The most remembered ending of the super-hit film ‘Sholay’, which released in 1975, is one in which Thakur Baldev Singh shoots Gabbar Singh. Director Ramesh Sippy revealed on screen that it was the CBFC which asked him to shift this climax and give him a less violent ending instead. In the final prints, Thakur instead of shooting Gabbar delivers him to the police authorities and the film was duly awarded “U” (universal), thereby making it show to all audiences.
But what if the film had a more bizarre twist? A recent edit circulating on social media imagines some bizarre possibilities. In this re-imagined version, instead of cutting off Gabbar’s arms, Thakur hugs him, while Basanti (Hema Malini) dances in front of actual dogs. Jai (Amitabh Bachchan) and Veeru (Dharmendra) are seen taking selfies on their scooter. This absurd change has been widely shared in a clip on X, courtesy of the Gabbar account, who, of course, people have humorously commented upon, among which include a guy who jokingly calls it “Deleted scenes of Sholay finally leaked” and another guy laughing at “the kuttas appearing in front of Basanti dancing.”
Watch:
Please cancel AI pic.twitter.com/NSIjXzBtSu
— Gabbar (@GabbbarSingh) December 19, 2024
Some fans even suggested that it should be called “SholAI.” In this version, Jaya Bachchan’s character is seen using a flame to light her cigarette, Thakur rips off his shirt and dances, and Jai engages in more antics, while Veeru remains unchanged.
At the 55th International Film Festival of India (IFFI), Sippy discussed AI’s influence on filmmaking, stating, “AI can never replace the human mind. It can only supplement creativity, and it’s essential to apply the mind to make the right decisions.”
*Sholay* is one of the greatest films India has ever produced, running for more than five years in theaters, including Mumbai’s Minerva. It has been digitally remastered twice-first in 2004 and then again in 2014 for a 3D release.
