Farhan Akhtar reveals Sholay’s original climax was changed during Emergency

Farhan recalled the backstage reactions, saying that the changed scene greatly irritated his father, Javed Akhtar, and his writing partner, Salim Khan.

The iconic Bollywood classic Sholay, starring Amitabh Bachchan, Dharmendra, Amjad Khan, and Hema Malini, will mark its 50th anniversary on August 15 this year, celebrating a monumental milestone for the evergreen film. Interestingly, the climax audiences know today—where Gabbar Singh is arrested by the police—was not the one that writers Salim Khan and Javed Akhtar had originally penned.

Actor Farhan Akhtar disclosed on Prakhar Gupta's podcast during the promotion of his next movie, Bahadur 120, that the original climax was changed because of pressure during the 1975 Emergency era.

Farhan claims that after losing his family and weapons to the infamous criminal, Sanjeev Kumar's character Thakur was initially intended to brutally exact revenge by killing Gabbar Singh with his bare feet.

“That was the emotional core of the film—Thakur plotting his revenge after his hands were cut off. We get lost in the Jai-Veeru friendship, but the real spine was the honest cop going after the dacoit who destroyed his life,” Farhan explained.

He continued by saying that the original version is now accessible and that the ending was altered because of the political atmosphere of the Emergency.

“That is actually when he cries—after crushing Gabbar with his own feet,” Farhan added.

Farhan recalled the backstage reactions, saying that the changed scene greatly irritated his father, Javed Akhtar, and his writing partner, Salim Khan.

Farhan said they felt the ending lost its meaning, but they ultimately had no choice but to accept it.

Also read: 50 Years of Sholay: Iconic characters of Amitabh Bachchan, Dharmendra and others reimagined

Directed by Ramesh Sippy and written by the legendary Salim–Javed duo, Sholay was released on August 15, 1975. Featuring a stellar cast including Amitabh Bachchan, Dharmendra, Hema Malini, Sanjeev Kumar, Amjad Khan, and Jaya Bachchan, the film didn’t just define careers—it transformed the landscape of Indian cinema, going on to become one of its most celebrated and enduring masterpieces.