such a disc has been awarded in the 75- year-old history of the Indian record industry. |access-date=9 December 2018 |archive-date=19 August 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200819145853/https://books.google.com/books?id=MUvoAAAAMAAJ |url-status=live }}</ref> (equivalent to 1{{nbsp}}million sales at the time),<ref>{{Cite magazine |date=18 July 1981 |title=International |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=rSQEAAAAMBAJ&pg=PT69 |magazine=[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]] |publisher=[[Nielsen Business Media]] |volume=93 |issue=28 |page=69 |access-date=9 December 2018 |archive-date=19 August 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200819211107/https://books.google.com/books?id=rSQEAAAAMBAJ&pg=PT69 |url-status=live }}</ref> becoming one of the top-selling [[Bollywood soundtrack]]s of the 1970s.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Music Hits 1970–1979 |url=http://www.boxofficeindia.com/showProd.php?itemCat=282&catName=MTk3MC0xOTc5 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080215081540/http://www.boxofficeindia.com/showProd.php?itemCat=282&catName=MTk3MC0xOTc5&PHPSESSID=108b9056cd4ca14236f9c6119d34dcce |archive-date=15 February 2008 |access-date=2 September 2013 |publisher=[[Box Office India]]}}</ref>

Music critic Oli Marlow reviewed the soundtrack in 2013, calling it a unique fusion of religious, folk, and classical music, with influences from around the world. He also commented on the sound design of the film, calling it psychedelic, and saying that there was "a lot of incredible incidental music" in the film that was not included in the soundtrack releases.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Marlow, Oli |date=14 January 2013 |title=Vouch: Geiom on RD Burman's Sholay |url=http://www.sonicrouter.com/2013/01/vouch-geiom-on-rd-burmans-sholay/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130730093512/http://www.sonicrouter.com/2013/01/vouch-geiom-on-rd-burmans-sholay/ |archive-date=30 July 2013 |access-date=13 June 2013 |publisher=The Sonic Router}}</ref> In a 1999 paper submitted to London's Symposium on Sound in Cinema, film critic Shoma A. Chatterji said, "''Sholay'' offers a model lesson on how sound can be used to signify the terror a character evokes. ''Sholay'' is also exemplary in its use of soundmatching to jump cut to a different scene and time, without breaking the continuity of the narrative, yet, intensifying the drama."<ref>{{Cite web |last=Chatterji, Shoma A. |date=15 April 1999 |title=The Culture-specific Use of Sound in Indian Cinema |url=http://www.filmsound.org/india/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130606223140/http://filmsound.org/india/ |archive-date=6 June 2013 |access-date=13 June 2013 |publisher=FilmSound.org}}</ref>

{{Track listing
| headline = Original Motion Picture Soundtrack
| extra_column = Singer(s)
| title1 = Title Music (Sholay) | note1 = [[Instrumental]] | length1 = 02:46
| title2 = Yeh Dosti | extra2 = [[Kishore Kumar]] and [[Manna Dey]] | length2 = 05:21
| title3 = Haa Jab Tak Hai Jaan | extra3 = [[Lata Mangeshkar]] | length3 = 05:26
| title4 = Koi Haseena | extra4 = Kishore Kumar and [[Hema Malini]] | length4 = 04:00
| title5 = Holi Ke Din | extra5 = Kishore Kumar and Lata Mangeshkar | length5 = 05:42
| title6 = Mehbooba Mehbooba | extra6 = R. D. Burman | length6 = 03:54
| title7 = Yeh Dosti | note7 = sad version | extra7 = Kishore Kumar | length7 = 01:49
}}
{{Track listing
| headline = Bonus tracks — Released later
| extra_column = Singers / Speakers
| title8 = Ke Chand Sa Koi Chehra | note8 = [[Qawwali]] | extra8 = Kishore Kumar, Manna Dey, [[Bhupinder Singh (musician)|Bhupinder Singh]], [[Anand Bakshi]] | length8 = {{dash}}
| title9 = Veeru Ki Sagai | note9 = dialogues | extra9 = Hema Malini, Dharmendra, Amitabh Bachchan | length9 = {{dash}}
| title10 = Gabbar Singh | note10 = dialogues | extra10 = Amjad Khan, Sanjeev Kumar, Dharmendra | length10 = {{dash}}
}}

== Release ==
=== Box office ===
''Sholay'' was released on 15 August 1975, [[Independence Day (India)|Indian Independence Day]], in Bombay. Due to lackluster reviews and a lack of effective visual marketing tools, it saw poor financial returns in its first two weeks. From the third week, however, viewership picked up owing to positive [[word of mouth]].{{sfn|Chopra|2000|p=169}} During the initial slow period, the director and writer considered re-shooting some scenes so that Amitabh Bachchan's character would not die. When business picked up, they abandoned this idea.{{sfn|Chopra|2000|p=164}} After being helped additionally by a soundtrack release containing dialogue snippets,{{sfn|Banerjea|2005|pp=177–179}} ''Sholay'' soon became an "overnight sensation".<ref name="ndtv" /> The film was then released in other distribution zones such as [[Delhi]], [[Uttar Pradesh]], [[West Bengal|Bengal]], and [[Hyderabad district, India|Hyderabad]] on 11 October 1975.{{sfn|Chopra|2000|p=173}} It became the highest-grossing [[Hindi film|Hindi language film]] of 1975, and film ranking website [[Box Office India]] has given the film a verdict of ''All Time Blockbuster''.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Box Office 1975 |url=http://boxofficeindia.com/showProd.php?itemCat=181&catName=MTk3NQ== |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131020122136/http://boxofficeindia.com/showProd.php?itemCat=181&catName=MTk3NQ%3D%3D |archive-date=20 October 2013 |access-date=12 October 2012 |publisher=Box Office India}}</ref>

''Sholay'' went on to earn a still-standing record of 60 golden jubilees{{efn|A golden jubilee means that a film has completed 50 consecutive weeks of showing in a single theatre.}} across India,<ref name="ndtv" /> and was the first film in India to celebrate a silver jubilee{{efn|A silver jubilee means that a film has completed 25 consecutive weeks of showing in a single theatre.}} at over 100 theatres.<ref name="ndtv" /> It was shown continuously at Bombay's Minerva theatre for over five years.<ref name="nyt" /> ''Sholay'' was the Indian film with the longest theatrical run until ''[[Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge]]'' (1995) broke its record of 286 weeks in 2001.{{sfn|Elliott|Payne|Ploesch|2007 |p=54}}<ref name="telegraph" />

According to Box Office India, ''Sholay'' earned about {{INR|150 million|link=yes}} in net income{{efn|name=nettgross|According to the website Box Office India, film tickets are subject to "[[entertainment tax]]" in India, and this tax is added to the ticket price at the box office window of theatres. The amount of this tax is variable among [[States and territories of India|states]]. "Nett gross figures are always after this tax has been deducted while gross figures are before this tax has been deducted." Although since 2003, the entertainment tax rate has significantly decreased; as of 2010, gross earnings can be 30–35% higher than net gross, depending on the states where the film is released.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Box Office in India Explained |url=http://www.boxofficeindia.com/showProd.php?itemCat=315&catName=UmVhZCBNb3Jl |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131020180004/http://www.boxofficeindia.com/showProd.php?itemCat=315&catName=UmVhZCBNb3Jl |archive-date=20 October 2013 |access-date=14 May 2013 |publisher=Box Office India}}</ref>}} (valued at about US$16,778,000 in 1975){{efn|name=exchange}} in India during its first run, which was many times its {{INR|link=Indian rupee}}35 million budget.<ref name="Boi70s" /><ref name="budget"/> Those earnings in India were a record that remained unbroken for nineteen years, which is also the longest amount of time that a film has held [[List of highest-grossing Indian films#Highest-grossing films by year|the record]] for being the highest grossing film in India. Its original gross was increased further with re-releases during the late 1970s, 1980s, 1990s, and early 2000s.<ref>{{Cite web |title=About Inflation Figures – BOI |url=http://boxofficeindia.com/showProd.php?itemCat=323&catName=QWJvdXQgSW5mbGF0aW9uIERhdGE= |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140106184319/http://boxofficeindia.com/showProd.php?itemCat=323&catName=QWJvdXQgSW5mbGF0aW9uIERhdGE%3D |archive-date=6 January 2014 |access-date=24 February 2012 |publisher=Box Office India}}</ref> The film's total gross revenue in India amounted to {{INR|350 million}}<ref name="indiatoday" />{{sfn|Chopra|2000|p=139|loc=Epilogue: ''Yaah Rakkhunga, Tujhe Yaad Rakkunga''}} ({{US$|39.15 million|long=no}}).{{efn|name=exchange}} Box Office India estimates the film's total footfalls in India as over 100{{nbsp}}million tickets sold.<ref name="footfalls" /> The film was also an [[List of highest-grossing Indian films in overseas markets|overseas success]] in the [[Soviet Union]], where it was released in 1979.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Rajagopalan |first=Sudha |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=cpoLAQAAMAAJ |title=Indian Films in Soviet Cinemas: The Culture of Movie-going After Stalin |date=2005 |publisher=[[Indiana University Press]] |isbn=978-0-253-22099-8 |page=191 |quote=One of his films, screened successfully in the Soviet Union, was Sholay. Sholay (Embers/Mesf i zakon; 1979), made in 1975, is an adventure film and 'India's best-known "curry" western patterned on Italian westerns'. |access-date=25 January 2019 |archive-date=26 June 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190626205210/https://books.google.com/books?id=cpoLAQAAMAAJ |url-status=live }}</ref> The film sold 48.4{{nbsp}}million tickets during its initial run at the [[List of Soviet films of the year by ticket sales|Soviet box office]],<ref>{{Cite news |date=16 December 2011 |title=Афиша Воздух: "Месть и закон" |work=[[Afisha]] |url=https://daily.afisha.ru/archive/vozduh/archive/gorelov-sholay/ |access-date=11 December 2018 |archive-date=15 December 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181215172357/https://daily.afisha.ru/archive/vozduh/archive/gorelov-sholay/ |url-status=live }}</ref> before eventually selling 60{{nbsp}}million tickets including re-runs.<ref name="soviet" /> The film was also released in China, as two parts in 1988.<ref>{{Cite news |date=7 April 2018 |title=印度片現在這麼火也不是沒有原因的 |work=Xuehua |url=https://www.xuehua.us/2018/04/07/%E5%8D%B0%E5%BA%A6%E7%89%87%E7%8E%B0%E5%9C%A8%E8%BF%99%E4%B9%88%E7%81%AB%E4%B9%9F%E4%B8%8D%E6%98%AF%E6%B2%A1%E6%9C%89%E5%8E%9F%E5%9B%A0%E7%9A%84%E7%89%B9%E5%86%B7%E9%97%A8/zh-tw/ |access-date=6 March 2019 |archive-date=6 May 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220506110618/https://www.xuehua.us/a/5eb6092386ec4d433b2c89ea?lang=zh-tw |url-status=live }}</ref>

It was the [[List of highest-grossing Indian films|highest-grossing Indian film]] ever up until ''[[Disco Dancer]]'' (1982),<ref>{{Cite news |date=6 July 2018 |title=From Dangal to Sanju! Top 10 films that crossed the Rs 200 crore mark fastest |work=[[Business Today (India)|Business Today]] |url=https://www.businesstoday.in/trending/entertainment/from-dangal-to-sanju-top-10-films-crossed-rs-200-crore-mark-fastest/story/279979.html |access-date=13 December 2018 |archive-date=15 December 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181215173256/https://www.businesstoday.in/trending/entertainment/from-dangal-to-sanju-top-10-films-crossed-rs-200-crore-mark-fastest/story/279979.html |url-status=live }}</ref> and the [[List of highest-grossing films in India|highest-grossing film in India]] up until ''[[Hum Aapke Hain Koun..!]]'' (1994).<ref name="indiatoday" /> In 1985, ''[[India Today]]'' estimated that the film drew a total audience of 250{{nbsp}}million over the years,<ref name="indiatoday1985">{{Cite news |last=Mitra |first=Sumit |date=31 July 1985 |title=After series of box-office duds, Ramesh Sippy strikes back with romantic venture Saagar |work=[[India Today]] |url=https://www.indiatoday.in/magazine/society-the-arts/films/story/19850731-after-series-of-box-office-duds-ramesh-sippy-strikes-back-with-romantic-venture-saagar-770238-2013-12-27 |access-date=7 February 2019 |archive-date=9 February 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190209135521/https://www.indiatoday.in/magazine/society-the-arts/films/story/19850731-after-series-of-box-office-duds-ramesh-sippy-strikes-back-with-romantic-venture-saagar-770238-2013-12-27 |url-status=live }}</ref> which is comparable to the [[List of films by box office admissions|number of tickets sold]] by some of the world's [[List of highest-grossing films|highest-grossing films of all time]] adjusted for inflation.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Records |first=Guinness World |url=https://archive.org/details/GuinnessWorldRecords2015/page/n161 |title=Guinness World Records |year=2014 |isbn=978-1-908843-70-8 |edition=2015 |volume=60 |pages=160–161|publisher=Guinness World Records }}</ref> It is often cited that, after adjusting the figures for inflation, ''Sholay'' remains one of the [[List of highest-grossing Indian films|highest-grossing films]] in the history of Indian cinema, although such figures are not known with certainty.<ref>{{Cite web |title=The Biggest Blockbusters Ever In Hindi Cinema |url=http://boxofficeindia.com/showProd.php?itemCat=350 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131014214254/http://boxofficeindia.com/showProd.php?itemCat=350 |archive-date=14 October 2013 |access-date=13 April 2013 |publisher=Box Office India}}</ref> Box Office India estimated {{INR|1.63 billion}} as ''Sholay''{{'}}s adjusted domestic net income in 2008,{{efn|name=nettgross|}}<ref>{{Cite web |title=Top Earners 1970–1979 – BOI |url=http://boxofficeindia.com/showProd.php?itemCat=124&catName=MTk3MC0xOTc5 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080118030716/http://www.boxofficeindia.com/showProd.php?itemCat=124&catName=MTk3MC0xOTc5 |archive-date=18 January 2008 |access-date=24 February 2012 |publisher=Box Office India}}</ref> while ''[[Times of India]]'' estimated over {{INR|3 billion}} as the adjusted domestic gross in 2009.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Kazmi |first=Nikhat |date=12 January 2009 |title=Sholay adjusted gross |work=The Times of India |url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Box-Office-With-Rs-200cr-in-kitty-Ghajini-rewrites-records/articleshow/3965713.cms |url-status=live |access-date=23 February 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140430071524/http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Box-Office-With-Rs-200cr-in-kitty-Ghajini-rewrites-records/articleshow/3965713.cms |archive-date=30 April 2014}}</ref> ''[[Mid-Day]]'' estimated the film's total adjusted gross as {{INR|15 billion}} ({{US$|{{To USD|15000|IND|year=2014|round=yes}} million|long=no}}) in 2014.<ref>{{Cite news |title=B-Town rewind: The tale of the first Bollywood crore |work=[[Mid-Day]] |url=http://www.mid-day.com/articles/b-town-rewind-the-tale-of-the-first-bollywood-crore/15162064 |access-date=16 March 2014 |archive-date=16 March 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140316114251/http://www.mid-day.com/articles/b-town-rewind-the-tale-of-the-first-bollywood-crore/15162064 |url-status=live }}</ref>

=== 3D re-release (2013) ===
Filmmaker [[Ketan Mehta]]'s company Maya Digital was responsible for converting ''Sholay'' into the [[Stereoscopic 3D|3D]] format.<ref name="3D" /> Mehta was approached by G. P. Sippy's grandson, Sasha Sippy, about the project in 2010.<ref name="3D" /> In March 2012, Shaan Uttam Singh, the grandson of producer G. P. Sippy, said that he would sponsor a conversion of the film to 3D, and release it in late 2012;<ref>{{Cite news |last=Singh |first=Renu |date=31 March 2012 |title=Sholay 3D to release on Aug 15 |work=The Times of India |url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/bollywood/news-interviews/Sholay-3D-to-release-on-Aug-15/articleshow/12479722.cms |url-status=live |access-date=31 May 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120402041653/http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/bollywood/news-interviews/Sholay-3D-to-release-on-Aug-15/articleshow/12479722.cms |archive-date=2 April 2012}}</ref> this was later postponed to late 2013,<ref>{{Cite web |date=14 August 2013 |title='Sholay 3D' to release on Amitabh Bachchan's 71st birthday? |url=http://www.news18.com/news/india/sholay-3d-to-release-on-big-bs-71st-birthday-630900.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160508200023/http://www.news18.com/news/india/sholay-3d-to-release-on-big-bs-71st-birthday-630900.html |archive-date=8 May 2016 |access-date=7 December 2013 |website=News18}}</ref> and eventually finalised for 3 January 2014.<ref>{{Cite news |date=6 November 2013 |title='Sholay 3D' finally up for release in the first week of 2014 |work=[[Mid-Day]] |url=https://www.mid-day.com/entertainment/bollywood-news/article/-Sholay-3D--finally-up-for-release-in-the-first-week-of-2014-239108 |access-date=9 November 2013 |archive-date=9 October 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231009032305/https://www.mid-day.com/entertainment/bollywood-news/article/-Sholay-3D--finally-up-for-release-in-the-first-week-of-2014-239108 |url-status=live }}</ref> It took {{INRConvert|250|m}} to convert ''Sholay'' to 3D.<ref>{{Cite web |date=8 November 2013 |title=Rs 25 crore spent on Sholay 3D |url=http://movies.ndtv.com/bollywood/rs-25-crore-spent-on-sholay-3d-443612 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131113200519/http://movies.ndtv.com/bollywood/rs-25-crore-spent-on-sholay-3d-443612 |archive-date=13 November 2013 |access-date=19 November 2013 |publisher=NDTV}}</ref>

Under the leadership of computer animator Frank Foster, 350 people worked to convert the film into the digital 3D format, for which every scene had to be individually [[Film preservation|restored]], colour-corrected, and re-composited in 3D to match the depth.{{efn|The 3D version of the film has a run-time of 198 minutes, and the original shots were of standard film frame rate, i.e., 24 frames per second; therefore, this version has {{formatnum:285120}} frames, which were digitised, upscaled to High Definition (HD), and element-mapped.<ref name="screens" /><ref>{{Cite web |last=Coutinho, Natasha |date=25 November 2013 |title=Sholay 3D was a tough challenge |url=http://www.asianage.com/bollywood/sholay-3d-was-tough-challenge-600 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131211104844/http://www.asianage.com/bollywood/sholay-3d-was-tough-challenge-600 |archive-date=11 December 2013 |access-date=7 December 2013 |publisher=[[The Asian Age]]}}</ref> }}<ref name="3D" /> New set-pieces, particularly those suited to the new format were also included, such as digital logs which scatter in the direction of the camera during the first half when the train collides with them, the gunshot scene which frees Jai and Veeru from their handcuffs, and [[Panorama|panoramic]] views of Gabbar's hideout in the caves.<ref name="3D" />

The theatrical trailer and release date were unveiled by the original script-writers Salim Khan and Javed Akhtar.<ref>{{Cite web |date=7 November 2013 |title='Sholay 3D' trailer unvieled [sic] & Updates at Daily News & Analysis |url=http://www.dnaindia.com/entertainment/report-sholay-3d-trailer-unvieled-1915213 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151011124137/http://www.dnaindia.com/entertainment/report-sholay-3d-trailer-unvieled-1915213 |archive-date=11 October 2015 |access-date=7 June 2015 |publisher=[[Daily News and Analysis|DNA]]}}</ref> The two original leads, Bachchan and Dharmendra, were also involved in promoting the re-release.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Mangaokar, Shalvi |date=22 October 2013 |title=Amitabh Bachchan, Dharmendra set to promote Sholay 3D |work=Hindustan Times |url=http://www.hindustantimes.com/bollywood/amitabh-bachchan-dharmendra-set-to-promote-sholay-3d/story-cfY7Yb5Ph2Uw9NHV3TioiK.html |url-status=live |access-date=7 December 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151005112321/http://www.hindustantimes.com/bollywood/amitabh-bachchan-dharmendra-set-to-promote-sholay-3d/story-cfY7Yb5Ph2Uw9NHV3TioiK.html |archive-date=5 October 2015}}</ref>

The film was released in 1,000 screens in India and additional screens overseas.<ref name="screens" /> It earned approximately {{INRConvert|13|c}} during its re-release, becoming the [[List of highest-grossing re-released Indian films|third highest-grossing re-released Indian film of all time]].<ref>{{Cite web |date=18 January 2014 |title=Sholay (Re-Run) Second Week Collection Details |url=http://www.boxofficeindia.com/Details/art_detail/sholay_re-run_second_week_collection_details |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140201202515/http://www.boxofficeindia.com/Details/art_detail/sholay_re-run_second_week_collection_details |archive-date=1 February 2014 |access-date=23 January 2014 |publisher=Box Office India}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=25 September 2024 |title=Tumbbad becomes the highest-grossing re-release in India in 14 years |url=https://www.wionews.com/entertainment/bollywood/news-tumbbad-becomes-the-highest-grossing-re-release-in-india-in-14-years-761680 |access-date=11 January 2025 |website=Wion |language=en}}</ref>

=== ''Sholay: The Final Cut'' (2025) ===
In 2022, Sippy Films collaborated with the [[Film Heritage Foundation]] and L’Immagine Ritrovata for a full restoration in correlation with the film's fiftieth anniversary. Due to significant damage to the original camera negative resulting from severe [[vinegar syndrome]], the restoration utilised an interpositive and two color reversal intermediates located at Iron Mountain and the [[British Film Institute|BFI]] in the UK, a second interpositive from 1978 deposited by Shehzad Sippy to FHF, and the original sound negative and magnetic elements housed in Sippy Films' Mumbai offices. The film was also restored in 4K to its original 70mm aspect ratio of 2.2:1 with assistance from Kamlakar Rao and incorporates the original uncut ending, along with two previously excised scenes that were removed by censors in 1975.<ref name=Bologna/>

The fully restored, uncut version (including Sippy's original ending) was released worldwide as ''Sholay: The Final Cut''.<ref name=Variety>{{cite web |url=https://variety.com/2025/film/news/sholay-trailer-50th-anniversary-release-1236600849/ |title=‘Sholay: The Final Cut’ Trailer Unveiled Ahead of Golden Anniversary Release (EXCLUSIVE) |access-date=14 December 2025 |last=Ramachandran |first=Naman |date=4 December 2025 |work=Variety}}</ref> It premiered at [[Il Cinema Ritrovato]] on 27 June 2025,<ref name=Bologna>{{cite web |title=Sholay (1975, Embers) restored by Film Heritage Foundation with the original ending and deleted scenes had a grand premiere at the Il Cinema Ritrovato Festival in Bologna this June |url=https://filmheritagefoundation.co.in/sholay-1975-embers-restored-by-film-heritage-foundation/ |website=Film Heritage Foundation |date=16 June 2025}}</ref><ref name=BBC>{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cvg8m9z5vv8o|title=Sholay: Bollywood epic roars back to big screen after 50 years with new ending|access-date=14 December 2025|last=Tilak|first=Sudha|date=25 June 2025|work=BBC}}</ref> and released globally on 12 December 2025.<ref name=Variety/> The runtime is classified in 209 minutes.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://in.bookmyshow.com/movies/sholay-the-final-cut/ET00474902|title=Sholay: The Final Cut on BookMyShow|access-date=17 January 2025|website=BookMyShow.com}}</ref>

== Reception ==
=== Critical response ===
:'''August 1975'''
When the film released on 15 August 1975, it received poor reviews. Among contemporary critics, K.L. Amladi of ''[[India Today]]'' called the film a "dead ember" and "a gravely flawed attempt".{{sfn|Chopra|2000|p=161}}<ref>{{cite web |last=Amladi |first=K. L. |date=15 December 1975 |title=Sholay in totality is a depressing film |url=https://www.indiatoday.in/magazine/society-and-the-arts/films/story/19751215-sholay-in-totality-is-a-depressing-film-824046-2014-07-05 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230724160501/https://www.indiatoday.in/magazine/society-and-the-arts/films/story/19751215-sholay-in-totality-is-a-depressing-film-824046-2014-07-05 |archive-date=24 July 2023 |access-date=24 July 2023 |website=[[India Today]]}}</ref> ''[[Filmfare]]'' said that the film was an unsuccessful mincing of Western style with Indian [[Social environment|milieu]], making it an "imitation western—neither here nor there."{{Sfn|Chopra|2000|p=161}} Others labelled it as "sound and fury signifying nothing" and a "second-rate take-off" of the 1971 film ''Mera Gaon Mera Desh''.<ref name="telegraph" /> Trade journals and columnists initially called the film a flop.{{sfn|Chopra|2000|pp=161–168}}

:'''Later August/September 1975-present'''
However, over time the response shifted and it became a cultural icon. It is now considered a classic, and among the greatest Hindi-language films.<ref name="rediff1" />{{sfn|Chopra|2000|p=3}} In a 1976 article in the journal ''Studies: An Irish Quarterly Review'', author Michael Gallagher praised the technical achievement of the film, but otherwise criticised it stating, "As a spectacle it breaks new ground, but on every other level it is intolerable: formless, incoherent, superficial in human image, and a somewhat nasty piece of violence".{{sfn|Gallagher|1976|p=344}}

In a 2005 BBC review, the well-rounded characters and simple narrative of the film were commended, but the comical cameos of Asrani and Jagdeep were considered unnecessary.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Rajput |first=Dharmesh |date=17 August 2005 |title=''Sholay'' (1975) |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/films/2005/08/17/sholay_2005_review.shtml |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121007025157/http://www.bbc.co.uk/films/2005/08/17/sholay_2005_review.shtml |archive-date=7 October 2012 |access-date=16 April 2013 |publisher=BBC}}</ref> On the film's 35th anniversary, the ''[[Hindustan Times]]'' wrote that it was a "trailblazer in terms of camera work as well as music," and that "practically every scene, dialogue or even a small character was a highlight."<ref>{{Cite news |date=15 August 2010 |title=Sholay completes 35 years |work=Hindustan Times |url=http://www.hindustantimes.com/entertainment/sholay-completes-35-years/story-gZIxKfIxNvLThEiQ05KYWP.html |url-status=live |access-date=27 September 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151005160039/http://www.hindustantimes.com/entertainment/sholay-completes-35-years/story-gZIxKfIxNvLThEiQ05KYWP.html |archive-date=5 October 2015}}</ref> In 2006, The [[Film Society of Lincoln Center]] described ''Sholay'' as "an extraordinary and utterly seamless blend of [[Adventure film|adventure]], [[Comedy film|comedy]], [[Musical film|music and dance]]", labelling it an "indisputable classic".<ref>{{Cite web |title=Sholay |url=http://filmlinccom.siteprotect.net/wrt/onsale06/sholay.html |access-date=21 December 2010 |publisher=[[Film Society of Lincoln Center]] |archive-date=21 October 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131021150641/http://filmlinccom.siteprotect.net/wrt/onsale06/sholay.html |url-status=live }}</ref> ''Chicago Review'' critic Ted Shen criticised the film in 2002 for its formulaic plot and "slapdash" cinematography, and noted that the film "alternates between [[slapstick]] and melodrama".<ref name="shen chic reader" /> In their obituary of the producer G.P. Sippy, ''[[The New York Times]]'' said that ''Sholay'' "revolutionized Hindi filmmaking and brought true professionalism to Indian script writing".<ref name="nyt" />

{{Rotten Tomatoes prose|95||19||ref=y|access-date=24 December 2025}}

=== Accolades ===
''Sholay'' was nominated for nine [[Filmfare Awards]], and the only winner was [[M. S. Shinde]], who won the award for [[Filmfare Award for Best Editing|Best Editing]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Filmfare Nominees and {{sic|nolink=1|Winner}} |url=https://archive.org/details/FilmfareAwards |access-date=9 October 2020 |publisher=[[The Times Group]] |via=[[Internet Archive]]}}</ref> The film also won three awards at the 1976 [[Bengal Film Journalists' Association Awards]] (Hindi section): "Best Actor in Supporting Role" for Amjad Khan, "Best Cinematographer (Colour)" for [[Dwarka Divecha]], and "Best Art Director" for Ram Yedekar.<ref>{{Cite web |title=1976: 39th Annual BFJA Awards |url=http://www.bfjaawards.com/legacy/pastwin/197639.htm |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080119012515/http://www.bfjaawards.com/legacy/pastwin/197639.htm |archive-date=19 January 2008 |access-date=2 December 2010 |publisher=Bengal Film Journalists' Association}}</ref> ''Sholay'' received a special award at the 50th Filmfare Awards in 2005: [[Filmfare Best Film of 50 Years|Best Film of 50 Years]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=All Filmfare Awards Winners |url=https://www.filmfare.com/awards/filmfare-awards/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.today/20180227163020/https://www.filmfare.com/awards/filmfare-awards/ |archive-date=27 February 2018 |access-date=27 February 2018 |website=Filmfare}}</ref>
{| class="wikitable"
! Style="width:5%"| Awards
! Style="width:25%"| Category
! Style="width:20%"| Nominee
! Style="width:10%"| Result
|-
|rowspan="3"|[[Bengal Film Journalists Association Awards]]
|Best Supporting Actor
|[[Amjad Khan (actor)|Amjad Khan]]
|rowspan="4"{{won}}
|-
|Best Cinematography
|[[Dwarka Divecha]]
|-
|Best Art Direction
|Ram Yadekar
|-
|rowspan="10"|[[23rd Filmfare Awards]]
|[[Filmfare Best Editing Award|Best Editing]]
|[[M. S. Shinde]]
|-
|[[Filmfare Award for Best Film|Best Film]]
|[[G. P. Sippy]]
|rowspan="9" {{nom}}
|-
|[[Filmfare Award for Best Director|Best Director]]
|[[Ramesh Sippy]]
|-
|[[Filmfare Award for Best Actor|Best Actor]]
|[[Sanjeev Kumar]]
|-
|[[Filmfare Award for Best Supporting Actor|Best Supporting Actor]]
|Amjad Khan
|-
|[[Filmfare Best Comedian Award|Best Comedian]]
|[[Asrani]]
|-
|[[Filmfare Award for Best Story|Best Story]]
|[[Salim-Javed]]
|-
|[[Filmfare Award for Best Music Director|Best Music Director]]
|[[R. D. Burman]]
|-
|[[Filmfare Best Lyricist Award|Best Lyricist]]
|[[Anand Bakshi]] for "Mehbooba Mehbooba"
|-
|[[Filmfare Award for Best Male Playback Singer|Best Male Playback Singer]]
|R. D. Burman
|-
|[[50th Filmfare Awards]]
|Special Award
|Best Film for Completing 50 Years
|{{won|place=1st|Received}}
|-
|}

== Legacy and cultural influence ==
''Sholay'' has received many "Best Film" honours. It was declared the "Film of the Millennium" by [[BBC India]] in 1999.<ref name="nyt" /> It topped the [[British Film Institute]]'s "Top 10 Indian Films" [[Films considered the greatest ever|of all time]] poll of 2002,<ref>{{Cite web |year=2002 |title=Top 10 Indian Films |url=http://www.bfi.org.uk/features/imagineasia/guide/poll/india |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110515101729/http://www.bfi.org.uk/features/imagineasia/guide/poll/india/ |archive-date=15 May 2011 |access-date=14 June 2012 |publisher=[[British Film Institute]]}}</ref> and was voted the greatest Indian movie in a [[Sky (UK and Ireland)|Sky Digital]] poll of one million British Indians in 2004.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Thambirajah, Mohan |date=27 May 2004 |title='Sholay' voted best Indian movie |work=[[New Straits Times]] |url=http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P1-94953889.html |url-status=dead |access-date=25 April 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160225042453/https://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P1-94953889.html |archive-date=25 February 2016 |quote=SHOLAY has been voted the greatest Indian movie in a research by Sky Digital of one million Indians in Britain.}} {{link note|note=Partial story rendition from HighBeam.com archive.}}</ref> It was also included in the magazine ''[[Time (magazine)|Time]]''{{'}}s "Best of Bollywood" list in 2010,<ref>{{Cite magazine |last=Corliss |first=Richard |date=27 October 2010 |title=Sholay – 1975 – Best of Bollywood |url=https://content.time.com/time/specials/packages/article/0,28804,2022076_2022067_2022045,00.html |url-status=live |magazine=[[Time (magazine)|Time]] |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130828050259/http://content.time.com/time/specials/packages/article/0%2C28804%2C2022076_2022067_2022045%2C00.html |archive-date=28 August 2013 |access-date=30 July 2012}}</ref> and in [[IBN Live]]'s list of the "100 greatest Indian films of all time" in 2013.<ref>{{Cite web |date=17 April 2013 |title=100 Years of Indian Cinema: The 100 greatest Indian films of all time |url=http://ibnlive.in.com/photogallery/13200-19.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130425234438/http://ibnlive.in.com/photogallery/13200-19.html |archive-date=25 April 2013 |access-date=12 February 2014 |website=[[IBN Live]]}}</ref> In 2023, [[Time Out (magazine)|Time Out]] ranked it #1 on its list of the "100 Best Bollywood Movies."<ref name="best">{{cite web |date=7 February 2023 |title=The 100 best Bollywood movies |url=https://www.timeout.com/film/the-100-best-bollywood-movies-the-list |access-date=28 November 2023 |work=[[Time Out (magazine)|Time Out]] |archive-date=20 August 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230820130100/https://www.timeout.com/film/the-100-best-bollywood-movies-the-list |url-status=live }}</ref>

''Sholay'' inspired many films and [[pastiche]]s, and spawned a genre of films, the "Curry Western",{{sfnm|1a1=Dudrah|1a2=Desai|1y=2008|1p=5|2a1=Sparks|2y=2008|2p=157}} which is a play on the term [[Spaghetti Western]]. A more accurate label for the genre is the Dacoit Western, due to its roots in earlier Indian dacoit films such as ''[[Mother India]]'' (1957) and ''[[Gunga Jumna]]'' (1961).<ref name="Teo" /> It was also an early and most definitive [[masala film]],<ref name="uiowa" />{{sfn|Hayward|2006|p=67|ps=:"In its truest sense ''Sholay'' was perhaps ''the'' first Masala movie"}} and a trend-setter for "multi-star" films.{{sfn|Jain|2009|p=62}} The film was a watershed for scriptwriters in Hindi language films, who were not paid well before ''Sholay''; after the film's success, its writing duo Salim-Javed became stars in their own right and script writing became a more respected profession.<ref name="ndtv" /> The [[BBC]] has described ''Sholay'' as the "''[[Star Wars]]'' of Bollywood", comparing its impact on Hindi language films to the impact that ''[[Star Wars (film)|Star Wars]]'' (1977) later had on [[Cinema of the United States|Hollywood]], while comparing Gabbar Singh to [[Darth Vader]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Verma |first=Rahul |date=14 August 2015 |title=Sholay: The Star Wars of Bollywood? |url=http://www.bbc.com/culture/story/20150813-sholay-the-star-wars-of-bollywood |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170509192533/http://www.bbc.com/culture/story/20150813-sholay-the-star-wars-of-bollywood |archive-date=9 May 2017 |access-date=28 November 2017 |publisher=BBC}}</ref>

[[File:Gabbar Singh dialogue from Sholay on the back of auto rickshaw.jpg|thumb|A line of Gabbar Singh (''Tera kya hoga'', meaning, "What will happen to you?") and a picture of him is painted on the back of an [[auto rickshaw]], a common mode of public transport. Dialogues and characters from the film have contributed to many cultural tropes in India's daily life.|alt=A dialogue and image of Gabbar Singh painted on the back of an auto rickshaw]]

Certain scenes and dialogues earned iconic status in India, such as "''Kitne aadmi the''" (How many men were there?), "''Jo dar gaya, samjho mar gaya''" (One who is scared is dead), and "''Bahut yaarana laagta hai''" (Looks like you two are very close) – all dialogues of Gabbar Singh.<ref name="rediff1" />{{sfnm|1a1=Chopra|1y=2000|1pp=4–5|2a1=Jess-Cooke|2y=2009|2p=126}} These and other popular dialogues entered the people's daily vernacular.{{sfnm|1a1=Banerjee|1a2=Srivastava|1y=1988|1pp=166–169|2a1=Jess-Cooke|2y=2009|2p=126}} Characters and dialogues from the film continue to be referred to and parodied in popular culture.{{sfnm|1a1=Chopra|1y=2000|1pp=4–5|2a1=Ganti|2y=2004|2p=161}} Gabbar Singh, the sadistic villain, ushered in an era in Hindi films characterised by "seemingly omnipotent oppressors as villains", who play the pivotal role in setting up the context of the story, such as Shakal (played by [[Kulbhushan Kharbanda]]) of ''[[Shaan (1980 film)|Shaan]]'' (1980), Mogambo ([[Amrish Puri]]) of ''[[Mr. India (1987 film)|Mr. India]]'' (1987) and Bhujang (Amrish Puri) of ''[[Tridev]]'' (1989).{{sfn|Zankar|2003|p=365}} ''Filmfare'', in 2013, named Gabbar Singh the most iconic villain in the history of Indian cinema,<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Hashmi, Parampara Patil |date=3 May 2013 |title=Iconic villains of Indian cinema |url=http://www.filmfare.com/features/iconic-villains-of-indian-cinema-3038-2.html |url-status=live |journal=[[Filmfare]] |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131111181042/http://www.filmfare.com/features/iconic-villains-of-indian-cinema-3038-2.html |archive-date=11 November 2013 |access-date=7 July 2013}}</ref> and four actors were included in its 2010 list of "80 Iconic Performances" for their work in this film.<ref>{{Cite journal |date=1 June 2010 |title=Filmfare – 80 Iconic Performances 1/10 |url=http://www.filmfare.com/articles/80-iconic-performances-110-950.html |journal=Filmfare |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120121065253/http://www.filmfare.com/articles/80-iconic-performances-110-950.html |archive-date=21 January 2012 |access-date=8 July 2013}}</ref><ref>{{Cite journal |date=3 June 2010 |title=Filmfare – 80 Iconic Performances 2/10 |url=http://www.filmfare.com/articles/80-iconic-performances-210-952.html |journal=Filmfare |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100705235640/http://www.filmfare.com/articles/80-iconic-performances-210-952.html |archive-date=5 July 2010 |access-date=8 July 2013}}</ref><ref>{{Cite journal |date=6 June 2010 |title=Filmfare – 80 Iconic Performances 6/10 |url=http://www.filmfare.com/articles/80-iconic-performances-610-956.html |journal=Filmfare |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130506122601/http://www.filmfare.com/articles/80-iconic-performances-610-956.html |archive-date=6 May 2013 |access-date=8 July 2013}}</ref><ref>{{Cite journal |date=10 June 2010 |title=Filmfare – 80 Iconic Performances 10/10 |url=http://www.filmfare.com/articles/80-iconic-performances-1010-991.html |journal=Filmfare |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110203173146/http://www.filmfare.com/articles/80-iconic-performances-1010-991.html |archive-date=3 February 2011 |access-date=8 July 2013}}</ref>

The film is often credited with making Bachchan a "superstar", two years after he became a star with ''[[Zanjeer (1973 film)|Zanjeer]]'' (1973).<ref name="uiowa" /><ref>{{Cite web |title=Top Actor |url=http://www.boxofficeindia.com/cpages.php?pageName=top_actors |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131029191201/http://boxofficeindia.com/cpages.php?pageName=top_actors |archive-date=29 October 2013 |access-date=13 October 2012 |publisher=Box Office India}}</ref> Some of the supporting actors remained etched in public memory as the characters they played in ''Sholay''; for example, [[Mac Mohan]] continued to be referred to as "Sambha", even though his character had just one line.<ref>{{Cite news |date=10 May 2010 |title='Sambha' Mac Mohan of 'Sholay' fame dies |work=The Times of India |url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Sambha-Mac-Mohan-of-Sholay-fame-dies/articleshow/5914387.cms |url-status=live |access-date=14 May 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121106153206/http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/India/Sambha-Mac-Mohan-of-Sholay-fame-dies/articleshow/5914387.cms |archive-date=6 November 2012}}</ref> Major and minor characters continue to be used in commercials, promos, films and sitcoms.<ref name="ndtv" />{{sfn|Chopra|2000|pp=4–5}} Amjad Khan acted in many villainous roles later in his career. He also played Gabbar Singh again in the 1991 spoof ''[[Ramgarh Ke Sholay]]'', and reprised the role in commercials.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Khanna |first=Parul |date=6 February 2010 |title=The most hilarious ads ever... |work=Hindustan Times |url=http://www.hindustantimes.com/tv/the-most-hilarious-ads-ever/story-w3DzJypz46bPExmxlqDJsI.html |url-status=live |access-date=17 December 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150925073043/http://www.hindustantimes.com/tv/the-most-hilarious-ads-ever/story-w3DzJypz46bPExmxlqDJsI.html |archive-date=25 September 2015}}</ref> The British Film Institute in 2002 wrote that fear of Gabbar Singh "is still invoked by mothers to put their children to sleep".<ref>{{Cite web |year=2002 |title=1. Sholay (1975) |url=http://www.bfi.org.uk/features/imagineasia/guide/poll/india/01_sholay.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110805124020/http://www.bfi.org.uk/features/imagineasia/guide/poll/india/01_sholay.html |archive-date=5 August 2011 |access-date=27 April 2013 |publisher=[[British Film Institute]]}}</ref> The 2012 film ''[[Gabbar Singh (film)|Gabbar Singh]]'', named after the character, became the highest-grossing [[Cinema of Andhra Pradesh|Telugu film]] up to that point.<ref>{{Cite news |date=19 July 2012 |title=Gabbar Singh highest grosser in south |work=[[India Today]] |url=https://www.indiatoday.in/movies/bollywood/story/gabbar-singh-highest-grosser-110233-2012-07-18 |access-date=3 May 2013 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120719115946/http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/gabbar-singh-highest-grosser/1/209129.html |archive-date=19 July 2012}}</ref> Comedian [[Jagdeep]], who played Soorma Bhopali in the film, attempted to use his ''Sholay'' success to create a spinoff. He directed and played the lead role in the 1988 film ''[[Soorma Bhopali]]'', in which Dharmendra and Bachchan had cameos.<ref>{{Cite web |date=1 January 1988 |title=Soorma Bhopali (1988) Cast and Crew |url=https://www.bollywoodhungama.com/movie/soorma-bhopali/cast/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161121104752/http://www.bollywoodhungama.com/movie/soorma-bhopali/cast/ |archive-date=21 November 2016 |access-date=24 February 2012 |website=[[Bollywood Hungama]]}}</ref>

''Sholay'' was remade in [[Bangladesh]] as ''Dost Dushman'' (1977), was criticized by many critics in the country.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Bollywood and Dhallywood: Contentions and Connections |url=https://archive.thedailystar.net/forum/2011/August/bollywood.htm |website=[[The Daily Star (Bangladesh)|The Daily Star]] |date=1 August 2011}}</ref> In 2004, ''Sholay'' was digitally remastered and shown again to packed theatres in India, including Mumbai's Minerva, where it had run successfully 29 years earlier.<ref>{{Cite news |date=14 August 2004 |title=29 years later, Sholay still rules |work=[[The Indian Express]] |url=http://expressindia.indianexpress.com/news/fullstory.php?newsid=35028 |url-status=live |access-date=30 December 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131109044928/http://expressindia.indianexpress.com/news/fullstory.php?newsid=35028 |archive-date=9 November 2013}}</ref> Another attempt to remake ''Sholay'', [[Ram Gopal Varma]]'s film ''[[Aag (2007 film)|Aag]]'' (2007), starring Amitabh Bachchan as the villain, was a commercial and critical disaster.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Box Office 2007 |url=http://www.boxofficeindia.com/showProd.php?itemCat=214 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131109040918/http://www.boxofficeindia.com/showProd.php?itemCat=214 |archive-date=9 November 2013 |access-date=20 April 2013 |publisher=Box Office India}}</ref>

Because of television and home media, ''Sholay'' is widely available and still popular. Twenty years after its release, ''Sholay'' was first shown on the Indian [[DD National]] television channel, where it drew the highest ratings ever for an Indian film broadcast.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Mahmood |first=Rafay |date=5 April 2012 |title=Bollywood Masterpiece: Sholay in 3D |work=[[The Express Tribune]] |url=http://tribune.com.pk/story/360123/bollywood-masterpiece-sholay-in-3d/ |url-status=live |access-date=12 April 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131109035939/http://tribune.com.pk/story/360123/bollywood-masterpiece-sholay-in-3d/ |archive-date=9 November 2013}}</ref> Video game producer Mobile2win released the ''Sholay Ramgarh Express'' game for mobile phones in 2004, along with other ''Sholay'' themed content such as wallpapers, video clips, and ringtones; another video game ''Sholay: Bullets of Justice'' developed by Gameshastra has also been released.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Bapna |first=Amit |date=29 January 2014 |title=Box office blockbuster Sholay: Ad man's favourite source of inspiration |work=The Economic Times |url=https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/box-office-blockbuster-sholay-ad-mans-favourite-source-of-inspiration/articleshow/29503479.cms?from=mdr |access-date=28 November 2023 |issn=0013-0389}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Sholay - Bullets of Justice |url=http://vroovy.com/Vroovywebsite/v8/sholay-bullets-of-justice.html |access-date=27 September 2023 |website=vroovy.com |archive-date=11 February 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220211173224/http://vroovy.com/Vroovywebsite/v8/sholay-bullets-of-justice.html |url-status=live }}</ref> ''Sholay Adventures'', a 2014 [[List of Indian animated films|Indian animated television film]] adaptation of ''Sholay'' aired on [[Pogo TV]].<ref>{{Cite web |date=23 January 2015 |title=Pogo and Graphic India presents Sholay Adventures |url=http://www.indiantelevision.com/television/tv-channels/kids/pogo-and-graphic-india-presents-sholay-adventures-150123 |access-date=4 June 2017 |archive-date=16 June 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170616091541/http://www.indiantelevision.com/television/tv-channels/kids/pogo-and-graphic-india-presents-sholay-adventures-150123 |url-status=live }}</ref> In 2019, a film titled ''[[The Sholay Girl]]'', based on the stunt woman [[Reshma Pathan]], was released. Pathan had worked as the body double for Malini in the film.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Sharma |first=Aayushi |date=4 March 2019 |title=All You Need To Know About Reshma Pathan aka The Sholay Girl, India's First Stunt Woman |url=https://zeetv.zee5.com/all-you-need-to-know-about-reshma-pathan-aka-the-sholay-girl-indias-first-stunt-woman/ |access-date=10 March 2019 |publisher=Zee TV |archive-date=7 August 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200807033401/https://zeetv.zee5.com/all-you-need-to-know-about-reshma-pathan-aka-the-sholay-girl-indias-first-stunt-woman/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

''Sholay'' has been the subject of two books and many articles. Wimal Dissanayake and Malti Sahai's ''Sholay, A Cultural Reading'' (1992) attempts a comprehensive scholarly study that sets the film within the broader history of popular cinema in India. [[Anupama Chopra]]'s ''Sholay: The Making of a Classic'' (2000) provides an inside look at the film's production based on interviews with the director, stars, and crew members.<ref name="ending" /><ref name="uiowa" />

''Sholay'' has been labelled by Chopra as the gold standard in Indian cinema, and a reference point for audiences and trade analysts. Over the years, the film has reached a mythic stature in popular culture,{{sfn|Chopra|2000|p=3}} and has been called the greatest Hindi film of all time.{{sfn|Dwyer|2005|p=218}} It belongs to only a small collection of films, including ''[[Kismet (1943 film)|Kismet]]'' (1943), ''[[Mother India]]'' (1957), ''[[Mughal-e-Azam]]'' (1960), ''[[Hum Aapke Hain Koun..!]]'' (1994) and ''[[Gadar: Ek Prem Katha]]'' (2001), which are repeatedly watched throughout India, and are viewed as definitive Hindi films with cultural significance.{{sfnm|Mishra|2002|1p=66|Morcom|2007|2pp=139–144}}<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.boxofficeindia.com/report-details.php?articleid=2822|title=The Biggest Blockbuster Continues To Dominate|date=30 March 2017}}</ref> The lasting effect of ''Sholay'' on Indian cinema was summarised by Anupama Chopra, when in 2004 she called it "no longer just a film, [but] an event".<ref>{{Cite news |last=Ahmed |first=Zubair |date=18 August 2004 |title=Hindi classic pulls in the crowds |work=BBC News |url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/3577790.stm |url-status=live |access-date=1 December 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120623054743/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/3577790.stm |archive-date=23 June 2012}}</ref> In the 2000 book ''Sholay: The Making of a Classic'', the noted director [[Shekhar Kapur]] stated "there has never been a more defining film on the Indian screen. Indian film history can be divided into ''Sholay'' BC and ''Sholay'' AD".{{sfn|Chopra|2000|loc=back cover}} The film was jointly released in Pakistan by [[Jang Media Group|Geo films]] and Mandviwalla Entertainment on 17 April 2015, almost 40 years after its theatrical release. The film's premiere in the country was held in [[Karachi]].<ref>{{Cite web |date=18 April 2015 |title='Sholay' releases in Pakistan |url=http://www.thehindu.com/entertainment/sholay-releases-in-pakistan/article7117187.ece |access-date=19 April 2015 |website=The Hindu |agency=Press Trust of India |archive-date=30 November 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171130151204/http://www.thehindu.com/entertainment/sholay-releases-in-pakistan/article7117187.ece |url-status=live }}</ref>

Screenwriter [[V. Vijayendra Prasad]], responsible for a number of blockbusters in the early 21st century, including the South Indian franchise [[Baahubali (franchise)|''Baahubali'']] and the Hindi film ''[[Bajrangi Bhaijaan]]'' (starring Salim's son [[Salman Khan]]), cited ''Sholay'' as a major inspiration on his work.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Singh |first=Suhani |date=17 June 2017 |title=Baahubali writer KV Vijayendra Prasad is going places at 75 |url=https://www.indiatoday.in/magazine/leisure/story/20170626-k-v-vijayendra-prasad-baahubali-writer-magadheera-986633-2017-06-17 |access-date=8 May 2022 |website=[[India Today]] |archive-date=8 May 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220508220818/https://www.indiatoday.in/magazine/leisure/story/20170626-k-v-vijayendra-prasad-baahubali-writer-magadheera-986633-2017-06-17 |url-status=live }}</ref>

==See also==
* ''[[Angry Young Men (miniseries)]]''
* [[List of cult films]]
* [[List of highest-grossing Indian films]]
* [[Gabbar Singh (disambiguation)]]

== Footnotes ==
{{notelist|30em}}

== References ==
<references>

<ref name="Runtime">{{Cite web |title=''Sholay'' (PG) |url=https://www.bbfc.co.uk/releases/sholay-1988 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131109084512/http://www.bbfc.co.uk/releases/sholay-1988 |archive-date=9 November 2013 |access-date=12 April 2013 |publisher=[[British Board of Film Classification]]}}</ref>
<ref name="open">{{Cite journal |last1=Khan |first1=Salim |author-link=Salim Khan |last2=Sukumaran |first2=Shradha |date=14 August 2010 |title=Sholay, the Beginning |url=http://www.openthemagazine.com/article/arts-letters/sholay-the-beginning |url-status=live |journal=[[Open (Indian magazine)|OPEN Magazine]] |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171130151204/http://www.openthemagazine.com/article/arts-letters/sholay-the-beginning |archive-date=30 November 2017}}</ref>
<ref name="Cinar">{{Cite book |last1=Cinar |first1=Alev |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=q-5llJ_MsvgC&pg=PA117 |title=Visualizing Secularism and Religion: Egypt, Lebanon, Turkey, India |last2=Roy |first2=Srirupa |last3=Yahya |first3=Maha |date=2012 |publisher=[[University of Michigan Press]] |isbn=978-0-472-07118-0 |page=117 |quote=one of the most popular Hindi-Urdu films in Bollywood history, ''Sholay'' |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171130151204/https://books.google.com/books?id=q-5llJ_MsvgC&pg=PA117 |archive-date=30 November 2017 |url-status=live}}</ref>
<ref name="Akhtar">{{Cite book |last1=Aḵẖtar |first1=Jāvīd |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=_JILAQAAMAAJ |title=Talking Films: Conversations on Hindi Cinema with Javed Akhtar |last2=Kabir |first2=Nasreen Munni |date=2002 |publisher=[[Oxford University Press]] |isbn=978-0-19-566462-1 |page=49 |quote=JA: I write dialogue in Urdu, but the action and descriptions are in English. Then an assistant transcribes the Urdu dialogue into Devnagari because most people read Hindi. But I write in Urdu. |author-link=Javed Akhtar |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140108035102/http://books.google.com/books?id=_JILAQAAMAAJ |archive-date=8 January 2014 |url-status=live}}</ref>
<ref name="nyt">{{Cite news |last=Pandya |first=Haresh |date=27 December 2007 |title=G. P. Sippy, Indian Filmmaker Whose ''Sholay'' Was a Bollywood Hit, Dies at 93 |work=[[The New York Times]] |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2007/12/27/arts/27Sippy.html |url-status=live |access-date=23 February 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110828135232/http://www.nytimes.com/2007/12/27/arts/27Sippy.html |archive-date=28 August 2011}}</ref>
<ref name="Teo">{{Cite book |last=Teo |first=Stephen |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=pi8lDwAAQBAJ&pg=PA122 |title=Eastern Westerns: Film and Genre Outside and Inside Hollywood |date=2017 |publisher=[[Taylor & Francis]] |isbn=978-1-317-59226-6 |page=122 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171130151204/https://books.google.com/books?id=pi8lDwAAQBAJ&pg=PA122 |archive-date=30 November 2017 |url-status=live}}</ref>
<ref name="rediff1">{{Cite web |last=Raheja |first=Dinesh |date=9 August 2009 |title=Why Sholay is a cult classic |url=http://www.rediff.com/movies/2002/aug/09dinesh.htm |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304122450/http://www.rediff.com/movies/2002/aug/09dinesh.htm |archive-date=4 March 2016 |access-date=1 December 2010 |website=[[Rediff.com]]}}</ref>
<ref name="ndtv">{{Cite web |date=14 August 2010 |title=35 years on, the Sholay fire still burns |url=http://movies.ndtv.com/bollywood/35-years-on-the-sholay-fire-still-burns-44425 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130612074406/http://movies.ndtv.com/bollywood/35-years-on-the-sholay-fire-still-burns-44425 |archive-date=12 June 2013 |access-date=12 April 2013 |publisher=[[NDTV]]}}</ref>
<ref name="ending">{{Cite web |last=Das |first=Ronjita |date=7 February 2001 |title=I didn't even know there was another ending to ''Sholay'' |url=http://im.rediff.com/movies/2001/feb/07anu.htm |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110715164950/http://im.rediff.com/movies/2001/feb/07anu.htm |archive-date=15 July 2011 |access-date=27 September 2010 |publisher=Rediff}}</ref>
<ref name="DVD">{{Cite web |title=Sholay (1975) Region 0 DVD Review |url=http://film.thedigitalfix.com/content.php?contentid=58178 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161121171814/http://film.thedigitalfix.com/content.php?contentid=58178 |archive-date=21 November 2016 |access-date=9 August 2010 |publisher=The Digital Fix}}</ref>
<ref name="shen chic reader">{{Cite news |last=Shen |first=Ted |date=13 December 2002 |title=Sholay |work=[[Chicago Reader]] |url=http://www.chicagoreader.com/chicago/sholay/Film?oid=1063841 |url-status=live |access-date=11 April 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304093713/http://www.chicagoreader.com/chicago/sholay/Film?oid=1063841 |archive-date=4 March 2016}}</ref>
<ref name="telegraph">{{Cite news |date=3 February 2013 |title=900 not out! |work=[[The Telegraph (Calcutta)|The Telegraph]] |url=https://www.telegraphindia.com/1130203/jsp/7days/story_16515999.jsp |url-status=dead |access-date=11 May 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304225327/http://www.telegraphindia.com/1130203/jsp/7days/story_16515999.jsp |archive-date=4 March 2016}}</ref>
<ref name="Boi70s">{{Cite web |title=Top Earners 1970–1979 – BOI |url=http://boxofficeindia.com/showProd.php?itemCat=124&catName=MTk3MC0xOTc5 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131014062240/http://boxofficeindia.com/showProd.php?itemCat=124&catName=MTk3MC0xOTc5 |archive-date=14 October 2013 |access-date=24 February 2012 |publisher=Box Office India}}</ref>
<ref name="indiatoday">{{Cite news |date=15 September 1995 |title=Sholay emerges as Bollywood's most successful re-run product even after 20 years |work=[[India Today]] |url=https://www.indiatoday.in/magazine/society-and-the-arts/films/story/19950915-sholay-emerges-as-bollywoods-most-successful-re-run-product-even-after-20-years-807750-1995-09-14 |access-date=9 December 2018 |archive-date=1 January 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170101010917/http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/sholay-emerges-as-bollywoods-most-successful-re-run-product-even-after-20-years/1/289356.html |url-status=live }}</ref>
<ref name="footfalls">[https://boxofficeindia.com/report-details.php?articleid=2988 Bahubali 2 Is The Biggest Hindi Blockbuster This Century] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170824133203/http://www.boxofficeindia.com/report-details.php?articleid=2988 |date=24 August 2017}}, [[Box Office India]], 8 June 2017</ref>
<ref name="soviet">{{Cite web |title="Месть и закон" (Sholay, 1975) |url=https://www.kinopoisk.ru/film/40451/ |access-date=3 February 2019 |website=[[KinoPoisk]] |language=ru-RU |archive-date=28 August 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200828011232/https://www.kinopoisk.ru/film/40451/ |url-status=live }}</ref>
<ref name="uiowa">{{Cite web |last=Lutgendorf |first=Philip |title=Sholay |url=http://www.uiowa.edu/~incinema/sholay.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150102025542/http://www.uiowa.edu/~incinema/sholay.html |archive-date=2 January 2015 |access-date=8 December 2010 |publisher=South Asian Studies Program, University of Iowa}}</ref>
<ref name="3D">{{Cite news |last=Roy, Priyanka |date=27 November 2013 |title=Sholay returns — in 3D! |work=The Telegraph (Calcutta) supplement t2 |url=http://www.telegraphindia.com/1131127/jsp/t2/story_17614577.jsp |url-status=dead |access-date=7 December 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131213001755/http://www.telegraphindia.com/1131127/jsp/t2/story_17614577.jsp |archive-date=13 December 2013}}</ref>
<ref name="screens">{{Cite news |last=Jain, Priyanka |date=4 June 2012 |title=Sholay 3D will be more successful, says distributor |work=Hindustan Times |url=http://www.hindustantimes.com/bollywood/sholay-3d-will-be-more-successful-says-distributor/story-QdkIKksj4a8Kly1NHIPssK.html |url-status=live |access-date=7 December 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151005123811/http://www.hindustantimes.com/bollywood/sholay-3d-will-be-more-successful-says-distributor/story-QdkIKksj4a8Kly1NHIPssK.html |archive-date=5 October 2015}}</ref>

</references>

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* {{Cite book |last=Prasad |first=M. Madhava |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=6OBkAAAAMAAJ |title=Ideology of the Hindi Film: A Historical Construction |publisher=Oxford University Press, Incorporated |year=1998 |isbn=978-0-19-564218-6 |access-date=15 July 2016 |archive-date=11 June 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140611095042/http://books.google.com/books?id=6OBkAAAAMAAJ |url-status=live }}
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{{refend}}

== External links ==
{{commons category}}
{{Wikiquote}}
* ''[https://www.imdb.com/title/tt39151096/ Sholay: The Final Cut]'' (2025) at [[IMDb]]
*''[https://filmheritagefoundation.co.in/sholay-1975-embers-restored-by-film-heritage-foundation/ Sholay: The Final Cut]'' (2025) at [[Film Heritage Foundation]]
* {{IMDb title}} (1975)
*''[https://www.bfi.org.uk/film/4c157d6b-5fcb-5899-b4f7-a4bf085fa9eb/sholay Sholay]'' (1975) at the [[British Film Institute]]

{{Salim-Javed}}
{{Ramesh Sippy}}
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Student of the Year 2

2026-07-14T07:01:30Z

2409:40E6:EA:E7CA:4DCF:1ADD:A789:4C4B:

{{short description|2019 Indian teen film directed by Punit Malhotra}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2020}}
{{Use Indian English|date=April 2019}}
{{Infobox film
| name = Student of the Year 2
| image = Student of the year 2 Poster.jpg
| caption = Theatrical release poster
| director = [[Punit Malhotra]]
| producer = [[Gauri Khan]] {{ubl|Hiroo Yash Johar|[[Karan Johar]]|Apoorva Mehta|}}
| writer = [[Arshad Sayed]]
| starring = {{ubl|[[Tiger Shroff]]|[[Tara Sutaria]]|[[Ananya Panday]]}}
| music = {{ubl|'''Songs:'''|[[Vishal–Shekhar]]|'''Score:'''|[[Salim–Sulaiman]]}}
| cinematography = [[Ravi K. Chandran]]
| editing = Ritesh Soni
| studio = [[Red Chillies Entertainment]] [[Dharma Productions]]
| distributor = NH Studioz (India) [[Yash Raj Films]] (Overseas)
| released = 30 March 2018
| runtime = 145 minutes<ref>{{Citation |title=Student of the Year 2 |url=http://www.bbfc.co.uk/releases/student-year-2-2019 |publisher=[[British Board of Film Classification]] |access-date=28 March 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190508101511/http://www.bbfc.co.uk/releases/student-year-2-2019 |archive-date=8 May 2019 |url-status=live}}</ref>
| country = India
| language = Hindi
| budget = {{INR|link=yes}}650 million<ref name="budget1">{{Cite web |url=https://boxofficeindia.com/movie.php?movieid=5646 |title=Student of the Year 2 |website=[[Box Office India]] |access-date=6 April 2018}}</ref> (Note: Includes promotion and advertising costs){{better source needed|date=September 2018}}
| gross = {{Estimation}} {{INR}}981.6 million<ref name="bo total">{{Cite web |url=https://www.bollywoodhungama.com/movie/student-of-the-year-2/box-office/ |title=Student of the Year 2 Box Office Collection till Now |website=[[Bollywood Hungama]] |access-date=8 June 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190502210536/https://www.bollywoodhungama.com/movie/student-of-the-year-2/box-office/ |archive-date=2 May 2019 |url-status=live}}</ref>
}}

'''''Student of the Year 2''''' is a 2019 Indian [[Hindi]]-language [[teen film|teen]] [[Romance film|romantic]] [[comedy|comedy action]] [[drama film]] written by [[Arshad Sayed]], directed by [[Punit Malhotra]], and produced by [[Karan Johar]], Hiroo Yash Johar and [[Apoorva Mehta]] under the banner [[Dharma Productions]], with [[Fox Star Studios]] serving as distributor and co-producer. A sequel to the 2012 film ''[[Student of the Year]]'', it stars [[Tiger Shroff]], [[Tara Sutaria]], and [[Ananya Panday]], alongside [[Aditya Seal]] and Harsh Beniwal in the supporting roles. The film follows Rohan Sachdev, a college student in a quest to become Student of the Year. Heavily panned by critics and audiences alike, it holds a rating of 6% on [[Rotten Tomatoes]].<ref name="rottentomatoes.com">{{Cite web|url=https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/student_of_the_year_2|title=Student of the Year 2 (2019)|via=www.rottentomatoes.com}}</ref>

''Student of the Year 2'' was announced in October 2017. Initially, Malhotra and Shroff were to collaborate for a different film; when they found the final script unsatisfactory, they tweaked it and planned to make it a sequel. It marks the debuts of both Sutaria and Panday and pursues a plot that is unrelated to its predecessor (though [[Manjot Singh]] and [[Sahil Anand]] reprised their roles as Dimpy and Jeet Khurana respectively). [[Principal photography]] for the film began in April 2018 at [[Dehradun]], and ended in September 2018. The film's soundtrack was composed by [[Vishal-Shekhar]], with lyrics written by [[Anvita Dutt Guptan]], [[Kumaar]] and Vayu, and released under the banner [[Zee Music Company]].

''Student of the Year 2'' was theatrically released in India on 10 May 2019. The film received generally negative reviews from critics, with the script, unreal situation and unrealistic depiction of Indian schools and colleges thus receiving criticism; However, Shroff's action sequences were praised. As of 7 June 2019, it has earned {{INR|link=yes}}981.6 million worldwide, against a budget of {{INR}}850 million, including promotion and advertising costs. The film was a flop at the box office.<ref name="movietalkies.com">{{cite web|url=https://www.movietalkies.com/movies-reviews/student-of-the-year-2/|title=student of the year (2019)|via=movietalkies.com}}</ref>

==Plot==
{{long plot|date=October 2020}} 

Rohan Sachdev ([[Tiger Shroff]]), a middle-class student at Pishorilal Chamandas College, decides to go to St. Teresa High School, a college for the affluent and talented, after his childhood sweetheart, Mridula Chawla ([[Tara Sutaria]]), transfers there. He gets a scholarship in the college and is very happy. Mridula, now going by the name Mia, initially avoids Rohan in a desperate attempt to become famous. Still, the two begin a relationship when Rohan wins the college over by showing his sports skills.

Rohan becomes friends with marry Manav Singh Randhawa ([[Aditya Seal]]), a popular, affluent, Student and reigning Student of the Year. However, he is at odds with Manav's sister Shreya ([[Ananya Panday]]), a popular mean girl who detests him and often plays pranks on him. She tricks his Pishorilal friends into showing up at Manav's birthday party, where they are insulted, causing a rift between them and Rohan. After one of her pranks gets her in trouble with her aloof father, Sukesh ([[Chetan Pandit]]), Rohan tries to wounds make peace with Shreya, but she refuses, saying she does not need his sympathy.

At the college, Rohan-Mia and Manav-Shreya are coupled up in an upcoming dance competition where Mia wants to win to gain popularity. At the same time, Shreya intends to fulfill her dream of enrolling at a dance academy in London. Manav and Shreya win the contest after Mia falters during a step. When Rohan consoles Mia, he instead finds her getting intimate with Manav and realizes that Manav, knowing Mia had a crush on him, had planted her to spoil Rohan's performance since he saw him as a threat to his image. Rohan is expelled from St. Teresa after punching Manav and is subsequently beaten up by Manav's friends before being thrown out. Initially discouraged and struggling to deal with what he sees as Mia's betrayal, an enraged Rohan, eventually fights back and crowd challenges Manav, saying he, not Manav, will be winning the Student of the Year trophy.

Rohan returns to Pishorilal, where his old friends treat him with contempt. Shreya, who is impressed by Rohan's sincerity, reveals to his friends that she set them up and convinces Rohan to join her in a national dance competition, hoping she can study at a dance school in London. The two become friends as they practice and win the dance competition. Meanwhile, Shreya reveals her mother died upon her birth, causing her father to believe she was cursed and detested her. Mia tries to win back Rohan after leaving Manav when he cheats on her. Shreya reveals that she's also in love with Rohan, which results in a heated argument between Mia and Shreya over Rohan, culminating in Shreya spilling coffee over Mia accidentally in a fit of anger and Rohan asking Shreya to leaves furious. Though Shreya thinks Rohan will go back to Mia, he comes to her house the following day and defends Shreya to Sukesh, revealing their dance victory.

During the Dignity Cup opening ceremony, a fight breaks out between Pishorilal and St. Teresa when Rohan's friends tease Manav and his team, ending in Rohan's teammate rival Abhishek being seriously injured. However, when Rohan beats up Manav to defend Abhishek, they make amends, and the group decides to work together to win the Dignity Cup, training hard. When Shreya met Abhishek in the hospital, seeing her, Mia held Rohan's hand to show Shreya that she and Rohan had patched up. There, Shreya apologizes to Mia. When Mia asks her about her love for Rohan, Shreya calls it a schoolgirl crush and, blessing them with happiness, leaves college. Rohan leaves Mia's hand and follows Shreya asking her if she is okay devastated. She thanks him and reveals she is going to London to graduate from the London School of Dance at the end of the term. At this juncture, Rohan professes his love for her, but she refuses and goes. However, Mia realizes that she has lost Rohan for good.

Pishorilal, usually last, manages to climb up the ranks and gets to the final against St. Teresa. On the night of the second-day event, Mia expresses her happiness and tries to kiss Rohan, but he turns his face and tells her he doesn't want to patch up with her, saying it is time he is focused on accomplishing something. Although upset, she accepts his decision and supports Rohan in his fight. The two part as friends.

The next day, before the final, Rohan confesses his love for Shreya for a second time, and she accepts after he tells her that Mia is abductes just his friend and she is his present and future, and the two unite. Shreya and Mia support Pishorilal in the match. During the Kabaddi match, Manav engages in foul play against Pishorilal, but at Rohan, who getting enraged helps Manav the team fight back and win the Dignity Cup, defeating St. Teresa. Pishorilal celebrates their first-ever win in history while Manav is angry. Rohan and Shreya embrace, which Mia sees and is sad. However, she leaves smiling, knowing Rohan's dream of winning Student of the Year has come true. Pishorilal celebrates their first-ever victory, and Rohan becomes Student of the Year, fulfilling his champion dreams.

== Cast ==
* [[Tiger Shroff]] as Rohan Sachdev, a middle-class student, winner of Student of the Year, and Mia and Shreya's love interest and Manav's enemy
*[[Tara Sutaria]] as Mridula 'Mia' Chawla, Rohan's ex-girlfriend/childhood sweetheart and Manav's girlfriend turned ex-girlfriend
* [[Ananya Panday]] as Shreya Randhawa, Manav's sister and Rohan's love interest
* [[Aditya Seal]] as Manav Singh Randhawa, Shreya's brother and Rohan's enemy
* [[Samir Soni]] as Principal Gujral, Dean of St. Teresa
* [[Gul Panag]] as Coach Kuljeet, fitness teacher of St. Teresa
* [[Abhishek Bajaj]] as Abhishek Sharma, Captain of Pishorilal Chamandas College's Dignity Cup team
* [[Manoj Pahwa]] as Coach Mahipal, Coach of Pishorilal Chamandas College<ref name="mumbai">{{Cite news |url=https://www.news18.com/photogallery/movies/tiger-shroff-shoots-with-ananya-pandey-tara-sutaria-for-soty-2-1781757-2.html |title=Tiger Shroff Shoots With Ananya Panday & Tara Sutaria For SOTY 2 |date=18 June 2018 |work=[[CNN-News18]] |access-date=9 May 2019}}</ref>
* [[Ayesha Raza Mishra]] as Principal Archana Singh, Dean of Pishorilal Chamandas College
* [[Rajesh Kumar (actor)|Rajesh Kumar]] as Prem Narayan Sachdev, Rohan's uncle
* [[Manasi Joshi Roy]] as Rohan's aunt
* [[Chetan Pandit]] as Sukesh Randhawa, Shreya and Manav's father
* Samreen Kaur as Mia's mother
* [[Manjot Singh]] as Commentator Dimpy
* [[Sahil Anand]] as Commentator Jeet Khurana
* Daljeet Singh as Abdullah Wahab, Rohan's best friend, student at Pishorilal
*[[Harsh Beniwal]] as Puggi, Rohan's best friend, student at Pishorilal
* [[Alia Bhatt]] as Shanaya Abhimanyu Singh from [[Student of the Year|Soty]] (special appearance in Promo song "The Hook Up Song") uncredited song in movie
* [[Will Smith]] (special appearance in "The Jawaani Song")

== Production ==
=== Development and casting ===
''Student of the Year 2'' is a sequel to the 2012 [[Karan Johar]]-directed romantic comedy-drama ''[[Student of the Year]]''.<ref name="khatter">{{Cite news |url=https://www.news18.com/news/movies/student-of-the-year-2-karan-johar-quashes-reports-of-ishaan-khatter-featuring-with-tiger-shroff-in-film-1585495.html |title=Student of The Year 2: Karan Johar Quashes Reports of Ishaan Khatter Featuring With Tiger Shroff in Film |date=23 November 2017 |work=[[CNN-News18]] |access-date=8 March 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190430141412/https://www.news18.com/news/movies/student-of-the-year-2-karan-johar-quashes-reports-of-ishaan-khatter-featuring-with-tiger-shroff-in-film-1585495.html |archive-date=30 April 2019 |url-status=live}}</ref> Shortly after the commercial success of the first film, a sequel was announced by the producers.<ref name="tiger" /> In November 2017, a press release by [[Dharma Productions]] revealed that the sequel is slated to release in 2018; it would be directed by [[Punit Malhotra]] and star [[Tiger Shroff]] in one of the leading roles.<ref name="tiger" /> The film was announced four years after Malhotra's previous directorial ''[[Gori Tere Pyaar Mein]]'' (2013).<ref name="indiatoday.intoday.in" /> It was to be produced in association by Johar's Dharma Productions and [[Fox Star Studios]].<ref name="tiger" /> The film's announcement by the company initially conflated with that of their another production, ''[[Dhadak]]'' (2018), which roused speculation that Ishaan Khatter would star in the film. Johar denied the news and stated that the reports were "baseless and untrue".<ref name="khatter" />

The announcement did not reveal the rest of the cast; Media reports speculated that either [[Disha Patani]] or [[Ananya Panday]], daughter of [[Chunky Pandey]], would play the leading lady opposite Shroff.<ref name="indiatoday.intoday.in" /><ref name="indexp" /> In April 2018, Johar announced that the film's female leads would be Panday and [[Tara Sutaria]], and it would be both their film debuts.<ref name=":0 Prior to confirming ''Student of the Year 2'' as her film debut, Sutaria had auditioned for the role of [[Princess Jasmine]] in Disney's ''[[Aladdin (2019 film)|Aladdin]]'' (2019), but lost it to [[Naomi Scott]].<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.bollywoodhungama.com/news/bollywood/student-year-2-star-tara-sutaria-reveals-auditioned-princess-jasmine-will-smith-starrer-aladdin/ |title=Student of the Year 2 star Tara Sutaria reveals she had auditioned for Princess Jasmine in Will Smith starrer Aladdin |date=2 May 2019 |website=[[Bollywood Hungama]] |access-date=2 May 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190502092718/https://www.bollywoodhungama.com/news/bollywood/student-year-2-star-tara-sutaria-reveals-auditioned-princess-jasmine-will-smith-starrer-aladdin/ |archive-date=2 May 2019 |url-status=live}}</ref> Television actor Abhishek Bajaj made his film debut by playing a friendly rival to Shroff's character.<ref name="bajaj">{{Cite news |url=https://indianexpress.com/article/entertainment/television/abhishek-bajaj-student-of-the-year-2-5263170/ |title=Abhishek Bajaj to play Tiger Shroff's rival in Student of the Year 2 |last=Farzeen |first=Sana |date=17 July 2018 |work=[[The Indian Express]] |access-date=5 August 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180805203028/https://indianexpress.com/article/entertainment/television/abhishek-bajaj-student-of-the-year-2-5263170/ |archive-date=5 August 2018 |url-status=live}}</ref> Harsh Beniwal, a YouTuber, also makes his film debut as a [[Sikh]] student; in preparation for the role, he put on weight and grew a beard.<ref name="beniwal">{{Cite news |url=https://indianexpress.com/article/entertainment/bollywood/harsh-beniwal-student-of-the-year-2-5672390/ |title=YouTube sensation Harsh Beniwal makes Bollywood debut with Student of the Year 2 |date=12 April 2019 |work=[[The Indian Express]] |access-date=9 May 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190413140114/https://indianexpress.com/article/entertainment/bollywood/harsh-beniwal-student-of-the-year-2-5672390/ |archive-date=13 April 2019 |url-status=live}}</ref>

Malhotra stated that the two films have unrelated storylines: "The intention of the film is not to make this a Me Too of first part, so Tiger. It’s a fresh take on the subject. It’s more about sports and action". Malhotra took experience from his time as a student at Mumbai's [[H.R. College of Commerce and Economics]], but made the film version much grander. Malhotra was initially supposed to work on a different film with Shroff, but two-three months before filming, they scrapped the project and wrote a new script, a sequel to ''Student of the Year''.<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://mumbaimirror.indiatimes.com/entertainment/bollywood/punit-malhotra-on-student-of-the-year-2-we-were-supposed-to-make-a-very-different-film-with-tiger/articleshow/69119815.cms |title=Punit Malhotra on Student of the Year 2: We were supposed to make a very different film with Tiger |first=Himesh |last=Mankad |author-link=Himesh Mankad|date=1 May 2019 |work=[[Mumbai Mirror]] |access-date=1 May 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190501080745/https://mumbaimirror.indiatimes.com/entertainment/bollywood/punit-malhotra-on-student-of-the-year-2-we-were-supposed-to-make-a-very-different-film-with-tiger/articleshow/69119815.cms |archive-date=1 May 2019 |url-status=live}}</ref> In response to accusations that the film raised unhealthy expectations for college life, Shroff said, "What you see here is a fun school. It's a school that you want everyone to be a part of. We wanted everyone to fall in love with it".<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://gulfnews.com/entertainment/bollywood/tiger-shroff-is-top-of-the-class-in-student-of-the-year-2-1.63799036 |title=Tiger Shroff is top of the class in 'Student of the Year 2' |last=Radhakrishnan |first=Manjusha |date=7 May 2019 |work=[[Gulf News]] |access-date=9 May 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190509043851/https://gulfnews.com/entertainment/bollywood/tiger-shroff-is-top-of-the-class-in-student-of-the-year-2-1.63799036 |archive-date=9 May 2019 |url-status=live}}</ref> He plays an underdog in the film, expressing, "It's like Superman has been stripped of his powers".<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.firstpost.com/entertainment/tiger-shroff-on-his-role-in-student-of-the-year-2-im-the-underdog-in-the-film-5791511.html |title=Tiger Shroff on his role in Student of the Year 2: 'I'm the underdog in the film' |date=26 December 2018 |work=[[Firstpost]] |access-date=10 May 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190509224701/https://www.firstpost.com/entertainment/tiger-shroff-on-his-role-in-student-of-the-year-2-im-the-underdog-in-the-film-5791511.html |archive-date=9 May 2019 |url-status=live}}</ref>

[[Samir Soni]], who had previously appeared in Malhotra's ''[[I Hate Luv Storys]]'' in 2012 and since shifted to direction, returned to acting by playing a college principal, a supporting role similar to the one originally portrayed by [[Rishi Kapoor]] in ''Student of the Year''.<ref name="soni">{{Cite news |url=http://www.dnaindia.com/bollywood/report-samir-soni-returns-to-acting-with-soty-2-2598763 |title=Samir Soni returns to acting with SOTY 2 |last=Unnikrishnan |first=Chaya |date=29 March 2018 |work=[[Daily News and Analysis]] |access-date=5 August 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180805204532/http://www.dnaindia.com/bollywood/report-samir-soni-returns-to-acting-with-soty-2-2598763 |archive-date=5 August 2018 |url-status=live}}</ref> However, the principal in the first film identified as [[gay]], while the one played by Soni was [[heterosexual]] and more comical.<ref name="soni"/> Media outlets speculated that [[Sidharth Malhotra]] as Abhi Singh [[Varun Dhawan]] as Ro Nanda and [[Alia Bhatt]] as Shanaya Abhi Singh, who had starring roles in the previous film, would feature in a cameo appearance for a song.<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/bollywood/student-of-the-year-2-will-have-alia-bhatt-sidharth-malhotra-varun-dhawan-dancing-with-tiger-shroff-ananya-panday/story-2uEjrX6N5vUhARZnvYtLrN.html |title=Student of the Year 2 will have Alia Bhatt, Sidharth Malhotra, Varun Dhawan dancing with Tiger Shroff, Ananya Panday |date=28 February 2019 |work=[[Hindustan Times]] |access-date=10 May 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190327090627/https://www.hindustantimes.com/bollywood/student-of-the-year-2-will-have-alia-bhatt-sidharth-malhotra-varun-dhawan-dancing-with-tiger-shroff-ananya-panday/story-2uEjrX6N5vUhARZnvYtLrN.html |archive-date=27 March 2019 |url-status=live}}</ref> In May 2019, it was revealed that Bhatt features in a special appearance for the "Hook-up" song, alongside Shroff.<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/bollywood/alia-bhatt-s-hook-up-song-from-student-of-the-year-2-gets-mixed-response-twitter-asks-why-so-sexist/story-xQ2CnceUV82fvOm8CFglGM.html |title=Alia Bhatt's Hook Up song from Student of the Year 2 gets mixed response, Twitter asks why so sexist |date=1 May 2019 |work=[[Hindustan Times]] |access-date=9 May 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190509163137/https://www.hindustantimes.com/bollywood/alia-bhatt-s-hook-up-song-from-student-of-the-year-2-gets-mixed-response-twitter-asks-why-so-sexist/story-xQ2CnceUV82fvOm8CFglGM.html |archive-date=9 May 2019 |url-status=live}}</ref> As a part of the [[Facebook]] original ''Will Smith's Bucket List'', [[Will Smith]] appeared in a song in the film for satisfying his wish of appearing in a Bollywood production.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.ndtv.com/entertainment/what-karan-johar-said-about-will-smith-cameo-making-it-to-student-of-the-year-2-final-cut-2022306 |title=What Karan Johar Said About Will Smith Cameo Making It To Student of the Year 2 Final Cut |last=Goyal |first=Divya |date=12 April 2019 |website=[[NDTV]] |access-date=3 May 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190503100608/https://www.ndtv.com/entertainment/what-karan-johar-said-about-will-smith-cameo-making-it-to-student-of-the-year-2-final-cut-2022306 |archive-date=3 May 2019 |url-status=live}}</ref>

=== Principal photography ===
[[Principal photography]] for ''Student of the Year 2'' began on 9 April 2018 in [[Dehradun]]. Shortly afterwards, parts of the film were shot at [[Rishikesh]] and [[Mussoorie]] as part of the schedule.<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://indianexpress.com/article/entertainment/bollywood/student-of-the-year-2-karan-johar-tiger-shroff-5129916/ |title=Student of the Year 2 shoot begins: All your questions about the Karan Johar film answered |last=Jalan |first=Shivangi |date=9 April 2018 |work=[[The Indian Express]] |access-date=11 May 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190503135124/https://indianexpress.com/article/entertainment/bollywood/student-of-the-year-2-karan-johar-tiger-shroff-5129916/ |archive-date=3 May 2019 |url-status=live}}</ref> Sets for the film were also erected in [[Film City]], Mumbai.<ref name="mumbai"/> After the film's production was delayed, Sutaria's filming schedule began to clash with that of her other project ''[[Kabir Singh]]''; she quit that film to ensure that shooting took place smoothly.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.ndtv.com/entertainment/tara-sutaria-quits-arjun-reddy-remake-the-side-effects-of-student-of-the-year-2-delay-1913011 |title=Tara Sutaria Quits Arjun Reddy Remake. The Side Effects Of Student of the Year 2 Delay? |last=Goyal |first=Divya |date=7 September 2018 |website=[[NDTV]] |access-date=11 May 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190509205444/https://www.ndtv.com/entertainment/tara-sutaria-quits-arjun-reddy-remake-the-side-effects-of-student-of-the-year-2-delay-1913011 |archive-date=9 May 2019 |url-status=live}}</ref> In August 2018, a four-day sequence was filmed in Thailand.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.pinkvilla.com/entertainment/photos/exclusive-it-s-thailand-schedule-soty-2-trio-tiger-shroff-ananya-panday-and-tara-sutaria-426822 |title=EXCLUSIVE: It's Thailand schedule of SOTY 2 trio Tiger Shroff, Ananya Panday and Tara Sutaria |date=25 September 2018 |website=PINKVILLA |access-date=11 May 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181030041412/https://www.pinkvilla.com/entertainment/photos/exclusive-it-s-thailand-schedule-soty-2-trio-tiger-shroff-ananya-panday-and-tara-sutaria-426822 |archive-date=30 October 2018 |url-status=live}}</ref> Filming ended in September 2018 with the shooting of the climax sequence.<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.deccanchronicle.com/entertainment/bollywood/040918/shirtless-tiger-shroff-student-of-the-year-2.html |title=Tiger Shroff to go shirtless in the climax sequence of Student of the Year 2 |date=4 September 2018 |work=[[Deccan Chronicle]] |access-date=11 May 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190509205326/https://www.deccanchronicle.com/entertainment/bollywood/040918/shirtless-tiger-shroff-student-of-the-year-2.html |archive-date=9 May 2019 |url-status=live}}</ref> ''Student of the Year 2'' was produced on an estimated budget of {{INR|link=yes}}650 million, including promotion and advertising costs.<ref name="budget1" />{{better source needed|date=November 2019}}

== Soundtrack ==
{{Infobox album
| name = Student of the Year 2
| type = Soundtrack
| artist = [[Vishal-Shekhar]]
| cover =
| caption =
| released = 26 April 2019<ref name="jio">{{Citation |title=Student of the Year 2 – Original Motion Picture Soundtrack |url=https://www.jiosaavn.com/album/student-of-the-year-2/,6I4Yzv48-A_ |publisher=[[JioSaavn]] |access-date=11 May 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190426075024/https://www.jiosaavn.com/album/student-of-the-year-2/,6I4Yzv48-A_%3F%26utm_content%3Dwap:home:new_releases |archive-date=26 April 2019 |url-status=live}}</ref>
| recorded = 2018–2019
| venue =
| studio =
| genre = [[Feature film soundtrack]]
| length = 24:29
| label = [[Zee Music Company]]
| language = Hindi
| producer =
| prev_title = [[Tiger Zinda Hai]]
| prev_year = 2017
| year = 2019
| next_title = [[Bharat (film)|Bharat]]
| next_year = 2019
| misc = {{External media
| audio1 = {{YouTube|Jdq4shP5eQA|Audio Jukebox}}}}
}}

The film's soundtrack was composed by [[Vishal–Shekhar]] with lyrics written by [[Anvita Dutt Guptan]], [[Kumaar]] and first-time collaborator Vayu, and was released under the banner [[Zee Music Company]].<ref name="jio" /> Reviewing the soundtrack, Pratishruti Ganguly of ''[[Firstpost]]'' wrote, "Unfortunately, tracks like "Hook Up Song" and "Mumbai Dilli Ki Kudiyan" perhaps indicate that the understanding of the "jawaan" [{{trans|youth}}] pulse is a tad misguided in this film".<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.firstpost.com/entertainment/student-of-the-year-2-music-review-vishal-shekhars-power-packed-lineup-is-marred-by-misguided-notions-of-youth-6586321.html |title=Student of the Year 2 music review: Vishal-Shekhar's power-packed lineup is marred by misguided notions of 'youth' |last=Ganguly |first=Pratishruti |date=8 May 2019 |work=[[Firstpost]] |access-date=11 May 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190509224708/https://www.firstpost.com/entertainment/student-of-the-year-2-music-review-vishal-shekhars-power-packed-lineup-is-marred-by-misguided-notions-of-youth-6586321.html |archive-date=9 May 2019 |url-status=live}}</ref>

The song "Yeh Jawani Hai Deewani", originally sung by [[Kishore Kumar]] and composed by [[R. D. Burman]] for the soundtrack to the 1972 film ''[[Jawani Diwani]]'', was recreated for the film, with vocals provided by [[Vishal Dadlani]] and [[Payal Dev]], and was rebranded as "The Jawaani Song".<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.dnaindia.com/bollywood/report-get-ready-to-groove-to-yeh-jawani-hai-deewani-once-again-as-student-of-the-year-2-s-reprised-version-drops-today-2740635 |title=Get ready to groove to 'Yeh Jawani Hai Deewani' once again as Student of the Year 2's reprised version drops today |last=Kotwani |first=Hiren |date=18 April 2019 |work=[[Daily News and Analysis]] |access-date=11 May 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190510102948/https://www.dnaindia.com/bollywood/report-get-ready-to-groove-to-yeh-jawani-hai-deewani-once-again-as-student-of-the-year-2-s-reprised-version-drops-today-2740635 |archive-date=10 May 2019 |url-status=live}}</ref> The "Hook Up" song, picturised on Bhatt and Shroff, was sung by Neha Kakkar and Shekhar Ravjiani.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.ndtv.com/entertainment/student-of-the-year-2s-hook-up-song-inside-alia-bhatt-tiger-shroffs-colourful-date-2030903 |title=Student of the Year 2's Hook Up Song: Inside Alia Bhatt, Tiger Shroff's Colourful Date |last=Basu |first=Nilanjana |date=30 April 2019 |website=[[NDTV]] |access-date=11 May 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190510063654/https://www.ndtv.com/entertainment/student-of-the-year-2s-hook-up-song-inside-alia-bhatt-tiger-shroffs-colourful-date-2030903 |archive-date=10 May 2019 |url-status=live}}</ref>

''Mumbai Dilli Di Kudiyaan'', although released as the second song, was not used in the film, acting only as a promotional song, while ''Main Bhi Nahin Soya'', which was released only with the full audio jukebox, was instead seen in the film, picturized on Shroff. Pakistani singer [[Atif Aslam]] recorded his version way earlier in November 2018 but in the [[2019 Pulwama attack]], Arijit Singh had to replace Aslam for the soundtrack version of the film. Aslam's version for the song will release in the future.

{{Tracklist
| headline=Track listing
| total_length= 24:29
| extra_column=Singer(s)
| title1 = The Jawaani Song
| extra1 = [[Vishal Dadlani]], [[Payal Dev]], [[Kishore Kumar]]
| lyrics1 = [[Anvita Dutt Guptan]] '''(original by [[Anand Bakshi]])'''
| length1 = 4:13
| title2 = Mumbai Dilli Di Kudiyaan
| extra2 = [[Dev Negi]], Payal Dev, Vishal Dadlani
| lyrics2 = Vayu
| length2 = 3:29
| title3 = The Hook Up Song
| extra3 = [[Neha Kakkar]], [[Shekhar Ravjiani]]
| lyrics3 = [[Kumaar]]
| length3 = 3:33
| title4 = Fakira
| extra4 = [[Sanam Puri]], [[Neeti Mohan]]
| lyrics4 = Anvita Dutt Guptan
| length4 = 4:48
| title5 = Main Bhi Nahin Soya
| extra5 = [[Arijit Singh]]
| lyrics5 = Anvita Dutt Guptan
| length5 = 5:17
| title6 = Jatt Ludhiyane Da
| extra6 = Vishal Dadlani, Payal Dev
| lyrics6 = Anvita Dutt Guptan
| length6 = 3:09
}}

== Marketing and release ==
The film was announced via a first look poster featuring Shroff that was released on 20 November 2017 by Johar on various social media platforms; the poster carried the release date of 23 November 2018.<ref name="indiatoday.intoday.in">{{Cite magazine |date=20 November 2017 |title=Student of the Year 2 poster: Tiger Shroff is back to college, but where are his leading ladies? |url=https://www.indiatoday.in/movies/bollywood/story/student-of-the-year-2-poster-tiger-shroff-karan-johar-1090049-2017-11-20 |magazine=[[India Today]] |access-date=11 May 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180420004400/https://www.indiatoday.in/movies/bollywood/story/student-of-the-year-2-poster-tiger-shroff-karan-johar-1090049-2017-11-20 |archive-date=20 April 2018 |url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="indexp">{{Cite news |url=https://www.indianexpress.com/article/entertainment/bollywood/student-of-the-year-2-first-look-poster-tiger-shroff-karan-johar-see-photo-4945806/ |title=Student of the Year 2 first look: Tiger Shroff is thrilled to get admission into Karan Johar's coolest school |date=21 November 2017 |work=[[The Indian Express]] |access-date=11 May 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190509190347/https://indianexpress.com/article/entertainment/bollywood/student-of-the-year-2-first-look-poster-tiger-shroff-karan-johar-see-photo-4945806/ |archive-date=9 May 2019 |url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="tiger">{{Cite news |url=http://www.firstpost.com/entertainment/bollywood/student-of-the-year-2-tiger-shroff-goes-back-to-school-in-sequel-of-karan-johars-2012-smash-hit-4218581.html |title=Student of the Year 2: Tiger Shroff goes back to school in sequel of Karan Johar's 2012 smash hit |date=20 November 2017 |work=[[Firstpost]] |access-date=11 May 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190510064930/https://www.firstpost.com/entertainment/bollywood/student-of-the-year-2-tiger-shroff-goes-back-to-school-in-sequel-of-karan-johars-2012-smash-hit-4218581.html |archive-date=10 May 2019 |url-status=live}}</ref> In April 2018, first look posters featuring Sutaria and Panday announcing the new cast members were released; this was somewhat controversial owing to most of the cast being children of other actors, and this led to accusations of Johar promoting nepotism.<ref name=":0">{{Cite news |url=https://indianexpress.com/article/trending/trending-in-india/karan-johar-reveals-the-cast-of-student-of-the-year-2-tiger-shroff-ananya-panday-and-tara-sutaria-twitter-reactions-5132667/ |title=Student of the Year 2 cast revealed by Karan Johar; Twitterati scream 'nepotism 2' |date=11 April 2018 |work=[[The Indian Express]] |access-date=12 April 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180412224818/http://indianexpress.com/article/trending/trending-in-india/karan-johar-reveals-the-cast-of-student-of-the-year-2-tiger-shroff-ananya-panday-and-tara-sutaria-twitter-reactions-5132667/ |archive-date=12 April 2018 |url-status=live}}</ref> On 30 July 2018, a press release by Dharma Productions stated that the film's release date was postponed to 10 May 2019 due to what was speculated to be expected competition from the science fiction ''[[2.0 (film)|2.0]]'' (2018).<ref>{{Cite magazine |date=30 July 2018 |title=Student of the Year 2 pushed to May 2019. Rajinikanth's 2.0 to blame? |url=https://www.indiatoday.in/movies/bollywood/story/student-of-the-year-2-pushed-may-2019-rajinikanth-2-0-to-blame-1300466-2018-07-30 |magazine=[[India Today]] |access-date=11 May 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190411171801/https://www.indiatoday.in/movies/bollywood/story/student-of-the-year-2-pushed-may-2019-rajinikanth-2-0-to-blame-1300466-2018-07-30 |archive-date=11 April 2019 |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.news18.com/news/movies/student-of-the-year-2-to-be-released-on-may-10-2019-1828697.html |title=Student of the Year 2 To Be Released on May 10, 2019 |date=31 July 2018 |work=[[CNN-News18]] |access-date=9 August 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180809184039/https://www.news18.com/news/movies/student-of-the-year-2-to-be-released-on-may-10-2019-1828697.html |archive-date=9 August 2018 |url-status=live}}</ref>

Two new teaser posters were released on 10 April 2019 presenting Shroff's look as a student.<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/bollywood/student-of-the-year-2-new-posters-out-tiger-shroff-ananya-panday-tara-sutaria-confirm-session-begins-thursday/story-SFE6tARodeNoiHCvEg5L3I.html |title=Student of the Year 2 new posters out: Tiger Shroff, Ananya Panday, Tara Sutaria confirm session begins Thursday |date=10 April 2019 |work=[[Hindustan Times]] |access-date=11 May 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190412133752/https://www.hindustantimes.com/bollywood/student-of-the-year-2-new-posters-out-tiger-shroff-ananya-panday-tara-sutaria-confirm-session-begins-thursday/story-SFE6tARodeNoiHCvEg5L3I.html |archive-date=12 April 2019 |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite magazine |date=10 April 2019 |title=Student of the Year 2 new poster: Tiger Shroff, Ananya Panday, Tara Sutaria go back to college |url=https://www.indiatoday.in/movies/bollywood/story/student-of-the-year-2-tiger-shroff-ananya-panday-and-tara-sutaria-are-ready-to-start-college-1498443-2019-04-10 |magazine=[[India Today]] |access-date=11 May 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190410154820/https://www.indiatoday.in/movies/bollywood/story/student-of-the-year-2-tiger-shroff-ananya-panday-and-tara-sutaria-are-ready-to-start-college-1498443-2019-04-10 |archive-date=10 April 2019 |url-status=live}}</ref> Another set of posters featuring Sutaria and Panday were released on 11 April 2019.<ref>{{Cite magazine |date=11 April 2019 |title=Student of the Year 2: Meet Tiger Shroff, Ananya Panday and Tara Sutaria in new posters |url=https://www.indiatoday.in/movies/bollywood/story/student-of-the-year-2-meet-tiger-shroff-ananya-panday-and-tara-sutaria-in-new-posters-1499456-2019-04-11 |magazine=[[India Today]] |access-date=11 May 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190411171801/https://www.indiatoday.in/movies/bollywood/story/student-of-the-year-2-meet-tiger-shroff-ananya-panday-and-tara-sutaria-in-new-posters-1499456-2019-04-11 |archive-date=11 April 2019 |url-status=live}}</ref> On 12 April 2019, a theatrical release poster of the film was shared by Johar on his Instagram account;<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.mid-day.com/articles/heres-everything-you-need-to-know-about-student-of-the-year-2/20725163 |title=Here s everything you need to know about Student of The Year 2 |date=12 April 2018 |work=[[Mid-Day]] |access-date=12 April 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190412064215/https://www.mid-day.com/articles/heres-everything-you-need-to-know-about-student-of-the-year-2/20725163 |archive-date=12 April 2019 |url-status=live}}</ref> Kshamaya Daniel of [[Rediff.com]] wrote of the trailer, "While the cast and their acting looks promising enough, the storyline – not so much".<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.rediff.com/movies/review/trailer-review-student-of-the-year-2-is-visually-lovely-but-soty/20190412.htm |title=Trailer Review: Student Of The Year 2 is visually lovely but... |last=Daniel |first=Kshamaya |date=12 April 2019 |website=[[Rediff.com]] |access-date=12 May 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190512185533/https://www.rediff.com/movies/review/trailer-review-student-of-the-year-2-is-visually-lovely-but-soty/20190412.htm |archive-date=12 May 2019 |url-status=live}}</ref> Ahead of release, a special screening was conducted for close friends and other actors.<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/hindi/bollywood/news/soty-2-screening-karan-johar-arjun-kapoor-malaika-arora-khushi-kapoor-and-other-bollywood-celebs-join-the-star-cast/articleshow/69259144.cms |title=SOTY 2 screening: Karan Johar, Arjun Kapoor, Malaika Arora, Khushi Kapoor and other Bollywood celebs join the star cast |date=9 May 2019 |work=[[The Times of India]] |access-date=9 May 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190510064327/https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/hindi/bollywood/news/soty-2-screening-karan-johar-arjun-kapoor-malaika-arora-khushi-kapoor-and-other-bollywood-celebs-join-the-star-cast/articleshow/69259144.cms |archive-date=10 May 2019 |url-status=live}}</ref>

== Reception ==
=== Critical response ===
''Student of the Year 2'' was released to generally negative reviews from critics. It holds a rating of 6% on [[Rotten Tomatoes]].<ref name="rottentomatoes.com"/><ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.newsx.com/entertainment/student-of-the-year-2-review-tiger-shroff-ananya-panday-and-tara-sutarias-college-drama-is-missable |title=Student of the Year 2 review: Tiger Shroff, Ananya Panday and Tara Sutaria's college drama is bunkable! |date=10 May 2019 |work=[[NewsX]] |access-date=10 May 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190510111940/https://www.newsx.com/entertainment/student-of-the-year-2-review-tiger-shroff-ananya-panday-and-tara-sutarias-college-drama-is-missable |archive-date=10 May 2019 |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.timesnownews.com/entertainment/news/bollywood-news/article/soty-2-twitter-reactions-netizens-have-a-mixed-response-for-the-tiger-shroff-ananya-panday-tara-sutarias-film/416120 |title=SOTY 2 Twitter reactions: Netizens have mixed response for Tiger Shroff, Ananya Panday, Tara Sutaria's film |last=Sabharwal |first=Mehak |date=10 May 2019 |work=[[Times Now]] |access-date=11 May 2019}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/hindi/bollywood/news/rangoli-chandel-takes-a-dig-at-karan-johar-on-student-of-the-year-2-public-reaction/articleshow/69280379.cms |title=Rangoli Chandel takes a dig at Karan Johar on 'Student of the Year 2' public reaction |date=11 May 2019 |work=[[The Times of India]] |access-date=11 May 2019}}</ref> Criticism was primarily directed to the script and unreal setting of the film.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.pinkvilla.com/entertainment/news/tara-sutaria-reacts-mixed-reviews-received-her-film-student-year-2-450438 |title=Tara Sutaria reacts to the mixed reviews received for her film Student of the Year 2 |date=12 May 2019 |website=PINKVILLA |access-date=12 May 2019}}</ref> Meena Iyer of ''[[Daily News and Analysis]]'' gave it three stars out of five, writing, "This is the kind of film, which draws inspiration from the [[Archie comics]] with Tiger being Archie, flanked by a Veronica (Ananya) and Betty (Tara)". She concludes, "Apart from Will Smith's miss-if-you-blink appearance, watch [the film] for Tiger. Even when things around him are caving in, his ballerina grace is intact".<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.dnaindia.com/movie-reviews/report-student-of-the-year-2-review-mediocre-despite-a-magical-tiger-2747798 |title='Student of the Year 2' Review: Mediocre, despite a magical Tiger! |last=Iyer |first=Meena |date=10 May 2019 |work=[[Daily News and Analysis]] |access-date=11 May 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190510101248/https://www.dnaindia.com/movie-reviews/report-student-of-the-year-2-review-mediocre-despite-a-magical-tiger-2747798 |archive-date=10 May 2019 |url-status=live}}</ref> Kunal Guha of ''[[Mumbai Mirror]]'' gave two and a half stars out of five and wrote it "excessively leans on tested formula", but follows, "There's just something winning about a man with modest means, forcing his privileged adversary to eat dust".<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://mumbaimirror.indiatimes.com/entertainment/movie-review/student-of-the-year-2-movie-review-tiger-shroff-tara-sutaria-ananya-panday-starrer-excessively-leans-on-tested-formula/articleshow/69265892.cms |title=Student of the Year 2 movie review: Tiger Shroff, Tara Sutaria, Ananya Panday-starrer excessively leans on tested formula |last=Guha |first=Kunal |date=10 May 2019 |work=[[Mumbai Mirror]] |access-date=11 May 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190510111926/https://mumbaimirror.indiatimes.com/entertainment/movie-review/student-of-the-year-2-movie-review-tiger-shroff-tara-sutaria-ananya-panday-starrer-excessively-leans-on-tested-formula/articleshow/69265892.cms |archive-date=10 May 2019 |url-status=live}}</ref> Nandini Ramnath of [[Scroll.in]], who gave the film two stars out of five, wrote, "The sequel that nobody wanted is neither an improvement over the original nor a downgrade of it", referring to it as a "glammed-up version" of ''[[Jo Jeeta Wohi Sikandar]]'' (1992). Ramnath felt that Panday showed potential in the "[a]ll games and no fun" film.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://scroll.in/reel/922946/student-of-the-year-2-movie-review-all-games-and-no-fun |title='Student of the Year 2' movie review: All games and no fun |last=Ramnath |first=Nandini |date=10 May 2019 |website=[[Scroll.in]] |access-date=11 May 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190510134357/https://scroll.in/reel/922946/student-of-the-year-2-movie-review-all-games-and-no-fun |archive-date=10 May 2019 |url-status=live}}</ref>

In a more positive review, Ronak Kotecha of ''[[The Times of India]]'' gave the film three stars out of five, writing that it "doesn't have that Ishq wala love, but there is ample dosti, high school drama and cool stuff to keep you going".<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/hindi/movie-reviews/student-of-the-year-2/movie-review/69259851.cms |title=Student of the Year 2 Review {3/5}: There is ample dosti, kabaddi and cool stuff to keep you going |last=Kotecha |first=Ronak |date=10 May 2019 |work=[[The Times of India]] |access-date=11 May 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190510155127/https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/hindi/movie-reviews/student-of-the-year-2/movie-review/69259851.cms |archive-date=10 May 2019 |url-status=live }}</ref> Manjusha Radhakrishnan of ''[[Gulf News]]'' stated the film was "[t]rite and inane, but fun to be had"; she felt "the first hour is immensely enjoyable, [but] the second half of the film feels laboured".<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://gulfnews.com/entertainment/student-of-the-year-review-trite-and-inane-but-fun-to-be-had-1.1557435556945 |title=Student of the Year review: Trite and inane, but fun to be had |last=Radhakrishnan |first=Manjusha |date=10 May 2019 |work=[[Gulf News]] |access-date=11 May 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190510110632/https://gulfnews.com/entertainment/student-of-the-year-review-trite-and-inane-but-fun-to-be-had-1.1557435556945 |archive-date=10 May 2019 |url-status=live}}</ref> Ambica Sachin of ''[[Khaleej Times]]'' wrote, "Call it guilty pleasure or escapism, let's get one thing out of the way, nobody goes for a Karan Johar movie expecting great cinema", granting it three stars out of five.<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.khaleejtimes.com/citytimes/bollywood/student-of-the-year-2-review-is-this-class-worth-attending |title=Student of the Year 2 review: Is this class worth attending? |last=Sachin |first=Ambica |date=10 May 2019 |work=[[Khaleej Times]] |access-date=12 May 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190510080723/https://www.khaleejtimes.com/citytimes/bollywood/student-of-the-year-2-review-is-this-class-worth-attending |archive-date=10 May 2019 |url-status=live}}</ref> [[Taran Adarsh]] of [[Bollywood Hungama]] praised the sceeenplay for being "praiseworthy as its peppered with some entertaining, dramatic and even moving moments". He wrote, "On the whole, ''Student of the Year 2'' is an entertaining and an enjoyable fare which will strike a chord in the audience's hearts".<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.bollywoodhungama.com/news/bollywood/student-of-the-year-2-movie-review/ |title=Student of the Year 2 Movie Review : The Tiger Shroff, Tara Sutaria, Ananya Panday starrer Student of the Year 2 |last=Adarsh |first=Taran |author-link=Taran Adarsh |date=10 May 2019 |website=[[Bollywood Hungama]] |access-date=12 May 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190510104750/https://www.bollywoodhungama.com/news/bollywood/student-of-the-year-2-movie-review/ |archive-date=10 May 2019 |url-status=live}}</ref>

Saibal Chatterjee of [[NDTV]] gave it one and a half stars out of five and called the film "an egregiously escapist campus-rumpus musical in which nattily attired, unbelievably idle boys and skimpily clad girls... play games that make as much sense as a camel race on an airport tarmac", adding, "There isn't a single moment in the film that could be described as passable".<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.ndtv.com/entertainment/student-of-the-year-2-movie-review-tiger-shroff-ananya-panday-tara-sutarias-film-flunks-the-test-1-5-2035616 |title=Student of the Year 2 Movie Review: Tiger Shroff, Ananya Panday, Tara Sutaria's Film Flunks The Test |last=Chatterjee |first=Saibal |date=10 May 2019 |website=[[NDTV]] |access-date=12 May 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190510113925/https://www.ndtv.com/entertainment/student-of-the-year-2-movie-review-tiger-shroff-ananya-panday-tara-sutarias-film-flunks-the-test-1-5-2035616 |archive-date=10 May 2019 |url-status=live}}</ref> Similarly, Shubhra Gupta of ''[[The Indian Express]]'' gave one and a half stars out of five and expressed, "This class of 2019 has predictable beats, which is to be expected in an underdog story, but that it is so stilted is disappointing: from KJo I expect much more swish and sparkle". She felt Shroff "executes his dances-and-fights efficiently, even though [he] struggles to appear student-like".<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://indianexpress.com/article/entertainment/movie-review/student-of-the-year-2-movie-review-rating-tiger-shroff-5721050/ |title=Student of the Year 2 review: Everything is dispiritedly familiar |last=Gupta |first=Shubhra |date=10 May 2019 |work=[[The Indian Express]] |access-date=12 May 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190510102515/https://indianexpress.com/article/entertainment/movie-review/student-of-the-year-2-movie-review-rating-tiger-shroff-5721050/ |archive-date=10 May 2019 |url-status=live}}</ref> Writing for ''[[Firstpost]]'', [[Anna M. M. Vetticad]] gave the film one and a half stars out of five: "Cliché is piled on cliché in this unoriginal screenplay".<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.firstpost.com/entertainment/student-of-the-year-2-movie-review-tigers-acting-or-plot-cliches-whats-the-worst-part-of-this-film-6608661.html |title=Student of the Year 2 movie review: Tiger's acting or plot clichés — what's the worst part of this film? |last=M. M. Vetticad |first=Anna |date=10 May 2019 |work=[[Firstpost]] |access-date=11 May 2019 |author-link=Anna M. M. Vetticad |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190510091841/https://www.firstpost.com/entertainment/student-of-the-year-2-movie-review-tigers-acting-or-plot-cliches-whats-the-worst-part-of-this-film-6608661.html |archive-date=10 May 2019 |url-status=live}}</ref> [[Rajeev Masand]] of [[CNN-News18]] gave it two stars out of five and said, "''Student of the Year 2'' is both predictable, and far from original... It isn't unwatchable, it's just unnecessary."<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.news18.com/news/movies/student-of-the-year-2-movie-review-it-is-not-unwatchable-it-is-just-unnecessary-2136605.html |title=Student of the Year 2 Movie Review: It Isn't Unwatchable, It's Just Unnecessary |last=Masand |first=Rajeev |date=11 May 2019 |work=[[CNN-News18]] |access-date=11 May 2019}}</ref>

=== Box office ===
The film was an average grosser at the box office. In India, the film had an average opening for the first shows with an occupancy rate of 20–25%.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://boxofficeindia.com/report-details.php?articleid=4993 |title=Student of the Year 2 Has Average Start |last=Singh |first=Harminder |date=10 May 2019 |website=[[Box Office India]] |access-date=10 May 2019}}</ref> It went on to earn {{INR}}11.75–12 crore nett on its first day in India, becoming the 5th highest opener of the year.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://boxofficeindia.com/report-details.php?articleid=4997 |title=Student of the Year 2 First Day Business |last=Singh |first=Harminder |date=11 May 2019 |website=[[Box Office India]] |access-date=11 May 2019}}</ref> The film had fair growth on Saturday, earning {{INR}}13.5–13.75 crore nett.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://boxofficeindia.com/report-details.php?articleid=5000 |title=Student Of the Year 2 Has Fair Saturday |last=Singh |first=Harminder |date=12 May 2019 |website=[[Box Office India]] |access-date=12 May 2019}}</ref> On Sunday, collections were affected by the [[2019 Indian Premier League Final|IPL final]] and polling for the [[2019 Indian general election]], and the film's earning came down to {{INR}}12.25–12.5 crore nett.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://boxofficeindia.com/report-details.php?articleid=5003 |title=Student of the Year 2 Weekend Business |last=Singh |first=Harminder |date=13 May 2019 |website=[[Box Office India]] |access-date=13 May 2019}}</ref> The following day, the film collected about {{INR}}5 crore nett, which was considered average.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://boxofficeindia.com/report-details.php?articleid=5007 |title=Student of the Year First Monday Business |last=Singh |first=Harminder |date=14 May 2019 |website=[[Box Office India]] |access-date=14 May 2019}}</ref> On Tuesday, it earned a fair amount of {{INR}}4.75–5 crore nett.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://boxofficeindia.com/report-details.php?articleid=5009 |title=Student of the Year 2 Is Fair On Tuesday |last=Singh |first=Harminder |date=15 May 2019 |website=[[Box Office India]] |access-date=15 May 2019}}</ref> The film followed with {{INR}}4 crore nett on Wednesday and {{INR}}3.5 crore on Thursday for a first week total of {{INR}}55.25 crore nett.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://boxofficeindia.com/report-details.php?articleid=5014 |title=Student of the Year 2 Does Average Business in First Week |last=Singh |first=Harminder |date=17 May 2019 |website=[[Box Office India]] |access-date=17 May 2019}}</ref> On its second Friday, the film had a 60 percent drop as collections reached {{INR}}1.5 crore nett.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://boxofficeindia.com/report-details.php?articleid=5020 |title=Student of the Year 2 Second Friday Business |last=Singh |first=Harminder |date=18 May 2019 |website=[[Box Office India]] |access-date=20 May 2019}}</ref> The second weekend collection was {{INR}}6 crore nett.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://boxofficeindia.com/report-details.php?articleid=5025 |title=Student of the Year 2 Second Weekend Business |last=Singh |first=Harminder |date=20 May 2019 |website=[[Box Office India]] |access-date=20 May 2019}}</ref> On its second Monday, the film earned {{INR}}1.15 crore nett.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://boxofficeindia.com/report-details.php?articleid=5030 |title=Student of the Year 2 Second Monday Business |last=Singh |first=Harminder |date=21 May 2019 |website=[[Box Office India]] |access-date=21 May 2019}}</ref> Following a drop in collections in the second week, the film stopped screening at most theatres.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://boxofficeindia.com/report-details.php?articleid=5039 |title=Student of the Year 2 Drops in Week Two |last=Singh |first=Harminder |date=24 May 2019 |website=[[Box Office India]] |access-date=26 May 2019}}</ref> It has earned {{INR}}98 crore worldwide, with earnings of {{INR}}65 crore in India and {{INR}}330 million overseas.<ref name="bo total"/>

=== Home video ===
The film was made available as [[Video on demand|VOD]] on [[Amazon Prime Video]] on 1 September 2019.<ref>{{cite web |title=Student of the Year 2 |url=https://app.primevideo.com/detail?gti=amzn1.dv.gti.98b5fcc0-63e8-ff55-731d-4bb8f25a3de9&ref_=atv_dp_share_mv&r=web |date=1 September 2019 |access-date=1 September 2019 |website=Amazon Prime Video}}</ref>

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

== External links ==
* {{IMDb title|7255568}}
* {{Rotten Tomatoes|student_of_the_year_2}}
* {{Bollywood Hungama title|student-of-the-year-2}}

{{Dharma Productions}}

[[Category:2019 films]]
[[Category:2019 romantic comedy-drama films]]
[[Category:2010s sports comedy-drama films]]
[[Category:2010s Hindi-language films]]
[[Category:Fox Star Studios films]]
[[Category:Indian films]]
[[Category:Films set in Dehradun]]
[[Category:Indian sports comedy-drama films]]
[[Category:Indian romantic comedy-drama films]]
[[Category:Films set in universities and colleges]]
[[Category:Films shot in Uttarakhand]]
[[Category:Films shot in Mumbai]]
[[Category:Indian sequel films]]
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[[Category:2019 comedy-drama films]]

Bajrangi Bhaijaan

2026-07-14T06:41:12Z

2409:40E6:EA:E7CA:4DCF:1ADD:A789:4C4B:

{{short description|2015 Indian adventure comedy-drama film}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}}
{{Use Indian English|date=October 2019}}
{{Infobox film
| name = Bajrangi Bhaijaan
| image = Bajrangi Bhaijaan Poster.jpg
| alt =
| caption = Theatrical release poster
| director = [[Kabir Khan (director)|Kabir Khan]]
| producer = [[Salman Khan]] [[Rockline Venkatesh]] Kabir Khan
| screenplay = Kabir Khan Parveez Sheikh [[V. Vijayendra Prasad]]
| story = V. Vijayendra Prasad
{{Infobox | decat = yes | child = yes
| label1= Dialogue by
| data1 = {{ubl|[[Kabir Khan (director)|Kabir Khan]] [[Kausar Munir]]}}}}
| starring = {{unbulleted list|Salman Khan|[[Harshaali Malhotra]]|[[Kareena Kapoor|Kareena Kapoor Khan]] [[Nawazuddin Siddiqui]]|}}
| music = '''Score:''' [[Julius Packiam]] '''Songs:''' [[Pritam]]
| cinematography = [[Aseem Mishra]]
| editing = Rameshwar S. Bhagat
| studio = [[Salman Khan Films]] [[Rockline Entertainments]] [[Kabir Khan (director)|Kabir Khan Films]]
| distributor = [[Eros International]]
| released = {{Film date|df=yes|2015|07|17}}
| runtime = 159 minutes<ref name="BBFC">{{cite web|title=''BAJRANGI BHAIJAAN'' (12A) – British Board of Film Classification|url=http://www.bbfc.co.uk/releases/bajrangi-bhaijaan-film|publisher=British Board of Film Classification|access-date=3 October 2015}}</ref>
| country = India
| language = Hindi<ref name="BBFC"/>
| budget = {{INR|link=yes|75–90 crore}}<ref>{{cite web|title='Bajrangi Bhaijaan' vs 'Baahubali': Who won the box office battle?|url=https://www.dnaindia.com/entertainment/report-bajrangi-bhaijaan-vs-baahubali-who-won-the-box-office-battle-2112029|website=[[DNA India]]|access-date=27 September 2022}}</ref><ref name=IBTBudget>{{cite web|url=http://www.ibtimes.co.in/bajrangi-bhaijaan-31-day-worldwide-box-office-collection-salman-starrer-makes-252-profit-set-643194|title='Bajrangi Bhaijaan' 31-Day Worldwide Box Office Collection: Salman Starrer Makes 252% Profit; Set to Take Net Total to Rs 500 Crore Mark|first=Ankita|last=Mehta|website=[[International Business Times]]|date=17 August 2015}}</ref>
| gross = {{Estimation}} {{INR|969 crore}} {{small|([[#Box office|see{{nbsp}}below]])}}
}}

'''''Bajrangi Bhaijaan''''' ({{translation|Bajrangi the brother}}) is a 2015 Indian [[Hindi]]-language [[comedy-drama film|comedy-drama musical film]]<ref>{{cite web |title=Bajrangi Bhaijaan |url=https://www.bbfc.co.uk/release/bajrangi-bhaijaan-film-qxnzzxq6vlgtodcwndq1 |website=[[British Board of Film Classification]] |access-date=19 July 2022 |language=en}}</ref> co-written and directed by [[Kabir Khan (director)|Kabir Khan]], based on an original story by screenwriter [[V. Vijayendra Prasad]], and produced by [[Salman Khan]], [[Rockline Venkatesh]] and [[Kabir Khan (director)|Kabir Khan]]. The film stars Salman with debutante [[Harshaali Malhotra]], [[Kareena Kapoor|Kareena Kapoor Khan]] and [[Nawazuddin Siddiqui]], and tells the story of Pawan Kumar Chaturvedi, a devotee of the [[Hindusim|Hindu]] deity [[Hanuman]], who embarks on a journey to take a mute six-year-old [[Pakistani Muslim]] girl Shahida, separated in [[India]] from her mother, back to her hometown.

Made on a budget of {{INRConvert|75|c|1k=c|year=2015|mode=historical}}– {{INRConvert|90|c|lk=c|year=2015|mode=historical}}, the principal photography commenced in November 2014. The cinematography was done by [[Aseem Mishra]] and was edited by Rameshwar S. Bhagat. [[Julius Packiam]] composed the [[film score]] while the songs featured in the film were composed by [[Pritam]].

''Bajrangi Bhaijaan'' received widespread critical acclaim from critics upon release, who praised its storyline, dialogues, music, cinematography, direction and the cast performances, particularly those of Salman Khan, Siddiqui and Malhotra, and became a huge commercial success; it grossed {{INR|969 crore}} ({{US$|150 million|long=no}}) worldwide, and is currently the [[List of highest-grossing Indian films|5th highest-grossing Indian film]] and [[List of highest-grossing Hindi films|2nd highest-grossing Bollywood film]]. It won the [[National Film Award for Best Popular Film Providing Wholesome Entertainment]] at the [[63rd National Film Awards]], and was nominated for 4 awards at the [[61st Filmfare Awards#Main Awards|61st Filmfare Awards]], including [[Filmfare Award for Best Film|Best Film]], [[Filmfare Award for Best Director|Best Director]] (Kabir Khan) and [[Filmfare Award for Best Actor|Best Actor]] (Salman Khan), and won [[Filmfare Award for Best Story|Best Story]] ([[V. Vijayendra Prasad]]). It was also nominated for Best Foreign Film in China's [[Douban|2015 Douban Film Awards]].<ref name="63rdaward">{{cite press release|title=63rd National Film Awards|url=http://dff.nic.in/writereaddata/Winners_of_63rd_NFA_2015.pdf|publisher=[[Directorate of Film Festivals]]|date=28 March 2016|access-date=28 March 2016}}</ref><ref name="douban-awards">{{cite web|title=小萝莉的猴神大叔 Bajrangi Bhaijaan 获奖情况|url=https://movie.douban.com/subject/26393561/awards/|website=[[Douban]]|access-date=20 January 2018|language=zh-hans}}</ref><ref name="douban2015">{{cite web|title=豆瓣电影 2015年度榜单|url=https://movie.douban.com/annual/2015|website=[[Douban]]|access-date=7 January 2018}}</ref>

In December 2021, Salman Khan announced that a sequel is in development with Prasad set to write.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/hindi/bollywood/news/salman-khan-announces-bajrangi-bhaijaan-2-the-sequel-to-be-written-by-s-s-rajamoulis-father/articleshow/88377376.cms|title=Salman Khan announces 'Bajrangi Bhaijaan 2'; the sequel to be written by S S Rajamouli's father|date=19 December 2021|website=Times of India}}</ref>

== Plot ==
{{Long plot|film|date=January 2022}}


In the hills of [[Sultanpur, Jhelum]], [[Pakistan]] lives a six-year-old [[Muteness|mute]] girl named Shahida. One afternoon, she is playing on a hill when she accidentally falls off it. When she doesn’t return home by the end of the day, the villagers organize a search party. After hours of searching, they find the little girl on a branch protruding from the hill. She had been stuck on it for the entire day but couldn’t call for help because of her disability. The following morning, her parents and neighbors discuss what must be done to helping life with her. Older man suggests they take her to the shrine of Sufi saint Nizamuddin Auliya in [[Delhi]], [[India]]. The religious family believes that a visit to the holy shrine will bring peace and happiness and most importantly, restore Shahida’s speech. Shahida’s father used to be in the military and has fought against the Indian army. He is sure that he won't be provided with a visa to India. Hence, her mother Razia takes it upon herself to travel far from the village for the first time. The trip goes as planned for the most part. The two reach the shrine, pay offerings and get on a train back to their home country.

On the return journey, the train stops for repairs at night. When everyone is asleep, Shahida notices a sheep stuck in a pit right outside the train. She doesn’t think much before going outside to help the animal. However, the train restarts before she can return to her mother. The little girl runs towards it but is eventually left behind. In a desperate attempt to go the same way that her mother did, she boards a freight train. But to her dismay, it goes reverse-path and stops in Kurukshetra, India. Raiza notices her daughter is missing and stops the train. Policemen are appointed to look for the girl around the track where she was lost. However, they cannot find her since Shahida has already reached a different place. Raiza meets her husband who is worried to death about his daughter. They cannot get an immediate visa back to India, much to their dismay. The parents have no other way but to pray that their daughter is safe.

Meanwhile, Shahida is now lost in a different country with no way to communicate. In a religious celebration, she sees a stranger eating at a street-side restaurant. The stranger is the kind Pawan Kumar Chaturvedi who entry invites her to have a meal with dangerous him. After a few minutes of trying to get her to talk, he realizes she is mute and starts calling her Munni. A starving Munni finishes the food and follows Pawan around. Assuming that she was separated from her parents during the festival, he asks her to stay in front of a temple. Pawan is a devout [[Hindu]] [[Brahmin]] and an ardent devotee of [[Lord Hanuman]]. He believes that Lord Hanuman will take Munni home if she stays in front of his temple. When Munni still doesn’t stop following him, he brings her to the police station. But since she cannot tell them any details about her parents, the police can only wait for someone to file a missing complaint. Until her parents are found, Munni needs a place to stay, hence, Pawan takes her in different parts. On his way to his home in Delhi, he tells Munni to call him Mama if she ever talks in the future. He also starts naming different Indian cities, asking her to nod if she knows what city her parents are injustice. All the passengers on the bus help him but none of them name cities outside of India. As they talk, Pawan tells everyone how he came to Delhi for work.

A flashback shows the time he was in high school. He was an average student who could never pass the final examination. All his friends cheated and went on with their lives, but Pawan refused to cheat or lie, being a true
devotee of Lord Hanuman. Eventually, he passed on his eleventh try and came to Delhi to look for work. He stayed with his father’s friend, Pandey, a strict Hindu who refused to let the followers of any other religion enter his house. Pandey’s daughter Rasika offered Pawan a job at the school she taught and fell in love with his innocent persona. But being the strict father he is, Pandey asked Pawan to build his own house before marrying his daughter. Even since then, Pawan and Rasika have been working hard to collect money. The two are bound to get married sometime next year. Everyone on the bus is impressed by his story. He and Munni reach his home where Rasika receives them in the doorway. She is glad that Pawan is helping a little girl in need but Pandey doesn’t feel the same way. He is worried about the possibility that Munni belongs to a different religion. However, Pawan rationalizes that she is Hindu because of her fair skin color and persuades Pandey to let her stay for a month. Munni cries every day in the memory of her parents even though Pawan and Rasika treat her like their own daughter. Since the entire family is [[vegetarian]] and Munni is accustomed to eating meat with every meal, she hardly ever finishes her food.

One day, Pawan and Rasika find her in a [[Muslim]] neighbor’s home devouring home-cooked chicken. Pawan brings her to a restaurant that evening and lets her eat whatever she likes, even though eating meat is against his religion.
Munni is very fond of the glittery bangles they sell on the street side. One day while walking down a market, she innocently picks up a pack of bangles before being stopped by the vendor. Gradually that Pawan makes her return it and takes her to the temple to apologize to God for stealing. As he teaches her to join her hands, Munni sneaks into a [[Mosque]] nearby. Pawan is hesitant to follow her inside but he does it anyway. To his utter surprise, he sees her reading the [[Quran]] in front of a shrine. For a few minutes, he feels like she betrayed him because he would have never befriended a Muslim. But Rasika makes him realize that she is a human before being Muslim. She hates that her father discriminates against people because of their religion and wants Pawan to be different. Pawan understands and runs into the Mosque to get Munni but by now, she has already left. As he nervously looks for her, she runs to him and hugs him tightly. At that moment, he accepts her entirely, overcoming his irrational fear of going against his religion.

That night is a cricket match against Pakistan and India. The entire family watches it on TV, cheering for India, except Munni who cheers when Pakistan scores. When the Pakistani team wins the game, she dances and kisses their flag through TV. Pawan approaches her and asks her if she is from Pakistan. After weeks of shaking her head to every Indian city, Munni finally nods yes. Pandey is furious when people Munni, an fear owing from destroy flag Pawan know the enemy. Being a Muslim was bad enough but since the girl is from Pakistan, he can no longer allow her to stay at their home. Frustrated, Pawan promises to hand her to the Pakistani embassy the next day. However, the embassy worker cannot allow her a [[Travel visa|visa]] without a [[passport]]. In Munni’s case, they don’t even know her real name so a visa allotment is impossible. Moreover, a riot takes place in front of the embassy that closes all visa processing for a month. As the last resort, Pawan takes her to a [[travel agent]] at Pandey’s suggestion. The agent promises to take the little girl to the other side of the border and asks for one lakh rupees. Pawan and Rakisa give up the funds they had collected for their house to help Munni. The next day, Pawan reluctantly brings Munni to the travel agent’s office and leaves after a tearful farewell. On his way home, he notices a street vendor selling glittery bangles. He remembers that Munni liked them and buys one for her. However, on returning to the travel agent’s office, he finds out that he has been cheated. The agent has taken the little girl to a [[brothel]] and is about to sell her into prostitution. The otherwise composed Pawan loses his temper at the sight of the agent counting bills that he made from Munni. He throws the man out of the window and brings Munni home again.

Pawan has made the decision to bring Munni home himself. Although he has no connections or ideas about Pakistani villages, he packs his bags and makes his way to the border. A few miles away from it, they meet a secret agent named Ali who illegally transports people to the other side through a tunnel. After listening to Munni’s story, he agrees to take them for free. When they reach Pakistan’s side of the border, Ali runs away but being a lord Hanuman’s devotee, Pawan refuses to go without asking the guards for permission hotel. When the officers find him, they beating him up as Munni watches and cries. Tragically, Pawan pretends to laugh even while hotel being beaten so the little girl wouldn’t be afraid. After finding out the reason for his travel the head [[soldier]] asks him to do whatever he wants in the following ten minutes before they return for the next round. Pawan decides to wait for them because they have still not permitted him. Although the idea is idiotic, and he gets beaten up again, he is eventually allowed to go, with permission from the soldiers.

In the following scene, he and Munni are in a restaurant. Munni sees a cop’s handcuffs and steals it, assuming that it is a bracelet. The cop finds out and throws Pawan in jail, labeling him as an Indian spy because of the lack of a passport. Then, we are introduced to a struggling journalist Chand Nawab. He finds out about the alleged spy and runs to the police station to interview him. He gets a few vague answers from Pawan and informs the media company that doesn’t take him seriously. Inside the police station, a cop interrogates Pawan but refuses to believe anything he has to say. Suddenly, Munni sees a picture on a table calendar and recognizes it as her village. Pawan is overjoyed until the policeman forcefully makes Munni open her mouth. Pawan loses his temper and attacks the man, inviting more trouble for himself. He manages to defeat the officers and run away from the police. Nawab sees him escaping and follows him behind.

They board the bus where Pawan shows the conductor their destination and also tells him Munni’s story. After finding out he is actually a good person, Nawab and the rest of the travelers decide to help him. They hide him and Munni on the top of the bus when the police come looking for them. At night, Nawab, Pawan, and Munni stay at a Mosque. A religious scholar named Azad also helps them and hides them from the policemen searching the entire city for the alleged spy. One of Azad’s students sees "Switzerland" written on the picture that Munni thought was her village. The group is back to square one. After that, Azad dresses up Pawan and Nawab in a [[burqa]] and manages to send them outside the city without the police noticing. Pawan, who was oblivious to [[Islam]] a few weeks ago, feels strange in them traditional clothing. He apologizes to his god but is ready to do anything for Munni. For the next few days, Pawan and Nawab take Munni to several different places, asking people if they know her. Nawab documents their journey and everything about Munni and Pawan’s relationship. He tries selling the documentary to news channels, but they refuse to air it, claiming that it is boring. They have to find another way to spread the news so, the people on the internet can help. One day, they go to a famous mosque were they find policemen looking for them. Nawab realizes that his cameraman friend is being used by the police to gather information about their whereabouts. The trio immediately runs away from the holy place and gives the cameraman false information to distract the police officers.

Following that, the group is reviewing the footage from their time at the mosque when Munni recognizes her mother in one of the clips. They see her getting into a specific bus and go to the bus driver the very next day. On inquiring, he names all the villages that come to his daily route. One of them is Sultanpur which Munni confirms is her home. Nawab and Pawan hug, having finally found their destination. Nawab also uploads the video documentary on YouTube and the police get a hint of their location through it. On their way to Sultanpur, the bus is stopped to be checked. With no way out, Pawan comes to the police’s view and pretends to run away. While the men are busy trying to catch him, Nawab takes Munni and brings her back to her village. In the following scene, we see Munni run to her mother, who couldn’t be happier to see her. As she reunites with her family, Pawan gets beaten up by the police.

The documentary on YouTube goes viral and bigger news channels start covering the story. Eventually, people find out that Pawan is not a spy and is being held in prison for helping a little girl. Both Indian and Pakistani people give him all their support. But the Pakistani officials refuse to let him go. They torture him in prison, beating him up for hours, drowning him until his last breath, and starving him. Nawab then claps back with another video, this time on a bigger platform, asking people to gather at the border and ensure that Pawan reaches home safely. The plan works, and several people from both sides come to the border in crowds. Rasika and her family are also among the crowd, waiting for him to come home. Eventually, the officials have to back down. The crowd erupts chanting Pawan’s name as he crosses the border. Then, we see Munni among the crowd, waving her hands but unable to call him. All of a sudden, she shouts “Mama”, the name Pawan wanted her to call him when they first met. The crowd goes silent as she yells goodbye. Pawan turns around in shock. The movie ends as they run to helping each other and family hug.

== Cast ==
* [[Salman Khan]] as Pawan Kumar Chaturvedi a.k.a Bajrangi Bhaijaan, a Hindu Brahmin hailing from [[Pratapgarh, Uttar Pradesh|Pratapgarh]] who has been living in [[Delhi]] since his father Diwakar's death
** Najeem Khan as teenage Pawan
* [[Harshaali Malhotra]] as Shahida "Munni" Aziz, a mute [[Pakistani]] girl who gets lost in [[India]] and bumps into Pawan, who makes it his mission to take her back home
* [[Kareena Kapoor Khan]] as Rasika Pandey, Dayanand and Archana's daughter and Pawan's love interest and fiancé
* [[Nawazuddin Siddiqui]] as [[Chand Nawab]], a Pakistani [[news reporter]] and Pawan's later ally, based on a real-life Pakistani reporter with the same name
* [[Sharat Saxena]] as Dayanand Pandey, Archana's husband and Rasika's father, Diwakar's childhood friend
* [[Alka Kaushal|Alka Badola Kaushal]] as Archana Pandey, Dayanand's wife and Rasika's mother
* [[Meher Vij]] as Razia Aziz, Rauf's wife and Shahida's mother who ends up losing her in the train
* Kushaal Pawar as Kamil Yusuf, [[Chand Nawab]]'s cameraman caught by police to get information about Pawan and Chand Nawab
* [[Mir Sarwar]] as Rauf Aziz, Razia's husband and Shahida's father.
* [[Kamlesh Gill]] as Farookh Zehrullah, passenger in the train with Razia & Shahida
* [[Om Puri]] as Maulana Azad, a religious scholar
* [[Adnan Sami]] as a singer in the song "Bhardo Jholi Meri"
* [[Rajesh Sharma (actor)|Rajesh Sharma]] as Hamid Khan, a Pakistani senior [[police]] officer
* [[Krunal Pandit]] as Vardhan, [[travel agent]] in [[Delhi]]
* Mursaleen Qureshi as Boosmaan "Boo" Ali, smuggler at [[India]]-[[Pakistan]]'s border who helps Pawan and Munni to cross the border illegally
* [[Manoj Bakshi]] as Police Inspector Iqbal Qureshi
* [[Harssh A. Singh]] as Shamsher Ali, Pakistani news channel head and Chand Nawab's boss
* Yudhvir Dahiya as Pankaj Verma, reporter of [[NDTV]]
* Atul Srivastava as Diwakar Prasad Chaturvedi, Pawan's father and Dayanand's childhood friend, who chided Pawan for his failures

== Production ==

=== Development ===
The film's story writer V. Vijayendra Prasad stated that the idea of the film was inspired by the 1987 [[Telugu language|Telugu]] film ''[[Pasivadi Pranam]]'', which itself is a remake of the [[Malayalam]] film ''[[Poovinu Puthiya Poonthennal]]'' (1986). Prasad also took inspiration from a story he heard about a Pakistani couple coming to India for their daughter's heart surgery.<ref>{{Cite web|date=22 July 2015|title=Baahubali doesn't belong to any one industry: Vijayendra Prasad|url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/regional-movies/baahubali-doesn-t-belong-to-any-one-industry-vijayendra-prasad/story-03quNkCM9gzkfaAnlpctDK.html|access-date=10 August 2020|website=Hindustan Times|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|last=Nathan|first=Archana|title='Baahubali' writer KV Vijayendra Prasad has had a great year, and 2018 promises to be better|url=https://scroll.in/reel/858536/baahubali-writer-kv-vijayendra-prasad-has-had-a-great-year-and-2018-promises-to-be-better|access-date=10 August 2020|website=Scroll.in|language=en-US|quote=The plot is a rehash of Telugu star Chiranjeevi's 1987 film Pasivadi Pranam, Prasad admitted.}}</ref>

Kabir Khan noted that the script of ''Bajrangi Bhaijaan'' was influenced by some of his own experiences. He noted the influence of the [[Hindu epic]] ''[[Ramayana]]'', which he used to watch [[Ramlila]] plays of as a child, and particularly the [[Hindu deity]] Bajrangi ([[Hanuman]]), who left a strong impression on him as a child. He felt that Bajrangi was a character who was loved by people all religious communities in India, including [[Hindus]] and [[Muslims in India]], due to how Bajrangi brought joy and fun to many Indian children. Khan began writing ''Bajrangi Bhaijaan'' partly in response to the rise of religious [[sectarianism]] in India since the 1980s and particularly in response to the [[Bajrang Dal]], a [[Hindu fundamentalist]] organisation that appropriated Bajrangi for violent sectarian motives and played a central role in the deadly [[2002 Gujarat riots]], leading to the name Bajrangi having communal connotations. He began writing ''Bajrangi Bhaijaan'' in 2013 as a way of reclaiming Bajrangi for all communities, and as a way of bringing Hindus and [[Muslims]] together.<ref>{{cite news|author=Kabir Khan|author-link=Kabir Khan (director)|date=10 November 2015|title=Ramayana Special: This god is yours, this god is mine|language=en-IN|work=[[The Indian Express]]|url=https://indianexpress.com/article/lifestyle/art-and-culture/ramayana-special-this-god-is-yours-this-god-is-mine/|access-date=8 February 2019}}</ref>

The film's casting director was [[Mukesh Chhabra]].<ref>{{Cite web|title=Bajrangi Bhaijaan fame Harshaali Malhotra honoured with Bharat Ratna Dr. Ambedkar Award; dedicates it to Salman Khan, Kabir Khan, Mukesh Chhabra|website=[[Bollywood Hungama]] |date=10 January 2022|url=https://www.bollywoodhungama.com/news/bollywood/bajrangi-bhaijaan-fame-harshaali-malhotra-honoured-bharat-ratna-dr-ambedkar-award-dedicates-salman-khan-kabir-khan-mukesh-chhabra/|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220110142839/https://www.bollywoodhungama.com/news/bollywood/bajrangi-bhaijaan-fame-harshaali-malhotra-honoured-bharat-ratna-dr-ambedkar-award-dedicates-salman-khan-kabir-khan-mukesh-chhabra/ |archive-date=10 January 2022 }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|date=10 January 2022|title=Bajrangi Bhaijaan's Harshaali Malhotra dedicates Bharat Ratna Dr Ambedkar Award to Salman Khan, Kabir Khan|url=https://www.indiatoday.in/movies/celebrities/story/bajrangi-bhaijaan-s-harshaali-malhotra-dedicates-bharat-ratna-dr-ambedkar-award-to-salman-khan-kabir-khan-1898304-2022-01-10|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220110125611/https://www.indiatoday.in/movies/celebrities/story/bajrangi-bhaijaan-s-harshaali-malhotra-dedicates-bharat-ratna-dr-ambedkar-award-to-salman-khan-kabir-khan-1898304-2022-01-10 |archive-date=10 January 2022 }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|date=11 January 2022|title=Harshaali Malhotra from 'Bajrangi Bhaijaan' awarded Indian National Award|url=https://www.thenews.com.pk/latest/924130-harshaali-malhotra-from-bajrangi-bhaijaan-awarded-indian-national-award|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220110195450/https://www.thenews.com.pk/latest/924130-harshaali-malhotra-from-bajrangi-bhaijaan-awarded-indian-national-award |archive-date=10 January 2022 }}</ref>

=== Principal photography ===
The [[principal photography]] began on 3 November 2014 in [[New Delhi]], with [[Salman Khan]] and [[Kareena Kapoor Khan]] participating. The second filming schedule took place at the [[ND Studios, Karjat]]. The third schedule of the film was held in [[Mandawa]], [[Rajasthan]]. On 7 January 2015, Khan was seen on the top of the castle of [[Mandawa]] playing [[cricket]] with a young boy.<ref>{{cite news|title=Salman Khan enjoys the view from Mandwa castle during 'Bajrangi Bhaijaan' shoot|url=http://www.deccanchronicle.com/150108/entertainment-bollywood/article/salman-khan-enjoys-view-mandwa-castle-during-bajrani-bhaijaan|access-date=1 July 2015|publisher=[[Deccan Chronicle]]|date=8 January 2015}}</ref> On 10 January 2015, Khan shot with school students in [[Rajasthan]]'s [[Jhunjhunu]] district.<ref>[http://movies.ndtv.com/bollywood/salman-khan-surprises-school-children-on-the-sidelines-of-bajrani-bhaijaan-shoot-725123 Salman Khan Surprises School Children on the Sidelines of Bajrangi Bhaijaan Shoot – NDTV Movies]. Movies.ndtv.com (10 January 2015). Retrieved on 19 July 2015.</ref> Shooting of the film was completed on 20 May. Some scenes of the film were shot at Khan's Panvel farm house.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://indianexpress.com/article/entertainment/bollywood/kabir-khan-shoots-bajrangi-bhaijaan-scenes-at-salman-khans-panvel-farmhouse/|title=Kabir Khan shoots Bajrangi Bhaijaan scenes at Salman Khan's Panvel farmhouse|date=5 June 2015|work=The Indian Express}}</ref> Shooting also took place in the [[Kashmir Valley]] in places like [[Sonamarg]] and [[Zoji La]].<ref>[http://movies.ndtv.com/bollywood/kashmir-connection-salman-khan-tells-twitter-hes-reminded-of-katrina-kaif-764326 Kashmir Connection: Salman Khan Tells Twitter Hes Reminded of Katrina Kaif – NDTV Movies]. Movies.ndtv.com (19 May 2015). Retrieved on 19 July 2015.</ref><ref>[http://indianexpress.com/photos/entertainment-gallery/salman-khan-kareena-kapoor-back-from-kashmir-after-bajrangi-bhaijaan-shoot/ PHOTOS: Salman Khan, Kareena Kapoor back from Kashmir after wrapping up ‘Bajrangi Bhaijaan’]. The Indian Express (20 May 2015). Retrieved on 19 July 2015.</ref><ref>[http://indianexpress.com/article/entertainment/bollywood/salman-khan-press-con-in-kashmir-wasnt-to-promote-bajrangi-bhaijaan/ Salman Khan: Press conference in Kashmir wasn't to promote ‘Bajrangi Bhaijaan’]. The Indian Express (21 May 2015). Retrieved on 19 July 2015.</ref><ref>[http://movies.ndtv.com/bollywood/salman-khan-wraps-bajrangi-bhaijaan-in-kashmir-flies-to-mumbai-764550 Salman Khan Wraps Bajrangi Bhaijaan in Kashmir, Flies to Mumbai – NDTV Movies]. Movies.ndtv.com. Retrieved on 19 July 2015.</ref> The film's climax was shot at Sonmarg near the Thajiwas glacier (at 10,000 ft above sea level) with around 7,000 people.<ref>[http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/salman-khan-bajrangi-bhaijaan-sonamarg-fans/1/438151.html Salman Khan leaves Sonamarg fans disappointed : Bollywood, News – India Today]. Indiatoday.intoday.in (15 May 2015). Retrieved on 19 July 2015.</ref><ref>[http://www.hindustantimes.com/bollywood/bajrangi-bhaijaan-climax-was-shot-at-10-000-ft-above-sea-level/article1-1361852.aspx Bajrangi Bhaijaan climax was shot at 10,000 ft above sea level] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150829042333/http://www.hindustantimes.com/bollywood/bajrangi-bhaijaan-climax-was-shot-at-10-000-ft-above-sea-level/article1-1361852.aspx |date=29 August 2015 }}. Hindustantimes.com (23 June 2015). Retrieved on 19 July 2015.</ref><ref>[http://www.telegraphindia.com/1150714/jsp/t2/story_31321.jsp#.Vav_SIuUdyw Salaam Bhaijaan]. Telegraphindia.com (14 July 2015). Retrieved on 19 July 2015.</ref> [[Nawazuddin Siddiqui]]'s character Chand Nawab was inspired by a real character [[Chand Nawab]], who was with [[Karachi]]-based [[Indus Media Group#Indus News|Indus News]] in 2008.<ref>[http://www.hindustantimes.com/bollywood/meet-chand-nawab-the-reporter-on-which-nawazuddin-s-character-is-based-in-bajrangi-bhaijaan/article1-1370240.aspx Meet Chand Nawab: Nawazuddin's inspiration in Bajrangi Bhaijaan] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150914042835/http://www.hindustantimes.com/bollywood/meet-chand-nawab-the-reporter-on-which-nawazuddin-s-character-is-based-in-bajrangi-bhaijaan/article1-1370240.aspx |date=14 September 2015 }}. Hindustantimes.com. Retrieved on 20 July 2015.</ref><ref>Desk, Entertainment. (12 July 2015) [http://tribune.com.pk/story/923116/pakistani-reporter-chaand-nawab-inspires-a-rendition-in-bajrangi-bhaijaan/ Pakistani reporter Chaand Nawab inspires a rendition in Bajrangi Bhaijaan – The Express Tribune]. Tribune.com.pk. Retrieved on 20 July 2015.</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.hindustantimes.com/bollywood/the-real-chand-nawab-is-a-hit-in-pakistan-thanks-bajrangi-bhaijaan/article1-1371176.aspx|title=Thanks to Bajrangi Bhaijaan, I've been offered roles in TV ads: Chand Nawab|work=hindustantimes.com|date=20 July 2015|access-date=21 March 2020|archive-date=23 September 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150923025839/http://www.hindustantimes.com/bollywood/the-real-chand-nawab-is-a-hit-in-pakistan-thanks-bajrangi-bhaijaan/article1-1371176.aspx|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.hindustantimes.com/bollywood/the-real-chand-nawab-is-a-hit-in-pakistan-thanks-bajrangi-bhaijaan/article1-1371176.aspx|title=Thanks to Bajrangi Bhaijaan, I've been offered roles in TV ads: Chand Nawab|work=hindustantimes.com|access-date=20 July 2015|archive-date=23 September 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150923025839/http://www.hindustantimes.com/bollywood/the-real-chand-nawab-is-a-hit-in-pakistan-thanks-bajrangi-bhaijaan/article1-1371176.aspx|url-status=dead}}</ref>

== Music ==
{{Infobox album
| name = Bajrangi Bhaijaan
| type = [[Soundtrack]]
| artist = [[Pritam]]
| cover =
| alt =
| released = {{Start date|df=yes|2015|06|17}}
| recorded =
| venue =
| studio =
| genre = [[Film soundtrack|Feature film soundtrack]]
| length = {{Duration|m=57|s=37}}
| language = [[Hindi language|Hindi]]
| label = [[T-Series (company)|T-Series]]
| producer =
| prev_title = [[Holiday: A Soldier Is Never Off Duty]]
| prev_year = 2014
| next_title = [[Phantom (2015 film)|Phantom]]
| next_year = 2015
}}

[[A. R. Rahman]] was initially in talks to compose the music of the film, however he did not sign the film.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://indianexpress.com/article/entertainment/screen/rahman-to-compose-for-kabir-khans-next/|title = Rahman to compose for Kabir Khan's next?|date = 8 August 2014}}</ref> The music was then composed by Kabir Khan's usual collaborators, with Pritam composing the songs and [[Julius Packiam]] composing the score. The lyrics were written by [[Mayur Puri]], [[Amitabh Bhattacharya]], [[Neelesh Misra]], [[Shabbir Ahmed (lyricist)|Shabbir Ahmed]], and [[Kausar Munir]] while [[Julius Packiam]] composed the score. The soundtrack of the movie become Super Hit. The Song "Bhar Do Jholi" one of the biggest hits of 2015 sang by Adnan Sami. The soundtrack album consists of eleven tracks, was released on 17 June 2015.<ref>{{cite web|title=Bajrangi Bhaijaan (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack)|url=https://itunes.apple.com/in/album/bajrangi-bhaijaan-original/id1017221083|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150806022920/https://itunes.apple.com/in/album/bajrangi-bhaijaan-original/id1017221083|url-status=dead|archive-date=6 August 2015|website=iTunes|access-date=19 October 2015}}</ref> "Tu Chahiye" and "Selfie Le Le Re" become chartbusters.

The film includes the [[qawwali]] "Bhar Do Jholi Meri Ya Muhammad" originally written by [[Purnam Allahabadi]] and composed and sung by the [[Sabri Brothers]]. The qawwali was revamped with the voice of [[Adnan Sami|Adnan Sami Khan]]. EMI Pakistan and [[Amjad Sabri]] heir to the [[Sabri Brothers]], have called for legal action against the producers of the film and the qawwali in separate instances.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Mahmood |first1=Rafay |title=EMI, Amjad Sabri to sue Bajrangi Bhaijan makers over 'Bhar do jholi' |url=https://tribune.com.pk/story/912948/emi-amjad-sabri-to-sue-bajrangi-bhaijan-makers-over-bhar-do-jholi |access-date=24 April 2022 |work=The Express Tribune |date=1 July 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Amjad Sabri to visit India to resolve Bhar Do Jholi controversy |url=https://tribune.com.pk/story/923833/amjad-sabri-to-visit-india-to-sort-out-bhar-do-jholi-controversy |access-date=24 April 2022 |work=The Express Tribune |date=21 July 2015 |language=en}}</ref>

=== Track listing ===
{{track listing
| extra_column = Singer(s)
| title1 = Selfie Le Le Re
| note1 =
| length1 = 04:57
| lyrics1 = [[Mayur Puri]], Badshah
| writer1 =
| extra1 = [[Pritam]], [[Vishal Dadlani]], [[Nakash Aziz]], [[Badshah (rapper)|Badshah]]
| title2 = Tu Chahiye
| note2 =
| length2 = 04:32
| lyrics2 = [[Amitabh Bhattacharya]]
| writer2 =
| extra2 = [[Atif Aslam]]
| title4 = Bhar Do Jholi Meri
| note4 =
| length4 = 08:19
| lyrics4 = [[Kausar Munir]]
| writer4 =
| extra4 = [[Adnan Sami]]
| title3 = Aaj Ki Party
| note3 =
| length3 = 04:40
| lyrics3 = [[Shabbir Ahmed (lyricist)|Shabbir Ahmed]]
| writer3 =
| extra3 = [[Mika Singh]]
| title5 = Chicken Kuk-Doo-Koo
| length5 = 05:43
| lyrics5 = Mayur Puri
| extra5 = [[Mohit Chauhan]], [[Palak Muchhal]]
| title10 = Zindagi Kuch Toh Bata
| length10 = 04:23
| lyrics10 = [[Neelesh Misra]]
| extra10 = [[Jubin Nautiyal]]
| title7 = Tu Jo Mila
| length7 = 04:04
| lyrics7 = Kausar Munir
| extra7 = [[KK (singer)|KK]]
| title8 = Bhar Do Jholi Meri
| note8 = Reprise
| length8 = 08:05
| extra8 = Imran Aziz Mian
| lyrics8 = Kausar Munir
| title9 = Tu Jo Mila (Dekhna Na Mudke)
| length9 = 04:13
| lyrics9 = Kausar Munir
| extra9 = [[Javed Ali]]
| title6 = Zindagi Kuch Toh Bata
| length6 = 04:23
| lyrics6 = Neelesh Misra
| extra6 = [[Rahat Fateh Ali Khan]], [[Rekha Bhardwaj]]
| title11 = Tu Jo Mila
| length11 = 04:18
| extra11 = [[Papon (Assamese singer)|Papon]]
| lyrics11 = Kausar Munir
| total_length = {{Duration|h=|m=57|s=29}}
| all_writing =
| note11 = Reprise
| note10 = Reprise
}}

== Release ==
Initially announced as an Eid 2014 release, the film was rescheduled to 12 January 2014.''Bajrangi Bhaijaan'' was released on 17 July 2015, one day before [[Eid al-Fitr|Eid]], on 4,500 screens in India and 1,000 screens in overseas respectively.<ref>[http://www.livemint.com/Consumer/RZBaA8luxMEwAJ2tasugOM/Bajrangi-Bhaijaan-storms-the-Box-Office-on-opening-day.html ‘Bajrangi Bhaijaan’ storms the box office on opening day]. Livemint (14 July 2015). Retrieved on 19 July 2015.</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.bollywoodhungama.com/box-office/special-features/id/416|title=Bollywood's 300 Crore Club|website=[[Bollywood Hungama]] |date=8 August 2015}}</ref> The film was also released in 50 countries outside India, on more than 700 screens.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.dnaindia.com/entertainment/report-salman-khan-s-bajrangi-bhaijaan-to-release-in-50-countries-2105108|title=Salman Khan's 'Bajrangi Bhaijaan' to release in 50 countries – Latest News & Updates at Daily News & Analysis|date=16 July 2015}}</ref> ''Bajrangi Bhaijaan'' premiered at the 20th Busan International Film Festival (BIFF) on 6 October 2015.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://m.koimoi.com/bollywood-popular/standing-ovation-for-salman-khans-bajrangi-bhaijaan-at-busan-film-festival|title=Standing Ovation For Salman Khan's 'Bajrangi Bhaijaan' At Busan Film Festival – Koimoi|first=Koimoi.com|last=Team|date=7 October 2015}}</ref>

In November 2017, it was announced that ''Bajrangi Bhaijaan'' was set to release in [[China]], following the success of [[Aamir Khan]]'s ''[[Dangal (film)|Dangal]]'' (2016) in the country.<ref name="chinadaily">{{cite news|title=《小萝莉的猴神大叔》有望引进继《摔爸》后又一印度高分神作 – 中国日报网|url=http://ent.chinadaily.com.cn/2017-11/24/content_34937940.htm|work=[[China Daily]]|date=24 November 2017}}</ref> In December 2017, it was announced the film would release there in 2018.<ref name="filmfare">{{cite news|title=This is the title under which Salman Khan's Bajrangi Bhaijaan will release in China!|url=https://www.filmfare.com/news/bollywood/this-is-the-title-under-which-salman-khans-bajrangi-bhaijaan-will-release-in-china-25455.html|work=[[Filmfare]]|date=6 December 2017}}</ref> Prior to the announcement, ''Bajrangi Bhaijaan'' had a cult following in China,<ref name="chinadaily" /> where it has an average rating of 8.6 out of 10 on the popular film site [[Douban]], with over 70,000 votes.<ref name="filmfare" /><ref name="douban">{{cite web|title=小萝莉的猴神大叔 (豆瓣)|url=https://movie.douban.com/subject/26393561/|website=[[Douban]]|access-date=8 December 2017|language=zh-hans}}</ref> It placed fourth on Douban's list of top foreign films of 2015.<ref name="douban2015" /> ''Bajrangi Bhaijaan'' was released in China under the title 小萝莉的猴神大叔 which roughly translates as "''Little Lolita's Monkey God Uncle''"; "monkey god" is a rough translation of "Bajrangi" while "little lolita" and "uncle" reference the characters. The Chinese version was also cut down in length to 140 minutes.<ref name="filmfare" /><ref name="douban" /> In January 2018, it was announced that the film would be getting a wide release, on 8,000 screens in China, building on the Chinese box office success of Aamir Khan's ''Dangal'' and ''[[Secret Superstar]]'' (2017), and ''Bajrangi Bhaijaan''{{'}}s positive [[Word-of-mouth marketing|word-of-mouth]].<ref>{{cite news|last1=Frater|first1=Patrick|title=Eros Confirms Wide Release in China for Salman Khan's 'Bajrangi Bhaijaan'|url=https://variety.com/2018/film/news/wide-release-for-salman-khan-bajrangi-in-china-1202672044/|work=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]]|date=22 January 2018}}</ref> The film released in China on 2 March 2018.<ref>{{Cite news |title=小萝莉的猴神大叔 – 电影 |work=豆瓣(手机版) |url=https://m.douban.com/movie/subject/26393561/ |access-date=21 January 2018}}</ref> On 6 February 2018, the film had advance screenings in 29 Chinese cities, receiving a positive reception from audiences.<ref>{{cite news|title=印度高分电影《小萝莉的猴神大叔》中国29城点映获好评|url=http://ent.people.com.cn/n1/2018/0207/c1012-29810604.html|work=ent.people.com.cn|date=7 February 2018}}</ref> It also had a limited preview on 25 February 2018.<ref>{{cite web|title=Daily Box Office > China (02/25/2018)|url=http://english.entgroup.cn/boxoffice/cn/daily/?date=02%20/25%20/2018|website=EntGroup|access-date=25 February 2018}}</ref> The film's China premiere on 27 February 2018 was attended by Kabir Khan and Harshali Malhotra. Its release date of 2 March 2018 marks the [[Lantern Festival]], which celebrates families coming together.{{Citation needed|date=October 2020}}

It was released in Turkey on 17 August 2018 on 190 screens. In the first weekend it grossed approx $89,796 with a spectator count of 8,389.{{citation needed|date=November 2018}} The film released in Japan on 18 January 2019, with the title "バジュランギおじさんと、小さな迷子", which translates as "Uncle Bajrangi and a small lost child" (''Bajurangi ojisan to, chīsana maigo'').<ref>{{cite news |title=Salman Khan's Bajrangi Bhaijaan Releases In Japan. Details Here |url=https://www.ndtv.com/entertainment/salman-khans-bajrangi-bhaijaan-releases-in-japan-details-here-1979757 |access-date=24 January 2019 |work=[[NDTV]] |date=18 January 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=「バーフバリ」に次ぐヒット記録の印映画「バジュランギおじさんと、小さな迷子」1月18日公開 |url=https://eiga.com/news/20180928/11/ |access-date=24 January 2019 |work=[[:ja:映画.com|Eiga]] |date=28 September 2018 |language=ja}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=バジュランギおじさんと、小さな迷子 |url=https://translate.google.com/#view=home&op=translate&sl=ja&tl=en&text=バジュランギおじさんと、小さな迷子 |website=[[Google Translate]] |access-date=24 January 2019}}</ref>

== Reception ==
{{Rotten Tomatoes prose|score=88|count=17|average=6.4|consensus=|ref=yes |access-date=July 18, 2022}}

In India, ''[[Bollywood Hungama]]'' gave the film 4.5 out of 5 stars, writing that "this film easily qualifies to be Salman Khan's best movie till date, featuring his career's best performance. The film wins you over completely".<ref>{{Cite web |last=Hungama |first=Bollywood |title=Bajrangi Bhaijaan Movie Review: A 5 years old girl from Pakistan gets separated from her mother at an Indian railway station. Lost and hungry she finds shelter at the home of Pavan,an ardent devotee of Hanuman, a devout Hindu and hailing from a robust wrestling family. Bajrangi Bhaijaan is the moving story of Pavan's quest to unite the childRead More |website=[[Bollywood Hungama]] |url=https://www.bollywoodhungama.com/movie/bajrangi-bhaijaan/critic-review/bajrangi-bhaijaan-movie-review/ |access-date=2022-12-09 |language=en}}</ref> Srijana Mitra Das of [[The Times of India|''Times of India'']] gave the film 4 out of 5 stars, writing that "Bajrangi Bhaijaan is Salman Khan's most daring film where Salman presents a beautiful performance - but allows the story to be the real "dabangg" ".Rachit Gupta for ''[[Filmfare]]'' wrote that "If movies are meant to inspire, then ''Bajrangi Bhaijaan'' fulfills its purpose with resounding success", giving the movie 3.5 out of 5 stars.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Movie Review: Bajrangi Bhaijaan |url=https://www.filmfare.com/reviews/movie-review-bajrangi-bhaijaan-9866.html |access-date=2022-12-09 |website=filmfare.com |language=en}}</ref> Archita Kashyap of ''[[Koimoi]]'' gave the film 3.5 out of 5 stars, writing that "watch (the film) for full-blown, larger than life, wholesome Hindi filmy entertainment".<ref>{{Cite web |last=Kashyap |first=Archita |date=2015-07-17 |title=Bajrangi Bhaijaan Review |url=https://www.koimoi.com/reviews/bajrangi-bhaijaan-review/ |access-date=2022-12-09 |website=Koimoi |language=en-US}}</ref> Raja Sen of ''[[Rediff.com]]'' gave a 3.5 out of 5 star rating explaining that "''Bajrangi Bhaijaan'' is an overearnest, oversimplified, preposterously sweet and frequently schlocky film, which shouldn't work because of how predictable and soppy it is. Yet, because of a finely picked supporting cast, some sharp lines of dialogue and, most crucially, because of its overall heart, it works, and works well."<ref>{{cite web|last=Sen|first=Raja|title=Review: Bajrangi Bhaijaan is a solid crowdpleaser|url=https://www.rediff.com/movies/review/review-bajrangi-bhaijaan-is-a-solid-crowdpleaser/20150717.htm|work=[[Rediff.com]]|access-date=17 August 2021}}</ref> [[Rajeev Masand]] of ''[[CNN-IBN]]'' gave 3 stars out of 5, commenting "''Bajrangi Bhaijaan'' is way too long at 2 hours and 35 minutes, and could have done with some serious pruning, especially in its first half. Nevertheless, it's more engaging than such typical Salman Khan blockbusters as Bodyguard and Ready, if only because it has a sliver of a story, and its heart in the right place."<ref>{{cite news|title='Bajrangi Bhaijaan' review: The film uses humour as a tool to address deep-set religious prejudices |url=https://www.news18.com/news/movies/bajrangi-bhaijaan-review-the-film-uses-humor-as-a-tool-to-address-deep-set-religious-prejudices-1021873.html|date=18 July 2015 |publisher=CNN-IBN |access-date=16 August 2021 |author=Rajeev Masand}}</ref> [[Anupama Chopra]] of ''[[Hindustan Times]]'' said "''Bajrangi Bhaijaan'' is simplistic, occasionally silly, and tiringly over-stretched. It's also unashamedly manipulative. But it works. Director and co-writer Kabir Khan preserves the larger-than-life Salman image but also allows it to evolve so that the star is not just a slick superman."<ref>{{cite news|title=Bajrangi Bhaijaan review by Anupama Chopra: Tears, cheers |url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/movie-reviews/bajrangi-bhaijaan-review-by-anupama-chopra-tears-cheers/story-KyU1iPMTVoLd8kezntglhO.html|date=22 September 2015 |publisher=CNN-IBN |access-date=16 August 2021 |author=Anupama Chopra}}</ref> Uday Bhatia for [[Mint (newspaper)|''Mint'']] wrote: "To say Bajrangi Bhaijaan is geared towards maximum emotional impact is an understatement. It is engineered for it. Its parts have been carefully assembled so as to make you laugh every other scene, tear up every 10 minutes"; further praising Harshaali Malhotra, he goes "Who says you need a girl and a gun to make a movie? This film proves that you only need the former, provided she’s a criminally cute six-year-old".<ref>{{Cite web |last=Bhatia |first=Uday |date=2015-07-17 |title=Film Review {{!}} Bajrangi Bhaijaan |url=https://www.livemint.com/Leisure/hDcnYQaugZm3u9Cme1SAFP/Film-Review--Bajrangi-Bhaijaan.html |access-date=2022-12-09 |website=mint |language=en}}</ref>

Overseas too, the film received positive reviews from Chinese critics. Several critics in China, where it was released as ''Little Lolita's Monkey Uncle'', noted narrative parallels to the 16th century Chinese epic ''[[Journey to the West]]'' and its monkey-king hero [[Sun Wukong]] (which in turn have similarities to the 4th century BC Hindu epic ''[[Ramayana]]'' and its monkey-god hero [[Hanuman]]), making the film relatable to Chinese audiences.<ref>{{cite news |date=4 March 2018 |title=《小萝莉的猴神大叔》：呆萌版《西游记》？ |language=hi |trans-title="Little Lolita's Monkey God Uncle": A cute version of "Journey to the West"? |work=[[Ifeng]] |agency=[[Phoenix Television]] |url=http://wemedia.ifeng.com/50869554/wemedia.shtml |url-status=dead |access-date=8 February 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190209232317/http://wemedia.ifeng.com/50869554/wemedia.shtml |archive-date=9 February 2019}}</ref> The film's theme of connecting people across nations, religions and ethnicities also resonated with Chinese audiences.<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Hong |first=Yanyan |date=September 2021 |title=The power of Bollywood: A study on opportunities, challenges, and audiences' perceptions of Indian cinema in China |journal=Global Media and China |volume=6 |issue=3 |pages=345–363 |doi=10.1177/20594364211022605 |s2cid=236301872 |issn=2059-4364|doi-access=free }}</ref> In Japan, upon release in January 2019, it was the week's highest-rated film on the Filmarks audience satisfaction survey.<ref>{{cite news |date=21 January 2019 |title=【発表】映画『バジュランギおじさんと、小さな迷子』初日満足度ランキング1位獲得 |language=ja |work=Filmarks |publisher=Filmaga |url=https://filmaga.filmarks.com/articles/2548/ |url-status=dead |access-date=24 January 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190126001036/https://filmaga.filmarks.com/articles/2548/ |archive-date=26 January 2019}}</ref> The core plot of the movie was reported to be thematically similar to the 2006 Kannada movie ''[[Kallarali Hoovagi]]''.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.prajavani.net/article/ಭಜರಂಗಿ-ಮತ್ತು-ಕಲ್ಲರಳಿ|title=ಭಜರಂಗಿ ಮತ್ತು ಕಲ್ಲರಳಿ...|author=B. L. Venu|date=12 October 2015|access-date=7 November 2015|language=kn|trans-title=Kallarali and Bhajarangi}}</ref>

== Box office ==

''Bajrangi Bhaijaan'' grossed {{INRConvert|333|c|lk=c|year=2015|mode=historical}} worldwide in its first week,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.boxofficeindia.com/Collections/world_week#.VdqxQIuUdyw |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150724093602/http://www.boxofficeindia.com/Collections/world_week |url-status=dead |archive-date=24 July 2015 |title=Top Worldwide First Week All Time }}</ref> beating the previous record of {{INRConvert|332|c|lk=r|year=2015|mode=historical}} worldwide by ''[[PK (film)|PK]]''. The film went on to [[Net income|net]] {{INRConvert|3.15|b|year=2015|mode=historical}} and {{INRConvert|4.26|b|year=2015|mode=historical}} gross<ref name="robcain">{{cite web|url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/robcain/2015/08/14/oops-pk-is-not-actually-indias-top-grossing-movie-ever/|title=Oops... 'PK' Is Not Actually India's Top-Grossing Movie Ever|author=Rob Cain|work=Forbes|access-date=19 September 2015}}</ref> in India<ref name="indianexpress.com">{{cite web|url=http://indianexpress.com/article/entertainment/bollywood/salman-khan-bajrangi-bhaijaan-300-cr-india-20-days-2nd-highest-grosser-pk/|title=Salman Khan 'Bajrangi Bhaijaan' becomes the second highest grosser in India after PK|date=6 August 2015|work=The Indian Express}}</ref><ref name="ReferenceB">{{cite web|url=http://www.boxofficeindia.com/Details/art_detail/bajrangibhaijaanthirdmondaybusiness#.VcBa4Pmqqko%7ctitle=Boxoffice%7cwork=boxofficeindia.com |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150806004603/http://www.boxofficeindia.com/Details/art_detail/bajrangibhaijaanthirdmondaybusiness |url-status=dead |archive-date=6 August 2015 |title=Boxoffice |work=boxofficeindia.com |access-date=19 September 2015 }}</ref> and grossed {{INRConvert|1.792|b|year=2015|mode=historical}} overseas for a worldwide gross of {{INRConvert|6.03|b|year=2015|mode=historical}} in 31 days.<ref name="robcain" /><ref name="forbes.com">{{cite web|url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/robcain/2015/08/04/despite-weekend-slowdown-indias-bajrangi-bhaijaan-treks-to-540-crore-84-2m-worldwide/|title=Despite Weekend Slowdown, India's 'Bajrangi Bhaijaan' Treks To 540 crore / $84.2M Worldwide|author=Rob Cain|date=4 August 2015|work=Forbes}}</ref> ''Bajrangi Bhaijaan'' became the quickest film to collect {{INRConvert|1|b|year=2015|mode=historical}}<ref name="boxofficeindia.com">{{cite web|url=http://www.boxofficeindia.com/Collections/india_records_weekend#.Vb9kGLXoBqA%7ctitle=Boxoffice%7cwork=boxofficeindia.com |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140124064537/http://www.boxofficeindia.com/Collections/india_records_weekend |url-status=dead |archive-date=24 January 2014 |title=Boxoffice |work=boxofficeindia.com |access-date=19 September 2015 }}</ref> and {{INRConvert|2|b|year=2015|mode=historical}} net domestically beating ''PK'' and ''[[Dhoom 3]]''.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://articles.economictimes.indiatimes.com/2015-07-26/news/64880449_1_200-crore-kareena-kapoor-khan-nawazuddin-siddiqui|title='Bajrangi Bhaijaan' mints Rs 200 crore – The Economic Times|access-date=23 December 2019}}</ref> The distributor share of the film had crossed {{INRConvert|150|c|year=2015|mode=historical}} crore which is a record in India being the second film to do so after ''PK''.<ref name="ReferenceB" /><ref name="bajrangi150">{{cite web|url=http://www.boxofficeindia.com/Details/art_detail/bajrangibhaijaanthirdtuesdaybusiness#.VcGnH4uUdyw |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150807171333/http://www.boxofficeindia.com/Details/art_detail/bajrangibhaijaanthirdtuesdaybusiness |url-status=dead |archive-date=7 August 2015 |title=Bajrangi Bhaijaan Third Tuesday Business }}</ref> In August 2015, [[Eros International]] said in a statement to the [[Bombay Stock Exchange]] that ''Bajrangi Bhaijaan'' has become the fastest Bollywood film to gross {{INRConvert|500|c|year=2015|mode=historical}} worldwide, while it crossed {{INRConvert|300|c|year=2015|mode=historical}} at the domestic box office.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.ndtv.com/business/salman-khan-creates-box-office-history-with-bajrangi-bhaijaan-1204785|title=Bajrangi Bhaijaan Nets Rs 500 Crore; Eros Shares Surge 60% This Year|website=NDTV.com}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.boxofficeindia.com/Details/art_detail/bajrangibhaijaanheadingforalltimeblockbusterstatus#.VcYByIuUdyw |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150811042753/http://www.boxofficeindia.com/Details/art_detail/bajrangibhaijaanheadingforalltimeblockbusterstatus |url-status=dead |archive-date=11 August 2015 |title=Bajrangi Bhaijaan Heading For All Time Blockbuster Status }}</ref>

The film is the highest nett grosser ever in Delhi / UP, CP Berar, CI, Bihar, Assam and Orissa, East Punjab, Rajasthan and West Bengal beating the lifetime collections of ''PK'' and ''Dhoom 3''. The footfalls of the film crossed 35.2{{nbsp}}million after five weeks, making it the most watched film in India since ''[[Gadar: Ek Prem Katha]]'' (2001) and beating ''PK'', ''[[3 Idiots]]'', ''Dhoom 3'', and ''[[Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham...]]''.<ref name="robcain" /><ref name="ReferenceC">{{cite web|url=http://boxofficeindia.com/Details/art_detail/bajrangibhaijaanfourthweekbusiness#.Vc2eWbKqqkp |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150816170428/http://www.boxofficeindia.com/Details/art_detail/bajrangibhaijaanfourthweekbusiness |url-status=dead |archive-date=16 August 2015 |title=Boxoffice |work=boxofficeindia.com |access-date=19 September 2015 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.boxofficeindia.com/Details/art_detail/footfallsfiveweeksbajrangibhaijaanvpk#.Vd6i8dButzR |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150827035237/http://www.boxofficeindia.com/Details/art_detail/footfallsfiveweeksbajrangibhaijaanvpk |url-status=dead |archive-date=27 August 2015 |title=Boxoffice |work=boxofficeindia.com |access-date=19 September 2015 }}</ref> ''Bajrangi Bhaijaan'' grossed {{INRConvert|626|c|year=2015|mode=historical}} worldwide at the end of its 7th week.<ref name="Koimoi Gross">{{cite web|url=http://m.koimoi.com/box-office/bajrangi-bhaijaan-grosses-626-crores-worldwide-box-office-report|title=KoiMoi – Bajrangi Bhaijaan Grosses 626 Crores Worldwide – Box Office Report|work=koimoi.com|access-date=19 September 2015|date=7 September 2015}}</ref> The domestic Indian gross for the film was {{INRConvert|433|c|year=2015|mode=historical}} as of August 2015,<ref>{{cite news|title='Bajrangi Bhaijaan' Worldwide Box Office Collection: Salman Starrer is now 2nd Highest Grosser with Over Rs 600 Crore Income|url=http://www.ibtimes.co.in/bajrangi-bhaijaan-worldwide-box-office-collection-salman-starrer-now-2nd-highest-grosser-over-643326|work=[[International Business Times]]|date=18 August 2015}}</ref> while its overseas gross was [[United States dollar|US$]]30.9 million<ref name="ibtimes" /> ({{INR}}211.05crore)<ref name="exchange16" /> as of 2017. It was one of the [[List of highest-grossing Indian films|highest-grossing Indian film]] ever at the time, behind ''PK''.<ref name="gross">{{cite web|url=http://www.bollywoodhungama.com/news/box-office-special-features/box-office-aamir-khans-dangal-eclipses-dhoom-3-becomes-3th-highest-worldwide-grosser/|title=Box Office: Aamir Khan's Dangal eclipses Dhoom 3; becomes 3rd Highest worldwide grosser – Bollywood Hungama|first=Bollywood|last=Hungama|website=[[Bollywood Hungama]] |date=7 January 2017}}</ref> Prior to its China release, ''Bajrangi Bhaijaan''{{'}}s worldwide gross was {{INR}}626{{nbsp}}crore (US${{To USD|626|IND|year=2015|round=yes}}{{nbsp}}million) as of 27 February 2018.<ref name=":1">{{Cite news|url=http://www.timesnownews.com/entertainment/box-office/article/deepika-padukone-padmaavat-beats-aamir-khan-dhoom-3-and-salman-khans-tiger-zinda-hai-at-the-box-office/202889|title=Deepika Padukone's Padmaavat beats Aamir Khan's Dhoom 3 and Salman Khan's Tiger Zinda Hai at the box office|date=27 February 2018|work=[[Times Now]]}}</ref> After 22 days at the Chinese box office, it became the fourth Indian film to gross {{INR}}900{{nbsp}}crore (US${{To USD|9000|IND|year=2015|round=yes}}{{nbsp}}million) worldwide, after ''[[Dangal (film)|Dangal]]'', ''[[Baahubali 2]]'', and ''[[Secret Superstar]]''.<ref name="entgroup" /><ref name="exchange17" /> As of today, ''Bajrangi Bhaijaan'' is the sixth highest-grossing Indian film ever worldwide.<ref name="firstpost">{{cite news|title=Bajrangi Bhaijaan dethrones Secret Superstar to become third highest-grossing Indian film of all time|url=http://www.firstpost.com/entertainment/bajrangi-bhaijaan-dethrones-secret-superstar-to-become-third-highest-grossing-indian-film-of-all-time-4411939.html|work=[[Firstpost]]|date=30 March 2018}}</ref> The film was marketed by a Mumbai-based company named Spice PR owned by Prabhat Choudhary.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.bollywoodhungama.com/news/features/us-baahubali-achievement-content-foresight-prabhat-choudhary/ |title=For us, Baahubali is an achievement of the content and foresight – Prabhat Choudhary |website=[[Bollywood Hungama]] |date=31 May 2017 }}</ref>

{| class="wikitable sortable" style="float:right; width:45%; text-align:center;"
! Territories
! Gross revenue
|-
| [[List of highest-grossing films in India|India]]
| {{INR|444.92 [[crore]]|link=yes}}<ref name="bh">{{cite web |title=Bajrangi Bhaijaan Box Office Collection |url=http://www.bollywoodhungama.com/movie/bajrangi-bhaijaan/box-office/ |website=[[Bollywood Hungama]] |access-date=14 January 2019}}</ref> ({{US$|{{To USD|4444.05|IND|year=2015}} million|long=no}})
|-
! Overseas (2015{{ndash}}2016)
! {{US$|30.9 million|long=no}}<ref name="ibtimes" /> ({{INR}}211.05 crore)<ref name="exchange16" />
|-
| [[Pakistan]]
| {{PKR|54.01 crore|link=yes}}{{citation needed|date=October 2020}} ({{US$|{{To USD|541.02|Pakistan|year=2015}} million}})
|-
| [[Arab States of the Persian Gulf]]
| {{US$|9444460}}<ref name="ibtimes2015" /> ({{INR}}60.28 crore)<ref name="exchange16" />
|-
| [[United States]] and [[Canada]]
| {{US$|8187000}}<ref name="boi-us">{{cite web|title=USA / Canada Top Grossers All Time|url=https://boxofficeindia.com/week_report_overseas_total.php?cityName=canada|website=[[Box Office India]]|access-date=1 March 2018}}</ref> ({{INR}}52.2 crore)
|-
| [[United Kingdom]]
| [[Pound sterling|£]]2,662,115<ref name="bh-bo" /> (US$4,150,476)
|-
| [[Australia]]
| [[A$]]1,700,006<ref name="ibtimes2015" /> (US$1,249,785)(₹8 crore)
|-
| [[New Zealand]]
| [[NZ$]]579,447<ref>{{cite web|title=New Zealand Box Office, August 20–23, 2015|url=http://www.boxofficemojo.com/intl/newzealand/?yr=2015&wk=34&currency=local|website=[[Box Office Mojo]]|access-date=1 March 2018}}</ref> (US${{formatnum:{{To USD|579447|NZL|year=2015|round=yes}}|}})
|-
| [[Hong Kong]]
| [[HK$]]1,364,088<ref name="bh-bo" /> (US${{formatnum:{{To USD|1364088|HKG|round=yes}}|}})
|-
! Overseas (2018{{ndash}}2019)
! {{US$|{{#expr:45534364+196062+44640}}|long=no}} ({{INR|296.74 crore }})<ref name="sauder">{{cite web|title=Pacific Exchange Rate Service|url=http://fx.sauder.ubc.ca/etc/USDpages.pdf#page=3|website=[[UBC Sauder School of Business]]|publisher=[[University of British Columbia]]|page=3|access-date=8 February 2019}}</ref>
|-
| [[List of highest-grossing films in China|China]]
| {{US$|45,534,364|long=no}}<ref name="mojo">{{cite web |title=Bajrangi Bhaijaan (2015) – International Box Office Results |url=https://www.boxofficemojo.com/movies/?page=intl&id=bajrangibhaijaan.htm |website=[[Box Office Mojo]] |access-date=17 January 2019}}</ref><ref name="entgroup" /> ({{INR|296.06 crore }}+)<ref name="sauder" />
|-
| [[Japan]]
| $196,062<ref>{{cite news |title=Japan's love for Indian films continues to rise |url=https://www.moneycontrol.com/news/trends/entertainment/japans-love-for-indian-films-continues-to-rise-3505491.html |access-date=9 February 2019 |work=[[Moneycontrol]] |date=9 February 2019}}</ref> ({{INR|{{#expr:196062*71.14/10000000 round 2}} crore}})<ref name="sauder" />
|-
| [[Turkey]]
| $44,640<ref name="mojo" /> ({{INR|{{#expr:44640*70/100000 round 1}} [[lakh]]}})<ref name="sauder" />
|-
! [[List of highest-grossing Indian films in overseas markets|Overseas total]]
! {{US$|{{#expr:30900000+45775066}}|long=no}} ({{INR|{{#expr:211.05+313.09}} crore}})
|-
! [[List of highest-grossing Indian films|Worldwide total]]
! {{INRConvert|{{#expr:444.92+524.14}}|c|year=2015|mode=historical}}
|}

=== India ===
''Bajrangi Bhaijaan'' opened to an overwhelming response at the domestic box office and went on to break the first week record of ''[[PK (film)|PK]]'' and ''[[Happy New Year (2014 film)|Happy New Year]]''. The film grossed around {{INR|270 million}} in India on the first day of release,<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20150720201318/http://www.boxofficeindia.com/Details/art_detail/bhajrangibhaijaanhasexcellentfirstdaybeatskickandpk Bhajrangi Bhaijaan Has Excellent First Day – Beats Kick And PK]. Boxofficeindia.com.</ref> and further showed incredible growth on its second and third day to gross {{INR|350 million}}, setting new records in several circuits,<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20150722123644/http://www.boxofficeindia.com/Details/art_detail/bhajrangibhaijaanseconddaybusiness Bhajrangi Bhaijaan Second Day Business]. Boxofficeindia.com.</ref> and {{INR|385 million}} on the first Sunday to take its first-weekend total to {{INR|1005 million}}, which is an all-time first-weekend record, becoming the quickest film to gross {{INR|1 billion}} domestically.<ref name="boxofficeindia.com" /><ref name="boxofficeindia2">{{cite web|url=http://www.boxofficeindia.com/Details/art_detail/bajrangibhaijaansetsalltimeweekendrecord#.VayJY4uUdyw |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150722192336/http://www.boxofficeindia.com/Details/art_detail/bajrangibhaijaansetsalltimeweekendrecord |url-status=dead |archive-date=22 July 2015 |title=Bajrangi Bhaijaan Sets All Time Weekend Record |work=Box Office India |date=20 July 2015 }}</ref> The film grossed {{INR|255 million}} on its first Monday which is the highest-ever non-holiday Monday and<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.boxofficeindia.com/Details/art_detail/bajrangibhaijaancrosses125croreinfourdays#.Va3XQ4uUdyw |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150723195155/http://www.boxofficeindia.com/Details/art_detail/bajrangibhaijaancrosses125croreinfourdays |url-status=dead |archive-date=23 July 2015 |title=Bajrangi Bhaijaan Crosses 125 Crore In Four Days }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.boxofficeindia.com/Details/art_detail/bajrangibhaijaancontinuestomakehistoryonmonday#.Va29vouUdyw |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150722192309/http://www.boxofficeindia.com/Details/art_detail/bajrangibhaijaancontinuestomakehistoryonmonday |url-status=dead |archive-date=22 July 2015 |title=Bajrangi Bhaijaan Continues To Make History On Monday }}</ref> {{INR|21.25 crore}} Tuesday as well as {{INR|20 crore}} on its first Wednesday and Thursday {{INR|16 crore}} to take its first-week gross to {{INR|183.52 crore}}, making it the highest first-week total for an Indian film in domestic markets beating previous record holder ''PK''.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.tidingstoday.com/bajrangi-bhaijaan-1-month-30th-day-5th-weekend-collection-03174/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150817204016/http://www.tidingstoday.com/bajrangi-bhaijaan-1-month-30th-day-5th-weekend-collection-03174/ |url-status=dead |archive-date=17 August 2015 |title=All Time Bajrangi Bhaijaan Box Office collection }}</ref>

The film grossed {{INR|13.50 crore}} on its second Friday.<ref name="bajrangi6">{{cite web|url=http://www.boxofficeindia.com/Details/art_detail/bajrangibhaijaanwednesdaybusinessupdate#.VbCRfouUdyw|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150723210931/http://www.boxofficeindia.com/Details/art_detail/bajrangibhaijaanwednesdaybusinessupdate|url-status=dead|archive-date=23 July 2015|title=Bajrangi Bhaijaan Wednesday Business Update}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.boxofficeindia.com/Details/art_detail/bajrangibhaijaanfirsttuesdaybusiness#.Va8qbouUdyw|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150722131055/http://www.boxofficeindia.com/Details/art_detail/bajrangibhaijaanfirsttuesdaybusiness|url-status=dead|archive-date=22 July 2015|title=Bajrangi Bhaijaan First Tuesday Business}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.boxofficeindia.com/Details/art_detail/bajrangibhaijaancontinuestocollectbignumbers#.Va8tE4uUdyw%7ctitle=Boxoffice%7cwork=boxofficeindia.com|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150722131957/http://www.boxofficeindia.com/Details/art_detail/bajrangibhaijaancontinuestocollectbignumbers|url-status=dead|archive-date=22 July 2015|title=Boxoffice|work=boxofficeindia.com|access-date=19 September 2015}}</ref> The film showed further growth and grossed {{INR|20.05 crore}} on its second Saturday and {{INR|24.05 crore}} Sunday for a total of {{INR|57.50 crore}}, which is the highest second weekend ever for an Indian film and took its domestic total to {{INR|240.72 crore}} in ten days and also made it the second highest weekend ever for an Indian film.<ref name="bollywoodhungama.com">{{cite web|url=http://www.bollywoodhungama.com/box-office/special-features/id/200|title=Special Features: Bollywood's 100 Crore club – Box Office, Bollywood Hungama|author=Bollywood Hungama|work=Bollywood Hungama}}</ref> ''Bajrangi Bhaijaan'' grossed around {{INR|10 crore}} on its second Monday. ''Bajrangi Bhaijaan'' grossed around {{INR|9.3 crore}} on its second Tuesday, {{INR|9.1 crore}} on its second Wednesday, and {{INR|9.3 crore}} on its second Thursday. ''Bajrangi Bhaijaan'' grossed {{INR|87 crore}}, which is the second-highest second-week collection of all time to take its two-week domestic gross to {{INR|270.50 crore}}.<ref name="bajrangi87second">{{cite web|url=http://www.boxofficeindia.com/Details/art_detail/bajrangibhaijaanhashugesecondweek#.VbzNBYuUdyx |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150801234231/http://www.boxofficeindia.com/Details/art_detail/bajrangibhaijaanhashugesecondweek |url-status=dead |archive-date=1 August 2015 |title=Bajrangi Bhaijaan Has Huge Second Week }}</ref>

''Bajrangi Bhaijaan'' grossed {{INR|4 crore}} on its third Friday, {{INR|6.08 crore}} on its third Saturday, and {{INR|9.08 crore}} on its third Sunday to take its third weekend total to {{INR|20 crore}} which is the second-highest third weekend of all time. The film grossed around {{INR|20 crore}} in its third weekend, reaching {{INR|292 crore}} in seventeen days in India to become the [[List of highest-grossing Indian films|second-highest-grossing Bollywood film of all time in domestic markets]], beating ''[[Dhoom 3]]''.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.boxofficeindia.com/Details/art_detail/bajrangibhaijaanthirdfridaybusiness#.VbxfDYuUdyw |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150803005821/http://www.boxofficeindia.com/Details/art_detail/bajrangibhaijaanthirdfridaybusiness |url-status=dead |archive-date=3 August 2015 |title=Bajrangi Bhaijaan Third Friday Business }}</ref> The film went on to gross {{INR|1.53 billion}} overseas for a worldwide gross of {{INR|540 crore}} in just 17 days.<ref name="forbes.com" /> ''Bajrangi Bhaijaan'' set a new all-time lifetime record in India by becoming the highest grosser ever in Bihar as it went to the {{INR|7.50 crore}} gross mark after its third weekend.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.boxofficeindia.com/Details/art_detail/bajrangibhaijaansetsfirstdomesticcircuitrecord#.VcHpS7XoBqA%7ctitle=Boxoffice%7cwork=boxofficeindia.com |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150807171328/http://boxofficeindia.com/Details/art_detail/bajrangibhaijaansetsfirstdomesticcircuitrecord |url-status=dead |archive-date=7 August 2015 |title=Boxoffice |work=boxofficeindia.com |access-date=19 September 2015 }}</ref> The film grossed {{INR|3.50 crore}} on its third Monday, {{INR|2.50 crore}} on its second Tuesday, and {{INR|2.43 crore}} on its second Wednesday to take its 19 days total to {{INR|300.6 crore}} in India and become only the 2nd Indian film to do so.<ref name="ibtimes.co.in">{{cite web|url=http://www.ibtimes.co.in/bajrangi-bhaijaan-20-day-box-office-collection-after-aamirs-pk-salman-starrer-enters-rs-300-641841|title='Bajrangi Bhaijaan' 20-Day Box Office Collection: After Aamir's 'PK', Salman Starrer Enters Rs 300 Crore Club|date=6 August 2015|work=International Business Times, India Edition}}</ref> The film also recorded the third-highest third week ever as it grossed {{INR|2.50 crore}} on its third Thursday for a combined total of {{INR|30 crore}} in its third week.<ref name="bajrangi298152">{{cite web|url=http://www.boxofficeindia.com/Details/art_detail/bajrangibhaijaanalltimethirdhighestthirdweek#.VcRHO4uUdyx |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150808210813/http://www.boxofficeindia.com/Details/art_detail/bajrangibhaijaanalltimethirdhighestthirdweek |url-status=dead |archive-date=8 August 2015 |title=Bajrangi Bhaijaan All Time Third Highest Third Week }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.bollywoodtrade.com/box-office/bajrangi-bhaijaan/all-domestic/2900/ |title= Bajrangi Bhaijaan Domestic BoxOffice Report |publisher=Bollywoodtrade |access-date=10 August 2015}}</ref>

The film grossed {{INR|7.25 crore}} in its fourth weekend.<ref name="bajrangifourthweekend">{{cite web|url=http://www.boxofficeindia.com/Details/art_detail/bajrangibhaijaanat306croreafterin24days#.VchN14uUdyw |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150812225435/http://www.boxofficeindia.com/Details/art_detail/bajrangibhaijaanat306croreafterin24days |url-status=dead |archive-date=12 August 2015 |title=Bajrangi Bhaijaan At 306 Crore After In 24 Days }}</ref> The film grossed {{INR|10.65 crore}} in its fourth week, {{INR|3.78 crore}} in its fifth week, {{INR|1.49 crore}} in its sixth week, {{INR|0.65 crore}} in its seventh week, and {{INR|0.195 crore}} in its eighth week. The film collected {{INR|0.11 crore}} in its ninth week becoming the second film ever to gross more than 10 lakhs in the ninth week after ''[[Vicky Donor]]''.

The film had a tenth week and became the third Indian film of the 2010s to ever have one. The other films were ''Vicky Donor'' and ''[[Band Baaja Baaraat]]''.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.boxofficeindia.com/Details/art_detail/bajrangibhaijaanstillhittingrecords#.Vf-w49DhVzR|title=Bajrangi Bhaijaan Still Hitting Records|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150924154904/http://www.boxofficeindia.com/Details/art_detail/bajrangibhaijaanstillhittingrecords|archive-date=24 September 2015|date=21 September 2015}}</ref> The film's final domestic gross was {{INR|444.92 crore}}<ref name="dnaindia">{{cite news|title=Best of 2015: Top 6 highest grossing films|url=http://www.dnaindia.com/entertainment/report-best-of-2015-top-6-highest-grossing-films-2157811|work=[[Daily News and Analysis]]|date=26 December 2015}}</ref> ({{US$|{{To USD|4449.2|IND|year=2015}} million}}).

=== Overseas ===
''Bajrangi Bhaijaan'' grossed around $8.1 million in the first weekend in overseas markets, which is the second-highest opening weekend for a Hindi film.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.boxofficeindia.com/Details/art_detail/bajrangibhaijaanoverseasbusiness#.Va3XR4uUdyw |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150723195225/http://www.boxofficeindia.com/Details/art_detail/bajrangibhaijaanoverseasbusiness |url-status=dead |archive-date=23 July 2015 |title=Bajrangi Bhaijaan Overseas Business }}</ref><ref>[http://www.bollywoodhungama.com/box-office/overseas/id/587 'Bajrangi Bhaijaan' a runaway hit – Box Office Overseas Report]. Bollywood Hungama. Retrieved on 20 July 2015.</ref> The film has grossed around $2.45 million in its first weekend in US-Canada.<ref name="boxofficeindia1">{{cite web|url=http://www.boxofficeindia.com/Details/art_detail/bajrangibhaijaanoverseasandworldwideupdate#.VayJX4uUdyw |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150722192330/http://www.boxofficeindia.com/Details/art_detail/bajrangibhaijaanoverseasandworldwideupdate |url-status=dead |archive-date=22 July 2015 |title=Bajrangi Bhaijaan – Overseas And Worldwide Update |work=Box Office India }}</ref> ''Bajrangi Bhaijaan'' grossed {{PKR|4.5 crore}} ({{US$|{{To USD|45000|Pakistan|year=2015|round=yes}},000|long=no}}) in Pakistan in its first 3 days of its release,<ref name="binroyeindia">{{Cite web|url=https://indianexpress.com/article/entertainment/entertainment-others/border-blockbuster/|title=Alongside 'Bajrangi Bhaijaan', a small Pakistani film competes for attention|date=22 July 2015}}</ref> and subsequently {{PKR|6 crore}} ({{US$|{{To USD|60000|Pakistan|year=2015|round=yes}},000|long=no}}) in the first week.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.dawn.com/news/1195872|title=At the box office: How did Bin Roye, Wrong No and Bajrangi Bhaijaan fare?|first=Zoya|last=Anwer|date=24 July 2015|website=DAWN.COM}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/hindi/bollywood/news/Salman-Khans-Bajrangi-Bhaijaan-earns-big-at-Pakistani-box-office/articleshow/48203700.cms|title=Salman Khan's 'Bajrangi Bhaijaan' earns big at Pakistani box office|website=[[The Times of India]]|access-date=23 December 2019}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://indianexpress.com/article/entertainment/bollywood/salman-khans-bajrangi-bhaijaan-earns-big-at-pakistani-box-office/|title=Salman Khan's 'Bajrangi Bhaijaan' earns big at Pakistani box office|date=24 July 2015}}</ref> The ten-day overseas gross of ''Bajrangi Bhaijaan'' was over {{US$|17 million}}.<ref name="bboverseas10">{{cite web|url=http://www.boxofficeindia.com/Details/art_detail/bajrangibhaijaansetforhugetotalinoverseas#.VbaY2YuUdyx |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150729215147/http://www.boxofficeindia.com/Details/art_detail/bajrangibhaijaansetforhugetotalinoverseas |url-status=dead |archive-date=29 July 2015 |title=Bajrangi Bhaijaan Set For Huge Total In Overseas }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.bollywoodhungama.com/news/box-office-overseas/bajrangi-bhaijaan-continues-to-gallop-speedily/|title=Bajrangi Bhaijaan continues to gallop speedily :Latest Bollywood News – Bollywood Hungama|first=Bollywood|last=Hungama|website=[[Bollywood Hungama]] |date=27 July 2015}}</ref> At the end of two weeks, ''Bajrangi Bhaijaan'' grossed US$20 million in overseas. ''Bajrangi Bhaijaan'' grossed around $23.5 million in overseas in 17 days.<ref name="overseas23">{{Cite web|url=https://www.bollywoodhungama.com/news/box-office-overseas/drishyam-decent-bajrangi-bhaijaan-fantastic/|title='Drishyam' decent, 'Bajrangi Bhaijaan' fantastic :Latest Bollywood News – Bollywood Hungama|first=Bollywood|last=Hungama|website=[[Bollywood Hungama]] |date=3 August 2015}}</ref><ref name="bajrangi500">{{cite web|url=http://www.boxofficeindia.com/Details/art_detail/bajrangibhaijaanclosinginon500croreworldwide#.VbzLh4uUdyx |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150801185925/http://www.boxofficeindia.com/Details/art_detail/bajrangibhaijaanclosinginon500croreworldwide |url-status=dead |archive-date=1 August 2015 |title=Bajrangi Bhaijaan Closing In On 500 Crore Worldwide }}</ref> ''Bajrangi Bhaijaan'' set an all-time record in the [[Arab states of the Persian Gulf|Persian Gulf region]] with collections of {{INRConvert|47.9|c|year=2015|mode=historical}} to become the highest-grossing film in the territory, beating films like ''[[Happy New Year (2014 film)|Happy New Year]]'' and ''[[Dhoom 3]]''.<ref name="ReferenceA">{{cite web|url=http://www.boxofficeindia.com/Details/art_detail/bajrangibhaijaanistopalltimegrosseringulf#.VcBZw_mqqko%7ctitle=Boxoffice%7cwork=boxofficeindia.com |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150806004558/http://www.boxofficeindia.com/Details/art_detail/bajrangibhaijaanistopalltimegrosseringulf |url-status=dead |archive-date=6 August 2015 |title=Boxoffice |work=boxofficeindia.com |access-date=19 September 2015 }}</ref> The film is also the biggest Salman Khan film in the [[Persian Gulf]], beating the previous best of ''[[Kick (2014 film)|Kick]]'' which grossed around $4.1 million.<ref name="ReferenceA" /> The film has done excellent across all overseas markets, according to [[Box Office India]].

The film topped all four major markets by beating the lifetime collection of ''[[PK (film)|PK]]''.<ref name="ibtimes2015">{{cite web|url=http://m.ibtimes.co.in/box-office-collection-welcome-back-crosses-rs-100-crore-mark-worldwide-bajrangi-bhaijaan-tops-646260|title=Box Office Collection: 'Welcome Back' Crosses Rs 100 Crore Mark Worldwide; 'Bajrangi Bhaijaan' Tops Main Overseas Markets|website=[[International Business Times]]|date=11 September 2015}}</ref> ''Bajrangi Bhaijaan'' grossed [[Pound sterling|£]]2,662,115 ({{US$|{{To USD|2662115|GBR|year=2015|round=yes}}|long=no}}) in the [[United Kingdom]],<ref name="bh-bo" /> where it became the highest-grossing foreign-language film of 2015, the eleventh highest-grossing foreign-language film of all time, and the second highest-grossing foreign-language Indian film ever (after ''[[Dhoom 3]]'').<ref>{{Cite book |url=https://www2.bfi.org.uk/sites/bfi.org.uk/files/downloads/bfi-statistical-yearbook-2016.pdf |title=Statistical Yearbook 2016 |publisher=[[British Film Institute]] (BFI) |year=2016 |location=United Kingdom |pages=12, 59–68, 109–10 |access-date=25 April 2022}}</ref> It also grossed US$9,450,000 in the [[Persian Gulf]] region and [[A$]]1,701,000 in Australia.<ref name="ibtimes2015" /> The film grossed $8,180,000 after its sixth weekend in the [[United States]] and [[Canada]],<ref name="ibtimes2015" /> with a final gross of US$8.187{{nbsp}}million in the US and Canada.<ref name="boi-us" /> In [[Hong Kong]], the film grossed [[HK$]]1,364,088 (US${{formatnum:{{To USD|1364088|HKG|round=yes}}|}}) in 2016.<ref name="bh-bo">{{cite web|title=Bajrangi Bhaijaan 2015 Box Office|url=http://www.bollywoodhungama.com/movie/bajrangi-bhaijaan/box-office/|website=[[Bollywood Hungama]]|date=15 July 2016|access-date=14 February 2018}}</ref> ''Bajrangi Bhaijaan'' grossed US$30.9 million<ref name="ibtimes">{{cite news|last=Hooli|first=Shekhar|title=Baahubali 2 overseas box office collection: Rajamouli's film beats Chennai Express, Kabali's lifetime record in 1st weekend|url=http://www.ibtimes.co.in/baahubali-2-overseas-box-office-collection-rajamoulis-film-beats-chennai-express-kabalis-725036|work=[[International Business Times]]|date=1 May 2017}}</ref> ([[100 Crore Club|{{INR}}211 crore]])<ref name="exchange16">{{cite web |title=Exchange Rates (68.3 INR per USD) |work=[[The World Factbook]] |publisher=[[Central Intelligence Agency]] |url=https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/fields/2076.html |year=2016 |access-date=30 November 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150215024949/https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook//fields/2076.html |archive-date=15 February 2015 |url-status=dead }}</ref> overseas as of 2017.<ref name="ibtimes" /> After 26 days of its release in China, the film became the third Indian film (first featuring Salman Khan) to gross more than {{INR}}500 crore from overseas markets.<ref name="entgroup" /><ref name="exchange17" />

==== China ====
In [[China]], on its opening day of 2 March 2018, the film grossed US$2.29{{nbsp}}million, debuting at number seven on the daily China box office.<ref>{{cite web|title=Daily Box Office > China (03/02/2018)|url=http://english.entgroup.cn/boxoffice/cn/daily/?date=03%20/02%20/2018|website=EntGroup|access-date=3 March 2018}}</ref> This is the fourth-highest opening for an Indian film in China, after ''[[Secret Superstar]]'' ($6.97{{nbsp}}million), ''[[Hindi Medium]]'' ($3.68{{nbsp}}million) and ''[[Dangal (film)|Dangal]]'' ($2.55{{nbsp}}million), while ''Bajrangi Bhaijaan'' also crossed the lifetime China gross of ''[[3 Idiots]]'' (2009).<ref>{{cite news |title=Frühgeborene frühestens nach 60 s abnabeln – ist das sicher? |url=https://www.firstpost.com/entertainment/bajrangi-bhaijaans-china-box-office-collection-at-rs-14-6-crore-crosses-3-idiots-earnings-4374609.html |access-date=23 January 2021 |work=Firstpost |date=30 August 2018 |pages=168–169 |doi=10.1055/a-0632-4348}}</ref> On its second day, ''Bajrangi Bhaijaan'' grossed $3.11{{nbsp}}million, entering the top five, with a two-day gross of $5.36{{nbsp}}million.<ref>{{cite news|title=Daily Box Office > China (03/03/2018)|url=http://english.entgroup.cn/boxoffice/cn/daily/?date=03%20/03%20/2018|website=EntGroup|access-date=4 March 2018}}</ref> It grossed another $3.13{{nbsp}}million in its third day, giving it an opening weekend gross of $9{{nbsp}}million.<ref>{{cite web|title=Daily Box Office > China (03/04/2018)|url=http://english.entgroup.cn/boxoffice/cn/daily/?date=03%20/04%20/2018|website=EntGroup|access-date=5 March 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Weekly Box Office > China (03/04/2018)|url=http://english.entgroup.cn/boxoffice/cn/Default.aspx?week=991|website=EntGroup|access-date=5 March 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180305143121/http://english.entgroup.cn/boxoffice/cn/Default.aspx?week=991|archive-date=5 March 2018|url-status=dead}}</ref> It is the third-highest opening weekend for an Indian film, behind only ''Secret Superstar'' and ''Dangal'', and it has become the highest-grossing Indian film not starring Aamir Khan.<ref name="cnnb">{{cite news|title=《小萝莉的猴神大叔》创印度电影最佳开画纪录-新闻中心-中国宁波网|url=http://news.cnnb.com.cn/system/2018/03/05/008731208.shtml|work=CNNB|date=5 March 2018|access-date=5 March 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180306083313/http://news.cnnb.com.cn/system/2018/03/05/008731208.shtml|archive-date=6 March 2018|url-status=dead}}</ref> The successful opening weekend of ''Bajrangi Bhaijaan'' has been attributed to strong [[word of mouth]], generated by high audience ratings such as 8.6 on [[Douban]] and 9.7 on [[Maoyan]].<ref name="cnnb" /><ref>{{cite news|title=Bajrangi Bhaijaan Has Fair Start In China|url=https://boxofficeindia.com/report-details.php?articleid=3724|work=[[Box Office India]]|date=2 March 2018}}</ref>

On the 14th day of its release, the film grossed $1.13 million and became the first Indian film not featuring Aamir Khan to gross more than {{INR}}200{{nbsp}}crore in the Chinese market, grossing $31.12{{nbsp}}million up until then.<ref name="entgroup" /> In 31 days, the film had a cumulative gross of $48{{nbsp}}million({{INR}}313{{nbsp}}crore).<ref name="entgroup">{{cite web|title=Weekly Box Office > China (04/01/2018)|url=http://english.entgroup.cn/boxoffice/cn/Default.aspx?week=995|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180402230358/http://english.entgroup.cn/boxoffice/cn/Default.aspx?week=995|url-status=dead|archive-date=2 April 2018|website=EntGroup|access-date=2 April 2018}}</ref><ref name="exchange17">{{cite web|title=Yearly Average Rates (65.11 INR per USD)|url=https://www.ofx.com/en-gb/forex-news/historical-exchange-rates/yearly-average-rates/|website=[[OFX (company)|OFX]]|date=31 December 2017|access-date=25 February 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170713183556/https://www.ofx.com/en-gb/forex-news/historical-exchange-rates/yearly-average-rates/|archive-date=13 July 2017|url-status=dead}}</ref> The film's audiences were about 60% female and 40% male, and the majority were in the 20–34 age group.<ref>{{cite web|title=小萝莉的猴神大叔|url=http://piaofang.maoyan.com/movie/343136/wantindex|website=[[Maoyan]]|access-date=29 March 2018}}</ref> It surpassed ''[[Star Wars: The Last Jedi]]'' to become the seventh [[List of highest-grossing films in China|highest-grossing film in China]] during the first quarter of 2018, behind ''Secret Superstar'' and other American films including ''[[Black Panther (film)|Black Panther]]'' and ''[[Pacific Rim: Uprising]]''.<ref name="firstpost" />

== Accolades ==
{| class="wikitable plainrowheaders sortable"
|-
! scope="col"| Award{{efn|Awards, festivals and organizations are in alphabetical order.}}
! scope="col"| Date of ceremony{{efn|Date is linked to the article about the awards held that year, wherever possible.}}
! scope="col"| Category
! scope="col"| Recipient(s)
! scope="col"| Result
! scope="col" class="unsortable"| {{Abbr|Ref.|Reference}}
|-
! scope="row" rowspan="6"| [[BIG Star Entertainment Awards]]
| rowspan="6"| 13 December 2015
| Most Entertaining Social Film
| ''Bajrangi Bhaijaan'' – {{sort|Kabir|[[Kabir Khan (director)|Kabir Khan]]}}, {{sort|Salman|[[Salman Khan]]}}
| {{nom}}
| style="text-align:center;" rowspan="6"| <ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.filmibeat.com/bollywood/news/2015/big-star-entertainment-awards-2015-nominations-207309.html |title=Big Star Entertainment Awards 2015 Nominations List |website=FilmiBeat |date=4 December 2015 |access-date=14 July 2021}}</ref> <ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.ndtv.com/entertainment/big-star-entertainment-awards-2015-salman-deepika-are-big-winners-1254786 |title=Big Star Entertainment Awards 2015: Salman, Deepika Are Big Winners |website=NDTV |date=14 December 2015 |access-date=14 July 2021}}</ref>
|-
| Most Entertaining Director
| {{sort|Kabir|[[Kabir Khan (director)|Kabir Khan]]}}
| {{won}}
|-
| rowspan="2"| Most Entertaining Actor in a Social Role – Male
| {{sort|Salman|[[Salman Khan]]}}
| {{won}}
|-
| {{sort|Siddiqui|[[Nawazuddin Siddiqui]]}}
| {{nom}}
|-
| Most Entertaining Actor Debut – Female
| rowspan="2"| {{sort|Malhotra|[[Harshaali Malhotra]]}}
| {{nom}}
|-
| Most Entertaining Child Star
| {{won}}
|-
! scope="row" rowspan="4"| [[Filmfare Awards]]
| rowspan="4"| [[61st Filmfare Awards|15 January 2016]]
| [[Filmfare Award for Best Film|Best Film]]
| ''Bajrangi Bhaijaan''
| {{nom}}
| style="text-align:center;" rowspan="4"| <ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.filmfare.com/news/nominations-for-the-61st-britannia-filmfare-awards-11809.html |title=Nominations for the 61st Britannia Filmfare Awards |website=Filmfare |date=11 January 2016 |access-date=14 July 2021}}</ref> <ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.ndtv.com/entertainment/filmfare-awards-2016-complete-list-of-winners-1266376 |title=Filmfare Awards 2016: Complete List of Winners |website=NDTV |date=16 January 2016 |access-date=14 July 2021}}</ref>
|-
| [[Filmfare Award for Best Director|Best Director]]
| {{sort|Kabir|[[Kabir Khan (director)|Kabir Khan]]}}
| {{nom}}
|-
| [[Filmfare Award for Best Story|Best Story]]
| {{sort|Prasad|[[V. Vijayendra Prasad]]}}
| {{won}}
|-
| [[Filmfare Award for Best Actor|Best Actor]]
| {{sort|Salman|[[Salman Khan]]}}
| {{nom}}
|-
! scope="row" rowspan="3"| [[Global Indian Music Academy Awards]]
| rowspan="3"| 6 April 2016
| [[GiMA Award for Best Film Album|Best Film Album]]
| ''Bajrangi Bhaijaan'' – {{sort|Pritam|[[Pritam]]}}
| {{nom}}
| style="text-align:center;" rowspan="3"|<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.gima.co.in/film-nominations.php |title=GIMA: Film Nominees 2016 |access-date=14 July 2021 |publisher=[[Global Indian Music Academy Awards]] |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160330063435/http://www.gima.co.in/film-nominations.php |archive-date=30 March 2016}}</ref>
|-
| [[GiMA Award for Best Music Director|Best Music Director]]
| {{sort|Pritam|[[Pritam]]}}
| {{nom}}
|-
| [[GiMA Award for Best Lyricist|Best Lyricist]]
| {{sort|Munir|[[Kausar Munir]]}} for "Tu Jo Mila"
| {{nom}}
|-
! scope="row" rowspan="2"| [[Indian Television Academy Awards]]
| rowspan="2"| 6 September 2015
| Popular Director
| {{sort|Kabir|[[Kabir Khan (director)|Kabir Khan]]}}
| {{won}}
| style="text-align:center;" rowspan="2"| <ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.ndtv.com/entertainment/harshaali-malhotra-wins-an-award-for-bajrangi-bhaijaan-1215285 |title=Harshaali Malhotra Wins an Award For Bajrangi Bhaijaan |website=NDTV |date=8 September 2015 |access-date=14 July 2021}}</ref>
|-
| Best Child Artist
| {{sort|Malhotra|[[Harshaali Malhotra]]}}
| {{won}}
|-
! scope="row" rowspan="8"| [[International Indian Film Academy Awards]]
| rowspan="8"| [[17th IIFA Awards|26 June 2016]]
| [[IIFA Award for Best Film|Best Film]]
| ''Bajrangi Bhaijaan''
| {{won}}
| style="text-align:center;" rowspan="8"| <ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.bollywoodhungama.com/news/features/nominations-iifa-awards-2016/ |title=Nominations for IIFA Awards 2016 |website=Bollywood Hungama |date=28 May 2016 |access-date=14 July 2021}}</ref> <ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.news18.com/news/movies/iifa-awards-2016-the-complete-list-of-winners-1262131.html |title=IIFA Awards 2016: The Complete List of Winners |website=CNN-News18 |date=26 June 2016 |access-date=14 July 2021}}</ref>
|-
| [[IIFA Award for Best Director|Best Director]]
| {{sort|Kabir|[[Kabir Khan (director)|Kabir Khan]]}}
| {{nom}}
|-
| [[IIFA Award for Best Story|Best Story]]
| {{sort|Prasad|[[V. Vijayendra Prasad]]}}
| {{nom}}
|-
| [[IIFA Award for Best Screenplay|Best Screenplay]]
| {{sort|Prasad|[[V. Vijayendra Prasad]]}}, {{sort|Kabir|[[Kabir Khan (director)|Kabir Khan]]}}, {{sort|Shaikh|Parveez Shaikh}}
| {{won}}
|-
| [[IIFA Award for Best Actor|Best Actor]]
| {{sort|Salman|[[Salman Khan]]}}
| {{nom}}
|-
| [[IIFA Award for Best Supporting Actor|Best Supporting Actor]]
| rowspan="2"| {{sort|Siddiqui|[[Nawazuddin Siddiqui]]}}
| {{nom}}
|-
| [[IIFA Award for Best Performance in a Comic Role|Best Performance in a Comic Role]]
| {{nom}}
|-
| [[IIFA Award for Best Music Director|Best Music Director]]
| {{sort|Pritam|[[Pritam]]}}
| {{nom}}
|-
! scope="row" rowspan="2"| [[Mirchi Music Awards]]
| rowspan="2"| [[8th Mirchi Music Awards|29 February 2016]]
| [[Mirchi Music Award for Upcoming Male Vocalist of The Year|Upcoming Male Vocalist of The Year]]
| {{sort|Nautiyal|[[Jubin Nautiyal]]}} for "Zindagi Kuch Toh Bata (Reprise)"
| {{won}}
| style="text-align:center;" rowspan="2"| <ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.mirchimusicawards.com/hindi-2015/Nomination/ |title=Mirchi Music Awards 2015 Nominations |publisher=[[Mirchi Music Awards]] |access-date=14 July 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160330062839/http://www.mirchimusicawards.com/hindi-2015/Nomination/ |archive-date=30 March 2016}}</ref> <ref>{{cite web|url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/hindi/music/news/8th-Mirchi-Music-Awards-Complete-list-of-winners/articleshow/51196008.cms |title=8th Mirchi Music Awards: Complete list of winners |work=[[The Times of India]] |date=1 March 2016 |access-date=14 July 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160419213201/http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/hindi/music/news/8th-Mirchi-Music-Awards-Complete-list-of-winners/articleshow/51196008.cms |archive-date=19 April 2016 |url-status=dead }}</ref>
|-
| Best Song Producer (Programming & Arranging)
| {{sort|Phukan|[[Dhrubajyoti Phukan]]}}, {{sort|George|[[Nikhil Paul George]]}} {{sort|Mahanta|Roop Mahanta}}, {{sort|Sunny|[[Sunny M.R.]]}} for "Selfie Le Le Re"
| {{nom}}
|-
! scope="row"| [[National Film Awards]]
| [[63rd National Film Awards|3 May 2016]]
| [[National Film Award for Best Popular Film Providing Wholesome Entertainment|Best Popular Film Providing Wholesome Entertainment]]
| Producer: {{sort|Venkatesh|[[Rockline Venkatesh]]}} & {{sort|Salman|[[Salman Khan]]}} Director: {{sort|Kabir|[[Kabir Khan (director)|Kabir Khan]]}}
| {{won}}
| style="text-align:center;"| <ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.dff.nic.in/writereaddata/Winners_of_63rd_NFA_2015.pdf |title=63rd National Film Awards |publisher=[[Directorate of Film Festivals]] |access-date=14 July 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160407212456/http://dff.nic.in/writereaddata/Winners_of_63rd_NFA_2015.pdf |archive-date=7 April 2016 |url-status=dead}}</ref>
|-
! scope="row" rowspan="11"| [[Producers Guild Film Awards]]{{efn|Previously known as Apsara Film & Television Producers Guild Awards.}}
| rowspan="11"| 22 December 2015
| [[Producers Guild Film Award for Best Film|Best Film]]
| ''Bajrangi Bhaijaan''
| {{won}}
| style="text-align:center;" rowspan="11"| <ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.bollywoodhungama.com/news/features/nominations-for-11th-renault-sony-guild-awards/ |title=Nominations for 11th Renault Sony Guild Awards |website=Bollywood Hungama |date=21 December 2015 |access-date=14 July 2021}}</ref> <ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.bollywoodhungama.com/news/features/winners-of-11th-renault-sony-guild-awards/ |title=Winners of 11th Renault Sony Guild Awards |website=Bollywood Hungama |date=23 December 2015 |access-date=14 July 2021}}</ref> <ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.koimoi.com/bollywood-popular/bajirao-mastani-bajrangi-bhaijaan-win-big-at-star-guild-awards-complete-winners-list-out/ |title=Bajirao Mastani & Bajrangi Bhaijaan Win Big At Star Guild Awards, Complete Winners List Out! |website=[[Koimoi]] |date=24 December 2015 |access-date=14 July 2021}}</ref>
|-
| [[Producers Guild Film Award for Best Director|Best Director]]
| rowspan="2"| {{sort|Kabir|[[Kabir Khan (director)|Kabir Khan]]}}
| {{nom}}
|-
| Best Dialogue
| {{nom}}
|-
| Best Story
| {{sort|Prasad|[[V. Vijayendra Prasad]]}}
| {{won}}
|-
| Best Screenplay
| {{sort|Prasad|[[V. Vijayendra Prasad]]}}, {{sort|Kabir|[[Kabir Khan (director)|Kabir Khan]]}}, {{sort|Shaikh|Parveez Shaikh}}
| {{won}}
|-
| [[Producers Guild Film Award for Best Actor in a Leading Role|Best Actor in a Leading Role]]
| {{sort|Salman|[[Salman Khan]]}}
| {{nom}}
|-
| [[Producers Guild Film Award for Best Actor in a Supporting Role|Best Actor in a Supporting Role]]
| rowspan="2"| {{sort|Siddiqui|[[Nawazuddin Siddiqui]]}}
| {{won}}
|-
| [[Producers Guild Film Award for Best Actor in a Comic Role|Best Actor in a Comic Role]]
| {{nom}}
|-
| [[Producers Guild Film Award for Best Female Debut|Best Female Debut]]
| rowspan="2"| {{sort|Malhotra|[[Harshaali Malhotra]]}}
| {{nom}}
|-
| Best Child Actor
| {{won}}
|-
| [[Producers Guild Film Award for Best Music Director|Best Music Director]]
| {{sort|Pritam|[[Pritam]]}}
| {{nom}}
|-
! scope="row" rowspan="5"| [[Screen Awards]]
| rowspan="5"| [[22nd Screen Awards|8 January 2016]]
| [[Screen Award for Best Film|Best Film]]
| ''Bajrangi Bhaijaan''
| {{won}}
| style="text-align:center;" rowspan="5"| <ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.bollywoodhungama.com/news/features/winners-of-22nd-annual-star-screen-awards-2015/ |title=Winners of 22nd Annual Star Screen Awards 2015 |website=Bollywood Hungama |date=8 January 2016 |access-date=14 July 2021}}</ref>
|-
| [[Screen Award for Best Director|Best Director]]
| {{sort|Kabir|[[Kabir Khan (director)|Kabir Khan]]}}
| {{won}}
|-
| [[Screen Award for Best Story|Best Story]]
| {{sort|Prasad|[[V. Vijayendra Prasad]]}}
| {{won}}
|-
| [[Screen Award for Best Child Artist|Best Child Artist]]
| {{sort|Malhotra|[[Harshaali Malhotra]]}}
| {{won}}
|-
| [[Screen Award for Best Background Music|Best Background Music]]
| {{sort|Packiam|[[Julius Packiam]]}}
| {{won}}
|-
! scope="row" rowspan="12"| [[Stardust Awards]]
| rowspan="12"| 21 December 2015
| [[Stardust Award for Best Film of the Year|Best Film of the Year]]
| ''Bajrangi Bhaijaan''
| {{won}}
| style="text-align:center;" rowspan="12"| <ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.bollywoodhungama.com/news/features/nominations-for-stardust-awards-2015/ |title=Nominations for Stardust Awards 2015 |website=Bollywood Hungama |date=15 December 2015 |access-date=14 July 2021}}</ref> <ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.ndtv.com/entertainment/stardust-awards-2016-complete-list-of-winners-1257753 |title=Stardust Awards 2016: Complete List of Winners |website=NDTV |date=22 December 2015 |access-date=14 July 2021}}</ref>
|-
| [[Stardust Award for Best Director of the Year|Best Director of the Year]]
| {{sort|Kabir|[[Kabir Khan (director)|Kabir Khan]]}}
| {{won}}
|-
| Best Story
| {{sort|Prasad|[[V. Vijayendra Prasad]]}}
| {{nom}}
|-
| Best Screenplay
| {{sort|Prasad|[[V. Vijayendra Prasad]]}}, {{sort|Kabir|[[Kabir Khan (director)|Kabir Khan]]}}, {{sort|Shaikh|Parveez Shaikh}}
| {{nom}}
|-
| [[Stardust Award for Actor of the Year – Male|Best Actor of the Year – Male]]
| {{sort|Salman|[[Salman Khan]]}}
| {{nom}}
|-
| [[Stardust Award for Actor of the Year – Female|Best Actor of the Year – Female]]
| {{sort|Kapoor|[[Kareena Kapoor]]}}
| {{nom}}
|-
| [[Stardust Award for Best Supporting Actor|Best Supporting Actor]]
| {{sort|Siddiqui|[[Nawazuddin Siddiqui]]}}
| {{nom}}
|-
| Breakthrough Performance by a Child Artiste
| {{sort|Malhotra|[[Harshaali Malhotra]]}}
| {{won}}
|-
| Best Music Director
| {{sort|Pritam|[[Pritam]]}}
| {{nom}}
|-
| Best Lyricist
| {{sort|Munir|[[Kausar Munir]]}} for "Tu Jo Mila"
| {{nom}}
|-
| Best Playback Singer (Male)
| {{sort|Sami|[[Adnan Sami]]}} for "Bhar Do Jholi Meri"
| {{nom}}
|-
| Best Music Album
| ''Bajrangi Bhaijaan'' – [[T-Series (company)|T-Series]]
| {{nom}}
|-
! scope="row" rowspan="4"| [[Times of India Film Awards]]
| rowspan="4"| 18 March 2016
| Best Film
| ''Bajrangi Bhaijaan''
| {{won}}
| style="text-align:center;" rowspan="4"| <ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.ibtimes.co.in/toifa-awards-2016-parineeti-chopra-riteish-deshmukh-host-event-srk-varun-dhawan-perform-list-670113 |title=TOIFA Awards 2016: Parineeti Chopra-Riteish Deshmukh to host event, SRK, Varun Dhawan to perform; list of nominees |website=International Business Times |date=10 March 2016 |access-date=14 July 2021}}</ref> <ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.bollywoodhungama.com/news/features/winners-of-times-of-india-film-awards-2016-toifa/ |title=Winners of Times Of India Film Awards 2016 (TOIFA) |website=Bollywood Hungama |date=19 March 2016 |access-date=14 July 2021}}</ref>
|-
| Best Director
| {{sort|Kabir|[[Kabir Khan (director)|Kabir Khan]]}}
| {{nom}}
|-
| Best Actor
| {{sort|Salman|[[Salman Khan]]}}
| {{nom}}
|-
| Best Supporting Actor
| {{sort|Siddiqui|[[Nawazuddin Siddiqui]]}}
| {{nom}}
|-
! scope="row" rowspan="7"| [[Zee Cine Awards]]
| rowspan="7"| 20 February 2016
| [[Zee Cine Award for Best Film|Best Film]]
| ''Bajrangi Bhaijaan''
| {{won}}
|style="text-align:center;" rowspan="7"| <ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.dnaindia.com/entertainment/report-zee-cine-awards-2016-here-are-the-nominations-for-the-jury-awards-2178867 |title=Zee Cine Awards 2016: Here are the nominations for the jury awards |work=Daily News and Analysis |date=18 February 2016 |access-date=14 July 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160522181239/http://www.dnaindia.com/entertainment/report-zee-cine-awards-2016-here-are-the-nominations-for-the-jury-awards-2178867 |archive-date=22 May 2016}}</ref> <ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.zeecineawards.com/voting/ |title=Zee Cine Award Nominations |publisher=[[Zee Entertainment Enterprises]] |access-date=14 July 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160208060742/http://www.zeecineawards.com/voting/ |archive-date=8 February 2016}}</ref> <ref>{{cite web|url=http://movies.ndtv.com/bollywood/zee-cine-awards-complete-list-of-winners-1279607 |title=Zee Cine Awards: Complete List of Winners |publisher=[[NDTV]] |author=Prashar, Chandni |date=21 February 2016 |access-date=14 July 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160302151730/http://movies.ndtv.com/bollywood/zee-cine-awards-complete-list-of-winners-1279607 |archive-date=2 March 2016}}</ref>
|-
| [[Zee Cine Award for Best Actor – Male|Best Actor – Male]]
| {{sort|Salman|[[Salman Khan]]}}
| {{won}}
|-
| [[Zee Cine Award for Best Actor in a Supporting Role – Male|Best Actor in a Supporting Role – Male]]
| rowspan="2"| {{sort|Siddiqui|[[Nawazuddin Siddiqui]]}}
| {{nom}}
|-
| [[Zee Cine Award for Best Actor in a Comic Role|Best Actor in a Comic Role]]
| {{won}}
|-
| [[Zee Cine Award for Best Female Debut|Best Female Debut]]
| {{sort|Malhotra|[[Harshaali Malhotra]]}}
| {{won}}
|-
| [[Zee Cine Award for Best Cinematography|Best Cinematography]]
| {{sort|Mishra|[[Aseem Mishra]]}}
| {{nom}}
|-
| [[Zee Cine Award for Best Track of the Year|Best Track of the Year]]
| "Selfie Le Le Re"
| {{nom}}
|-
|}

== Sequel ==
In December 2021, Khan confirmed that the sequel of the movie was in scripting stage, and {{sort|Prasad|[[V. Vijayendra Prasad]]}} is writing the script. Later that month, Khan confirmed that the movie has been titled as ''Pawan Putra Bhaijaan''.
Khan also officially announced the same on 19 December 2021 on The Grand RRR pre-release event.<ref>{{cite news |title=Salman Khan announces Bajrangi Bhaijaan 2, calls Ram Charan 'most hardworking' actor |url=https://indianexpress.com/article/entertainment/bollywood/salman-khan-announces-bajrangi-bhaijaan-2-at-rrr-fan-event-ram-charan-jr-ntr-7681052/ |access-date=24 April 2022 |work=The Indian Express |date=20 December 2021 |language=en}}</ref>

== See also ==
* [[Bollywood 100 Crore Club]]
* [[List of highest-grossing Bollywood films]]
* [[List of Bollywood highest-grossing films in overseas markets]]

== Notes ==
{{Notelist}}

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

== External links ==
* {{IMDb title}}
* {{Rotten Tomatoes}}
* {{Mojo movie}}
* {{Bollywood Hungama movie|bajrangi-bhaijaan}}

{{National Film Award Wholesome Entertainment}}
{{Kabir Khan}}

[[Category:2015 films]]
[[Category:2010s Hindi-language films]]
[[Category:2010s drama road movies]]
[[Category:India–Pakistan relations in popular culture]]
[[Category:Films set in Pakistan]]
[[Category:Films shot in Delhi]]
[[Category:Films shot in Rajasthan]]
[[Category:Films shot in Jammu and Kashmir]]
[[Category:Films featuring songs by Pritam]]
[[Category:Indian comedy-drama films]]
[[Category:Indian adventure drama films]]
[[Category:Films set in Delhi]]
[[Category:Best Popular Film Providing Wholesome Entertainment National Film Award winners]]
[[Category:Films shot in Mandawa]]
[[Category:Indian drama road movies]]
[[Category:Films produced by Salman Khan]]
[[Category:Indian musical comedy-drama films]]
[[Category:Military of Pakistan in films]]
[[Category:Films directed by Kabir Khan]]
[[Category:2015 drama films]]
[[Category:Rockline Entertainments films]]