NEW DELHI: Ramesh Sippy’s love for cinema began at the age of seven, when he first visited a film set and watched his father, producer-director G. P. Sippy, at work. Seventy-two years later, the director of iconic films such as Sholay, Seeta Aur Geeta and Shaan is ready to continue the family legacy with a new project, revisiting the epic Partition saga first chronicled in the 1986 Doordarshan hit Buniyaad.
“I was lost in that world from the moment I went on the set of my father’s first film, Saza,” Sippy told PTI. “That young boy wanted only one thing: to make films.” His passion led him to leave college in London midway through his studies to work on his father’s sets, learning the craft on the job.
Sippy’s directorial debut came with Andaz in 1971, starring Shammi Kapoor and Hema Malini. Written by the legendary screenwriting duo Salim Khan and Javed Akhtar, the film was a hit and marked the beginning of many more successes.
Just four years later, Sippy directed Sholay, featuring Dharmendra, Amitabh Bachchan, Hema Malini, Sanjeev Kumar, Amjad Khan and Jaya Bachchan. Written by Salim-Javed, the film celebrated its 50th anniversary last year and remains one of the most cherished films in Hindi cinema.
“Sholay is in everybody’s blood, and I feel part of that,” Sippy said. “We had to be happy with the script we developed together, and the wonderful cast made a lot of difference. I think it worked out well.”
Acknowledging the enduring popularity of Sholay, Sippy said everyone has their own interpretation of the film, which he believes is a testament to its universal appeal. “I made the film for the people. It’s up to them to enjoy it the way they want.”
On financing Sholay, which was a Rs 3 crore venture at the time, Sippy said, “My father didn’t bat an eyelid. To him, the budget wasn’t important.” A restored version was re-released last year, though planned celebrations were muted following the passing of veteran actor Dharmendra.
Sippy praised contemporary filmmakers, noting the success of Aditya Dhar’s two-part saga Dhurandhar as a reminder of cinema’s evolving action and storytelling.
He also reflected on Buniyaad, the landmark television series that aired on Doordarshan. “The DD team approached my father, who conveyed it to me. We met writer Manohar Sharma Joshi and the rapport was immediate. That’s how Buniyaad came to be.” A sequel, he added, remains possible. “When the time is right, we’ll make it.”
Born in Karachi and relocated to Mumbai at the age of three, the 79-year-old director is currently writing his memoir. A documentary on his life and work is also being prepared by his wife, actor Kiran Juneja.
Carrying forward the Sippy legacy is his son, director Rohan Sippy, and grandson Zahan Kapoor, the latter also connected to the Kapoor family through Shashi Kapoor. “Zahan has a bright future. His heart is in it, and he’s a fine actor,” Sippy said. “The legacy is all there.”
(With inputs from PTI)