Megastar Amitabh Bachchan has revealed a remarkable chapter in the global journey of Sholay — the 1975 Hindi classic that continues to captivate audiences nearly five decades after its release. Speaking on a recent episode of Kaun Banega Crorepati Season 18, the 83-year-old actor recalled how 2,000 Italians gathered at an open-air square in Bologna, Italy, and watched a restored print of the film from 11 PM until 3 AM.

The Bologna Screening

The restored version of Sholay had its world premiere in Bologna on 27 June 2025, as part of celebrations marking the film's 50th anniversary. The screening took place at the city's historic central square — a vast open courtyard at the heart of the old town — and drew an audience that stayed through the early hours of the morning.

Bachchan, while hosting contestant Dr Ganesh Baraiya on the show's hot seat, credited film heritage conservationist Shivendra Singh for leading the restoration effort. In his own words, the actor said: 'Haal hi mein, unhone jab Sholay phirsey, uska nirdharan hua, acche print mai bangaye, to woh film heritage mein Shivendra Singh ji hain joh iska kaam kar rahein hain. Yeh le gaye isko Italy main, bhaisahab Bologna ek jagaah hai, sehar ka naam hain, waha ek bahut bada aangan hain. Jaise bade-bade sheharo main beech main shehar mein ek aangan hota hain na, waha par 2000 Italians, raat ke 11 baje se subha 3 baje tak Sholay dekha.'

About the Iconic 1975 Film

Sholay released on 15 August 1975 — exactly 50 years before this Independence Day. Directed by Ramesh Sippy and produced by G.P. Sippy, the film was written by celebrated duo Salim Khan and Javed Akhtar, credited collectively as Salim-Javed. Its music was composed by R.D. Burman with lyrics by Anand Bakshi.

The film starred Sanjeev Kumar as retired police officer Thakur Baldev Singh, Amitabh Bachchan as Jai, Dharmendra as Veeru, and Amjad Khan in the unforgettable role of dacoit Gabbar Singh. Hema Malini played the spirited Basanti, while Jaya Bhaduri portrayed the graceful widow Radha. A strong ensemble of supporting actors — including A.K. Hangal, Satyen Kappu, Mac Mohan, Jagdeep, Asrani, Viju Khote, Keshto Mukherjee, Helen, and Sachin Pilgaonkar — rounded out the cast.

From Near-Flop to Cult Classic

Notably, Sholay reportedly opened to near-empty theatres and was on the brink of being written off as a commercial failure. Word of mouth turned its fortunes around dramatically, and it went on to become one of Hindi cinema's longest-running theatrical releases, eventually attaining cult status. Its dialogues, characters, and songs — including Yeh Dosti Hum Nahin Todenge, Mehbooba Mehbooba, and Jab Tak Hai Jaan — became deeply embedded in Indian popular culture.

The film was shot extensively against the rocky landscapes of Ramanagara in Karnataka, blending action, drama, romance, comedy, and tragedy in a format that had rarely been attempted in Indian cinema at the time.

Legacy at 50

The Bologna premiere of the restored print marks a significant milestone in the film's global cultural footprint. That audiences in Italy stayed riveted through a four-hour Hindi-language screening well past midnight speaks to a cinematic legacy that transcends language and geography. With the restoration now in circulation, further international screenings are expected as part of the 50th anniversary commemorations.