Ramesh Sippy

Ramesh Sippy Biography

If someone asks which is the most popular Indian movie ever made, no doubt the only answer will be ‘Sholay’ and its full credits go to its director Ramesh Sippi. Though the movie didn’t win many awards announced in Filmfare 1976, this movie was a block buster. If inflation figures are adjusted, no movie will reach the total box office collection of Sholay  - the movie itself was a record of running successively for 8 years in theatres.

Ramesh Sippi belongs to a filmy family. His father was a notable producer who has produced a string of superhits of many decades including Seetha aur geetha, Sholay and Saagar. Film was in the blood of Ramesh Sippi, he inherited it from his parents; gave it to his son Rohan Sippi too, who has directed a few films of new millennium. From his early childhood, Ramesh used to visit his father in film sets and very soon, he joined him as assistant director. Mere Sanam and Johar Mehmood in Goa were among those movies where Ramesh Sippi assisted his father from back ground.

As a director, Andaaz of 1971 was the first movie of Ramesh Sippi. This movie is remembered most for the song ‘Zindagi ek safar’ pictured on Rajesh Khanna and hema Malini. In this movie, Rajesh Khanna appeared as guest. This movie is known to be the last successful movie of Shammi Kapoor as hero. In his next movie, he casted Hema Malini and Rajesh Khanna again, along with Sanjeev Kumar. This movie proved to be the milestone movie of Hema Malini’s career, helped her in winning many awards too. This movie was a huge hit. The real surprise was yet to come. It was in 1975, Ramesh Sippi directed Sholay – a historical movie of Bollywood most memorable for villain’s role performed by Amjath Khan, Thakur’s role performed by Sanjeev Kumar, the friendship between Jai and Veeru and above all the fresh action sequences and powerful dialogues. This movie is still a mystery where two real life couples were paired – Big B and Jaya, Dharmendra and Hema Malini.  Sholay was produced by his father.

This movie established Ramesh Sippi as a leading director of Bollywood and very soon, he directed a few successful movies of Amitabh Bachchan – Shaan and Shakthi. He also directed the comeback movie of Dimple kapadia – Saagar. In 90’s his movies failed at box office and Zamana Deewana of 1995 was his last movie.  

Certain celebrities are remembered for a few contributions they have given. No doubt, his contribution in the name of Sholay will stay alive till the end of Bollywood.

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Updated: April 29, 2014