"The screening will feature Sholay: The Final Cut"
Sholay will be making its In Concert world premiere at London’s Royal Albert Hall on October 10, 2026.
The landmark screening will see G.P. Sippy’s 1975 action-adventure classic shown on a giant HD screen while The Royal Philharmonic Concert Orchestra performs R. D. Burman’s iconic score live.
The orchestra will be conducted by Melvin Tay as part of the Royal Albert Hall’s acclaimed Films in Concert series.
Produced by Sippy Films and esk, the screening will feature the film in Hindi with English subtitles.
Directed by Ramesh Sippy, Sholay follows petty criminals Jai (Amitabh Bachchan) and Veeru (Dharmendra).
The pair are recruited by retired police officer Thakur Baldev Singh (Sanjeev Kumar) to capture the feared bandit Gabbar Singh (Amjad Khan).
The mission is driven by Thakur’s desire to avenge the massacre of his family and protect the village of Ramgarh.
The event will showcase Sholay: The Final Cut, a recently restored 4K version of the film that includes its original ending, which was banned by India’s censor board upon the film’s release in 1975.
Shehzad Sippy, head of Sippy Films, said: “We are truly excited to partner with esk to bring Sholay to audiences in this novel format.
“We are also honoured for the film to make its Films in Concert world premiere at the prestigious Royal Albert Hall, with the musical score being performed by The Royal Philharmonic Concert Orchestra.
“The screening will feature Sholay: The Final Cut, the recently restored 4K version of the film with its original cut that had been banned by the Indian censor board in 1975.
“This version of the film will only be available theatrically for the next couple of years and we are excited for audiences to have a chance to experience this classic on the big screen.”
The screening arrives at a fitting moment, following the film’s 50th anniversary celebrations.
Matt Todd, Director of Programming at the Royal Albert Hall, said:
“Sholay is an undisputed Bollywood classic paired with an impeccable score, so to host its Films in Concert world premiere here at the Hall is incredibly exciting.
“This film has only grown in reverence over time, and, having just celebrated 50 years since its original release, it seems the perfect time for us to celebrate this brilliant story and soundtrack in the most impactful way possible with a live orchestra.”
The production marks the latest collaboration between entertainment company esk and the Royal Albert Hall, which have previously delivered several large-scale live cinema events.
Samuel Weatherstone, CEO and Co-founder of esk, added:
“Sholay is an iconic piece of cinema and we are thrilled to be working with Sippy Films to bring their restored 4K version of Sholay: The Final Cut to audiences in this immersive way for the first time.
“We are hugely proud of the work we have produced alongside our partners at the Royal Albert Hall, and this next production in their Films in Concert series is no exception.
“This prestigious venue provides the perfect backdrop for audiences to come to together to experience R. D. Burman’s score performed live and to share in the collective joy of this record-breaking film.”
Over the decades, Sholay has consistently been recognised among the greatest Indian films ever made.
The film was named “Film of the Millennium” by BBC India in 1999 and featured in the British Film Institute’s Top 10 Indian Films of All Time poll in 2002.
The announcement follows the success of RRR in Concert at the Royal Albert Hall in 2025.
The Royal Albert Hall’s Films in Concert programme continues to attract audiences with a mix of blockbuster titles and cult favourites.
Tickets for Sholay in Concert are available through the Royal Albert Hall from June 26.
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