The 56th International Film Festival of India (IFFI) will conclude on a reflective note this week as organisers prepare a special homage to Dharmendra, following the veteran actor’s passing on Monday in Mumbai at the age of 89. His death has resonated deeply across the festival, prompting immediate tributes and shaping the remaining schedule.
According to NFDC Managing Director Prakash Magdum, a minute’s silence was observed at the Film Bazaar’s closing ceremony soon after the news broke. IFFI will now extend its tribute with a dedicated segment during the festival’s final ceremony, honouring Dharmendra’s towering influence on Indian cinema and the generations of artists and audiences he inspired.
A scheduled screening of the 4K restored version of Sholay on November 26 has been cancelled due to technical issues. However, IFFI will proceed with its planned session, 50 Years of Sholay: Why ‘Sholay’ Still Resonates?, featuring director Ramesh Sippy on November 27. The conversation is expected to revisit the film’s enduring legacy, one that Dharmendra played a central role in shaping.
One of this year’s major attractions at the festival has taken on added emotional weight. The iconic motorcycle from Sholay has been on display at the INOX theatre in Panjim since the festival opened. Initially showcased to mark the film’s 50th anniversary, the exhibit has organically evolved into a heartfelt tribute. Visitors have been stopping to revisit memories of the legendary Yeh Dosti sequence, in which Dharmendra and Amitabh Bachchan shared the now-famous ride on the BSA WM20.
The display notes that the bike was used in the film’s five-minute song, which took an astonishing 21 days to shoot, underscoring the craftsmanship and scale that defined Sholay.
As the festival prepares to close, Dharmendra’s presence looms large, his legacy woven through conversations, exhibits, and the collective memory of attendees. The final ceremony is set to honour not just an actor, but a cinematic institution whose influence remains unmatched.