Sholay director Ramesh Sippy pays heartfelt tribute to Dharmendra at IFFI Goa, says 'no one will be like him again'

At the ongoing IFFI‑2025, veteran filmmaker Ramesh Sippy paid an emotional tribute to his longtime friend, Dharmendra, calling him “one of the finest ever.” With visible emotion and deep respect, Sippy said there will be many good actors in the future, but “there will be no one like him again.”

Ramesh Sippy recalled their decades‑long friendship that stretched over fifty years until Dharmendra’s passing this week at the age of 89. Their bond, forged over years of collaboration and trust, made the loss even harder. “It’s been difficult talking about him… that place will never be filled by anybody else,” Sippy said.

At the same session, titled “50 Years of Sholay: Why Sholay Still Resonates,” Sippy also acknowledged Dharmendra’s immortal legacy as Veeru, the character that turned him into a superstar. With Sholay’s restored 4K version set to re‑release in theatres across India on December 12, 2025, Dharmendra’s contribution to Indian cinema has been spotlighted once again.

Sippy’s tribute was not just about an actor’s death; it was a celebration of a legend’s life, craft, and humanity. He remembered Dharmendra as “absolutely magnificent, both as a human being and as an actor.”