Sholay was released in theatres on August 15, 1975. In the ending, audiences saw Thakur Baldev Singh stop short of killing Gabbar Singh aster a police officer intervened.
But that was not the original ending Ramesh Sippy had thought. In the original ending, Thakur kills Gabbar using the spikes on his shoes and takes revenge for killing his family.
The director changed the climax after the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) objected the extra violence in the original version. But, the deleted scenes were included in the restored version of the movie which re-released on movie’s 50th anniversary.
Here is what changed, why the censors intervened and how the restored version differs from the original Sholay.
Sholay’s Original Ending: Thakur Kills Gabbar
In the original climax of Sholay, Thakur finally confront Gabbar and kills him using his spiked shoes. As years ago, Gabbar cut both hands, Thakkur cannot use a gun. So, he uses the spikes as his weapon and ends personal vendetta.
This version was central to the movie’s revenge plot. Thakur had recruited Jai and Veeru o help him capture Gabbar, the dacoit responsible for destroying his life and murdering his family.
This ending gave Thakur the final act of vengeance himself rather than leaving Gabbar’s fate to the police.
Sippy discussed the discarded climax at the Pune International Film Festival in January 2018. As reported by The Indian Express, he recalled: “I had shot a different ending for Sholay, where Gabbar is killed by Thakur. But they (the Censor Board), didn’t allow that.”
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(Image Credit: Imdb)
Why Did The Censor Board Rejected The Original Ending Of Sholay
Sholay was released during the Emergency, which began in June 1975. The political circumstances made it difficult for the filmmakers to include high-degree violence scenes to mass auidences.
In an October 2025 interview with The Times of India, he recalled: “At that time, 1975, when the film was released, there was an Emergency on. So, it was not very easy to have a showdown with the information ministry or the censor board. Therefore, we had to accept the verdict.”
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Sholay’s Theatrical Ending: Police Stops Thakur Before The Final Blow
In the version released in theatres, Thakur is seen almost killing Gabbar but is stopped by the police before he can deliver the final blow. Instead of allowing Thakur to complete his revenge, the authorities resist Thakur to take law in his hands.
The disruption by the police is important because Thakur ia a former police office. If he kills Thakur, then he would cross the line between justice and personak vengeance.
Sholay’s Original Ending Returned in 2025
Sholay with its original ending came back in theatres on June 27, 2025 in 60 years in Il Cinema Ritrovato festival in Bologna, Italy. The Film Heritage Foundation in association with Sippy Films, did the restoration work at the L’Immagine Ritrovata laboratory.
The restored version is described by the Film Heritage Foundation as the closest surviving approximation of Sippy’s original vision before censorship changes.
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Ramesh Sippy accepted that the original ending would have provided the satisfaction of seeing Thakur finally taking his revenge. But then also, the movie managed to be associated with audience for half a century.
FAQs
Q1. What was the original ending of Sholay?
A1. In the original ending, Thakur kills Gabbar Singh using his spiked shoes.
Q2. Why was Sholay’s ending changed?
A2. The censor board objected to the violence and Thakur killing Gabbar, forcing director Ramesh Sippy to reshoot the climax.
Q3. What happens in Sholay’s original ending versus the theatrical version?
A3. Thakur kills Gabbar in the original ending, while in the theatrical version, the police intervene before he can deliver the final blow.