IFFI Cancels Sholay Screening, Plans Special Tribute For Dharmendra at Closing Ceremony
IFFI cancels the Sholay 4K screening but honors the late actor Dharmendra at the closing ceremony, featuring an iconic bike tribute.
The 56th International Film Festival of India (IFFI) will pay a special tribute to legendary actor Dharmendra during its closing ceremony this week, following the icon’s passing on Monday at age 89, organizers announced on Wednesday. A minute’s silence was observed at the Film Bazaar closing on Monday, and Festival Director Prakash Magdum confirmed a formal homage will be rendered at the main closing event. “We will be paying homage to the beloved legend during the festival’s closing ceremony,” Magdum told PTI. The veteran star, known as Bollywood’s original “He-Man,” leaves behind an unmatched legacy spanning over six decades and more than 300 films.
A planned open-air screening of Ramesh Sippy’s Sholay in its newly restored 4K version, scheduled for Tuesday evening, was cancelled, citing technical reasons. However, the iconic BSA motorcycle with sidecar used in the film’s immortal Yeh Dosti sequence—ridden by Dharmendra and Amitabh Bachchan—remains on prominent display in a glass enclosure at INOX Panjim, now serving as an impromptu memorial where visitors pause to remember the actors’ infectious energy and on-screen camaraderie.
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The motorcycle exhibit, originally installed to mark the 50th anniversary of Sholay, has taken on deeper significance since Dharmendra’s demise. “Visitors can’t help but recall the iconic song Yeh Dosti and his unforgettable presence when they see it,” Magdum noted. A special panel discussion titled “50 Years of Sholay: Why Sholay Still Resonates?” featuring director Ramesh Sippy will proceed as scheduled on November 27.
As IFFI 2025 draws to a close, the unplanned yet poignant tributes underscore Dharmendra’s enduring place in Indian cinema, transforming what was meant as a celebration of a landmark film into a heartfelt farewell to one of its brightest stars.
Also Read: Gautam Adani Pays Heartfelt Tribute to Dharmendra Following His Death At 89
