“Thank you for giving us such a warm reception. It’s very kind of you. This doesn’t usually happen to writers, you know,” Javed Akhtar said at the special screening of a vintage Cinemascope print of Sholay, preserved by the Film Heritage Foundation (FHF). Salim Khan, who co-wrote the classic with Akhtar, was also present at the screening held on Saturday. Videos from the event show numerous fans standing in a long queue outside Mumbai’s Regal Cinema, eagerly awaiting the chance to rewatch the iconic film.
According to FHF’s official Instagram page, 1,100 people filled the seats of the theatre to watch Sholay. The foundation also shared a video showcasing the crowd lined up outside the cinema, and captioned it, “Epic response for FHF’s Sholay screening today with cinephiles queuing up from 2:30 pm to catch this very rare screening of Sholay being projected on celluloid!! There will always be a special place for film.”
Another post featured Javed Akhtar’s daughter, Zoya Akhtar, addressing the crowd on the occasion. Producer Siddharth Roy Kapur was also seen greeting Javed Akhtar and Salim Khan at the screening. During the event, Javed showcased his trademark wit, saying, “Salim Saab, badi lambi line hai, iska matlab apni film hit hai (There’s a long queue, which means our film is a hit).” The writer also expressed his gratitude to Film Heritage Foundation’s Shivendra Singh for preserving and restoring Sholay and other cinematic classics.
Reflecting on Sholay’s journey, Javed shared, “We had no idea it was going to be a hit. When we started writing, we didn’t know the film would have such a big cast. But as the screenplay developed, it dawned on us that we could include many stars. It wasn’t initially planned to be a multi-starrer—perhaps that’s the beauty of it.”
About Sholay
Directed by Ramesh Sippy, Sholay remains one of the most celebrated films in Bollywood history. In the documentary Angry Young Men, based on the partnership between Javed Akhtar and Salim Khan, the writers revealed that Sholay was initially declared a flop. However, Salim and Javed were confident in its potential and reassured actor Amitabh Bachchan not to worry. The film picked up momentum after Monday and went on to become one of the most iconic films in Hindi cinema. Sholay also starred Sanjeev Kumar, Amjad Khan, Dharmendra, Hema Malini, and Jaya Bachchan in pivotal roles.
About Angry Young Men Docu-Series
Produced by Salman Khan Films, Excel Media & Entertainment, and Tiger Baby, Angry Young Men is a three-part docuseries that revisits the personal and professional journey of Salim-Javed.
Executive-produced by Salma Khan, Salman Khan, Ritesh Sidhwani, Farhan Akhtar, Zoya Akhtar, and Reema Kagti, the series offers a fresh perspective on the duo’s contributions to Hindi cinema and is a must-watch.
(Also read: Farah Khan REJECTED Rs 10 Cr Offer To Cast Producer’s Son In Shah Rukh Khan’s Happy New Year – Here’s Why!)
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