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'We still remember': Iran consulate pays glowing tribute to Sholay ahead of film's 50th anniversary

The Consulate highlighted Iran's enduring love for the film, noting its continued popularity and cultural impact. This enduring affection is rooted in a long history of cultural exchange between India and Iran, dating back to Raj Kapoor's films in the 1950s and extending to co-productions like 'Subah o Sham' and 'Salaam Mumbai'.

The Consulate pointed out that Sholay continues to have a massive fan following in Iran even to this day. In the post, a cutting from the Iranian newspaper which carried a story on the 50th release anniversary of Sholay was also shared.
The Consulate pointed out that Sholay continues to have a massive fan following in Iran even to this day. In the post, a cutting from the Iranian newspaper which carried a story on the 50th release anniversary of Sholay was also shared. Credit:(@IRANinMumbai/X)
| Updated on: Jul 17, 2025 | 10:27 AM
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New Delhi: The iconic Bollywood film Sholay was released on August 15, 1975, amid the Emergency. As the film turns 50, tributes for the Amitabh-Dharmendra-Sanjeev Kumar-Hema Malini-Jaya Bhaduri starrer are pouring in. And the latest to join is the Consulate General of Iran in Mumbai. On Tuesday, taking to X, the Consulate posted about an Iranian newspaper's full page coverage on the film's 50th anniversary. It said: "Sholay turns 50 and Iran still remembers."

The Consulate pointed out that Sholay continues to have a massive fan following in Iran even to this day. In the post, a cutting from the Iranian newspaper which carried a story on the 50th release anniversary of Sholay was also shared.

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The post read: "On #Sholay's 50th anniversary, #IranNewspaper dedicated a full-page tribute to the iconic film. With its unforgettable story of friendship, Sholay became a cornerstone of cinematic memory in #Iran; so much so that many Iranians still associate #Bollywood with this epic."

In a related post, the Consulate also pointed out that Iranian actor Navid Mamza played a villain in a film which was inspired by Amjad Khan’s popular character, Gabbar Singh. "Iranian actor @navidmamza once drew inspiration from #GabbarSingh, mimicking his iconic looks and menacing mannerisms for a villainous role."

A strong 'filmy' bond

Even as it is grappling with the aftermath of war, Iran's gesture towards India assumes a lot of significance. India and Iran have shared a strong cultural and bilateral bond since many years. A number of Bollywood personalities have travelled to Iran for film shoots, personal visits, and cultural exchange programmes.

Indian cinema has always been popular in Iran. Back in the 1950s, Raj Kapoor became a household name in the Islamic Republic after the release of Awara. Raj Kapoor also visited Iran for the premiere of his film Shree 420. His film Sangam also made waves in Tehran and drew appreciation from Iranian people and directors. There's a photograph of Kapoor with Iranian singing-acting sensations Googoosh and Mahvash while he was visiting Iran's Central Studio in 1954. The photo is displayed in Tehran's Cinema Museum. Iranian film scholar Hamid Reza Sadr has mentioned that 46 melodramas from India were screened in Iran in 1957 alone, according to Aspirantum.

It was in 1972 that the first Indo-Iranian film project was rolled out. The bilingual film was called Subah o Sham and Homaye Sa'adat in Persian. Waheeda Rehman, Sanjeev Kumar and the Iranian star Fardin featured in the film. In 2016, there was another co-production Salaam Mumbai, which featured Reza Golzar and Dia Mirza. It was directed by Ghorban Mohammadpour.

The craze for Indian films can be gauged from the fact that in a 2006 poll conducted by the Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting, Sholay was voted one of Iranians' favourite films.

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