Now Reading: Amitabh recalls 2,000 Italians watching Sholay until 3am
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Amitabh recalls 2,000 Italians watching Sholay until 3am
Amitabh Bachchan has recalled that about 2,000 Italians watched a restored screening of Sholay from 11pm to 3am at an open-air square in Bologna. He shared the anecdote while hosting Dr Ganesh…
The Story in Brief
Amitabh Bachchan has recalled that about 2,000 Italians watched a restored screening of Sholay from 11pm to 3am at an open-air square in Bologna. He shared the anecdote while hosting Dr Ganesh Baraiya on Kaun Banega Crorepati Season 18. The restored print had its world premiere in Bologna on June 27, 2025, during events marking the film’s 50th anniversary.
Released in 1975, Sholay was directed by Ramesh Sippy and starred Bachchan, Dharmendra, Sanjeev Kumar, Hema Malini and Amjad Khan. The film was written by Salim Khan and Javed Akhtar, with music by R.D. Burman. Bachchan’s account was also reported by Telangana Today.
The Indian Opinion
The screening is a striking sign of Sholay’s reach, but it is still one reported event, not proof that Italian audiences broadly follow Hindi cinema. Claims that the film was either instantly accepted or initially dismissed also simplify its history, which included a strong word-of-mouth revival in India. The useful test is whether restored Indian classics attract repeat screenings and sustained ticket sales abroad.
Sources (2): timesofindia.indiatimes.com, telanganatoday.com
This story was synthesised by AI from the 2 sources linked above.
Updated: this story now draws on 2 sources.
