Sholay to Be Honored at Toronto International Film Festival Alongside Spielberg’s Jaws, Confirms Javed Akhtar

Ziya Khan August 12, 2025Last Updated: August 12, 2025

Two cinematic legends from different corners of the world are set to be honored at the Toronto International Film Festival this September. One is Steven Spielberg’s iconic horror-drama Jaws, the gripping story of a shark terrorizing a coastal town. The other is India’s beloved classic Sholay, featuring the menacing villain Gabbar Singh, who instills fear in a rural village.

The moment the news came, it turned viral on the social media like a wildfire in a forest, check the tweet on the same as under:<

Indian cinematic epic ‘Sholay’ (1975), directed by Ramesh Sippy, celebrates 50 years with the North American Premiere of the restored version at the 50th edition of the TIFF Toronto International Film Festival! pic.twitter.com/isd1l9d1Mp

— Film Heritage Foundation (@FHF_Official) August 8, 2025

Javed Akhtar, who co-wrote Sholay alongside Salim Khan, confirmed the exciting news. He said, “You have discovered quite an interesting point of similarity between the two films—the shark and Gabbar. Indeed, Sholay will join Spielberg’s Jaws at the Toronto Film Festival next month to be honored on their 50th anniversaries. Both films are iconic, and I am proud to be associated with one of them. By the way, my wife, Shabana Azmi, worked with Steven Spielberg last year on the series Halo. ”Sholay was originally released on August 14, 1975, while Jaws premiered worldwide on June 20, 1975.

Both films were massive box office successes and are widely regarded as some of the most influential movies in film history. Their enduring legacies continue to inspire filmmakers and audiences alike. The upcoming tribute at Toronto International Film Festival celebrates five decades of storytelling brilliance, marking a significant milestone for these two cinematic masterpieces. Stay tuned to know more about the film only with us and if you have anything to share, do comment below and share your thoughts.