4 days ago
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Upset by the B-grade tag on his film investments, he called his son back from London and ended up creating the biggest blockbuster of the 1970s
The Unexpected Turn to Films
The B-Grade Tag and a Father's Disappointment
You Might Also Like:
Dharmendra claims Amitabh Bachchan was not first choice for 'Sholay', another iconic action-hero was slated to play Jai
A Son Called Back from London
— FilmHistoryPic (@FilmHistoryPic)
The Sholay Storm
In 1947, Gopaldas Parmanand Sipahimalani, better known as GP Sippy , wasn't just a wealthy man—he was a patriarch of a prosperous Sindhi family in Karachi , owners of a grand mansion and a thriving business. But the Partition of India turned privilege into peril. The Sipahimalanis were forced to flee overnight, leaving behind everything they owned, including their palatial thousands of refugees pouring into Bombay with broken dreams and empty hands, Sippy arrived in the city with a new identity and a battered spirit. Though his family had some property and resources in India, the trauma of displacement cast a long shadow over his GP Sippy became a name etched into Bollywood history , he tried everything—selling carpets, launching a restaurant—only to face repeated failure. It was only when he stumbled upon an incomplete house in Colaba and saw its resale potential that destiny began to shift. Real estate turned out to be his breakthrough. Building after building, his construction business to a 2007 New York Times profile, Sippy's ventures in property not only secured his footing in post-Partition Bombay but also opened doors to the city's elite, many of whom nudged him toward a glamorous but risky venture—film first film Sazaa released in 1951. It featured Dev Anand and Nimmi and was moderately successful. But subsequent investments didn't match expectations. Despite his growing passion, he found himself branded as a 'B-grade' producer. Disheartened by lackluster returns and unsatisfied with the direction of his cinematic journey, Sippy made a decision that would rewrite not just his destiny, but that of Indian cinema Ramesh Sippy was studying at the London School of Economics when he got the call. His father wanted him back—not in business suits, but in film sets. With youthful energy and fresh perspective, Ramesh took charge. Under his stewardship, the Sippy banner delivered hits like Andaz (1971) and Seeta Aur Geeta (1972). Still, the game-changer was yet to 1975, Sholay hit theatres—and nothing was ever the same again. Made with an unprecedented budget of Rs 3 crore, the film was an ambitious bet. Starring Amitabh Bachchan, Dharmendra, Sanjeev Kumar, Hema Malini, and introducing Amjad Khan as Gabbar Singh, Sholay was an explosive blend of action, emotion, and by Salim-Javed and directed by Ramesh Sippy, the film initially had a lukewarm start. But word-of-mouth turned it into a cinematic phenomenon. It ran in theatres for five years, reshaped Bollywood storytelling, and made GP Sippy the most powerful producer in the country.
