Mumbai: Veteran Bollywood actress Hema Malini has expressed heartfelt gratitude to audiences as Ramesh Sippy’s legendary classic Sholay completed 50 years since its release.
On Friday, the actress—forever cherished as “Basanti” from the film—shared a video on Instagram, writing:
“Sabhi ko Basanti ka Ram Ram. ‘Sholay’ has completed 50 years. Here are my wishes for the team and my gratitude to the audience and my fans for all their blessings and unconditional love.”
In the video, Hema Malini said:
*”Namaste, Basanti here. The iconic Hindi film Sholay has completed 50 years of its run in different parts of the world. There are very few Indian films that have matched or surpassed this record. I am fortunate to have contributed to the film’s stupendous success in a pivotal role as Basanti. The character had such an impact on audiences that ‘Basanti’ became my second name in real life.
I congratulate my co-artists—Veeru, Jai, Radha, Thakur, Gabbar Singh—and many others, along with the production team, including director Ramesh Sippy ji, Salim Saheb, Javed Saheb, the late R.D. Burman ji, and all members of the technical crew. Sholay would be incomplete without each person’s contribution. The film continues to create history even after five decades.
I thank the audience for giving the film so much love. I am overwhelmed with nostalgia and gratitude to still be remembered as Basanti today. On this 15th of August 2025, marking 50 years of Sholay, I feel proud to have been part of this cinematic milestone. I celebrate this event with the Hindi film industry and my fans. ‘Chal Dhanno’—let’s ride into the next 50 years.”*
Recently, the Film Heritage Foundation announced that the restored version of Sholay will have its North American premiere at the 50th Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) on September 6. The gala screening will be held at Toronto’s prestigious 1,800-seater Roy Thomson Hall.
The foundation shared the news on Instagram with the caption:
“Indian cinematic epic Sholay (1975), directed by Ramesh Sippy, celebrates 50 years with the North American premiere of its restored version at the 50th edition of the TIFF Toronto International Film Festival! This special screening will take place on September 6, 2025, at a gala event at the 1,800-seater Roy Thomson Hall, befitting the legendary status of the film.”
Regarded as one of the greatest films in Indian cinema, Sholay featured an iconic ensemble cast—Amitabh Bachchan, Dharmendra, Sanjeev Kumar, Hema Malini, Jaya Bachchan, and Amjad Khan, among others.
Released on August 15, 1975, the film became a cult favourite for its gripping story, unforgettable characters, timeless dialogues, and evergreen songs such as Yeh Dosti, Mehbooba Mehbooba, Haa Jab Tak Hai Jaan, and Holi Ke Din.
The story unfolds in the fictional village of Ramgarh, where retired police chief Thakur Baldev Singh (Sanjeev Kumar) enlists the help of Jai (Amitabh Bachchan) and Veeru (Dharmendra) to capture the dreaded bandit Gabbar Singh (Amjad Khan). As they arrive in Ramgarh, the duo witnesses Gabbar’s reign of terror and commits themselves to helping Thakur. Hema Malini and Jaya Bachchan play the love interests of Veeru and Jai—Basanti and Radha—adding heart and charm to this legendary tale.
