Ramesh Sippy's Seven-Decade Love Affair with Cinema
At just seven years old, Ramesh Sippy visited a film set for the first time, watched his father direct, and fell irrevocably in love with the world of movies. Seventy-two years later, the legendary filmmaker is preparing to weave more cinematic magic with a potential sequel to the iconic television series "Buniyaad," continuing the epic Partition story that originally aired on Doordarshan in 1986 and continues to resonate deeply with audiences.
The Early Spark and Family Foundation
The son of renowned producer-director G.P. Sippy and the mastermind behind blockbuster films like "Sholay," "Seeta Aur Geeta," and "Shaan," Sippy revealed that the filmmaking bug bit him early. He knew immediately that he wanted to dedicate his life to cinema.
"Since the age of seven, when I first went on the sets of a film called 'Saza,' which was my father's first film, I was completely lost in that world. It wasn't like a sudden fever at that time, but the passion built up steadily over the years," Sippy shared in an interview with PTI.
"That young boy wanted only one thing: to make films," he added, recalling how he left college in London midway to work on his father's film sets. "I learned everything on the sets of all the films that my father backed and produced. Ultimately, I took my first step towards directing with 'Andaz,' and he backed me completely."
Released in 1971, "Andaz" starred Shammi Kapoor and Hema Malini and became a commercial success. The film's story was written by the legendary screenwriting duo Salim Khan and Javed Akhtar, who would go on to form a historic collaboration with Sippy in the coming years.
The Monumental Legacy of Sholay
Any conversation with Ramesh Sippy inevitably turns to "Sholay," the iconic film that released just four years after "Andaz." Featuring an ensemble cast including Dharmendra, Amitabh Bachchan, Hema Malini, Sanjeev Kumar, Amjad Khan, and Jaya Bachchan, the Salim-Javed written masterpiece celebrated its 50th anniversary last year and remains one of the most celebrated Hindi films of all time.
"Since it's there in everybody's blood, I'm also a part of it as a whole. All cinema-loving people are with me, that's the way I feel, and I'm very happy about it. To make 'Sholay,' I had to be completely satisfied with the script, which we developed together. We assembled a wonderful cast that made a tremendous difference. So I guess it worked out fine," said Sippy, who recently received a lifetime achievement award at the International Film Festival Delhi.
Sippy noted that everyone has their own personal interpretation of "Sholay," which makes it particularly challenging for him to describe the film. "They all like it, love the film, and continue to enjoy it. But everyone has their own little take on it. I think it's everyone's film, and everyone has a right to that. I made the film for the people, so it's really up to them to enjoy it the way they want."
He revealed that there are as many stories about "Sholay" as there are characters in the movie—some true, some popular but unrelated to reality. When asked how he convinced his father to finance the film, which was made at a substantial cost of Rs 3 crore at the time, Sippy said, "I'll tell you something about my father. He didn't bat an eyelid. To him, the budget wasn't important."
A restored version of "Sholay" was re-released in theaters last year, though the grand celebration the team had planned couldn't proceed due to the passing of veteran star Dharmendra in November. "We didn't have any celebrations because he passed away. But yes, it would have been very nice. I guess time takes its toll, and health did not permit him," Sippy reflected.
Buniyaad: The Television Landmark
Ramesh Sippy is remembered almost as much for his Doordarshan hit "Buniyaad" as for his cinematic achievements. "'Buniyaad' was the first big event on DD. The DD team wanted to do something significant, and they approached my father, who conveyed it to me. There was already 'Hum Log' on DD. So we met writer Manohar Sharma Joshi. There was an immediate rapport, and we were able to sit down and create something that became 'Buniyaad,'" Sippy explained.
Discussing a possible sequel to the epic saga, which starred Alok Nath, Sippy's now-wife Kiran Juneja, Anita Kanwar, and Kanwaljeet among others, the director expressed optimism. "I'm sure it will happen. The right thing will happen at the right time. So, anytime they give the nod, we'll come up with something."
Personal Projects and Family Legacy
The 79-year-old filmmaker, who was born in Karachi and moved to Mumbai at age three, is currently writing his memoir, with substantial work already completed. Additionally, his wife, actor Kiran Juneja, is working on a documentary about his life and career.
"The documentary focuses on me and my career. I'm sure it will capture a lot of my professional life and maybe a little bit of my private life, but not too much. I don't like to talk about personal things, so I'll keep that to a minimum. But yes, it will cover my career, my life, the incidents, and capture important moments," Sippy said.
The family legacy continues with his son, director Rohan Sippy, and grandson Zahan Kapoor, who is also the grandson of Shashi Kapoor, combining the Sippy-Kapoor cinematic heritage. "I think Zahan is a lovely boy with a bright future. His heart is in it, he's a fine actor, and he carries the Kapoor legacy with him. So, I think the legacy is all there," Sippy concluded with pride.
