Did you know long before the Raanjhanaa AI edit controversy, Hema Malini was upset over the Sholay climax 50 years ago? |

Long before the recent uproar over the AI-edited climax of Raanjhanaa, Hema Malini was already vocal about her displeasure with a major change in the climax of the 1975 classic Sholay. Decades ago, the film’s original ending was altered without the director’s approval, sparking debates about creative control—issues that resonate strongly today amid fresh controversies in the film industry.

Ramesh Sippy explains the changed ending

Back in 2018, filmmaker Ramesh Sippy spoke about the changed ending of the 1975 film Sholay at the Pune International Film Festival. He said that originally, the villain Gabbar (played by Amjad Khan) was supposed to be killed by Thakur (Sanjeev Kumar), who would crush him under his feet. But the Censor Board didn’t like this ending and asked for it to be changed to reduce the violence. Although Ramesh Sippy was unhappy about it, he had no choice but to agree.

Hema Malini’s views on creative control

Hema reacted to the changes by saying there was much discussion around the film’s ending. She pointed out that in the final version, Thakur does not kill Gabbar; instead, the police take him away. The original ending was altered after the film’s release without the director’s approval, which she disagreed with. She believes that the director should have a say in such decisions since the creativity of the film comes from the director, even though the producer funds the project.

The Raanjhanaa AI edit controversy

In July this year, Eros International, the producers of Raanjhanaa, announced plans to re-release the film in South India with an AI-altered climax. This decision received mixed reactions and sparked a broader debate about the ethics of changing an artist’s work after its release—especially without the creator’s permission.In the original version, Dhanush’s character, Kundan, dies. He goes to Delhi to meet Zoya (played by Sonam Kapoor), the woman he loves, and takes part in a political rally for her, knowing there’s a risk to his life. In the final moments, Kundan dies but imagines his younger self walking through the familiar streets of Varanasi, ending the story on a poetic note. We also see Zoya finally understand how deeply Kundan loved her and the sacrifices he made for her.The AI-modified version removes the tragic ending. Instead of dying, Kundan wakes up on his deathbed and sees his friends—Bindiya (Swara) and Murari (Zeeshan)—smiling tearfully. The scenes of him walking through Varanasi and meeting his younger self are still there, but the film ends on a more hopeful note.