Shehzad Sippy plans to revive classic film IPs by developing sequels, spin-offs and fresh stories based on iconic Sippy Films characters. An animation series and new franchise projects are also in the works
Ramesh Sippy and Shehzad Sippy
Seeta Aur Geeta (1972), Sholay (1975), Shaan (1980), and Shakti (1982) have given us not only powerful stories, but also iconic characters to cherish. Now, decades later, the characters are set to return. Shehzad Sippy, the nephew of filmmaker Ramesh Sippy, has taken charge of Sippy Films to mark a new run, which will use the banner’s Intellectual Property (IP) — its popular characters — to bring fresh stories to the screen.
Speaking to mid-day from the US, Shehzad revealed that he has been working on the plan for the past decade. “The idea came to me when I [attended] a chat by Peter Cuneo, who spoke about how he had taken Marvel from bankruptcy all the way to its sale to Disney. He mentioned how they had a great asset in all the characters. So, I thought of building on the Sippy films’ characters, in the form of new films, animation series, games, and merchandise,” he shared.
The first step was to seek permission from his family, especially his uncle. How did the filmmaker react to the idea? “He was supportive. We’re building on his movies and characters. So, it was important for me that he’d be a part of the process.”
‘Sholay’, ‘Shaan’ and ‘Seeta Aur Geeta’ are among the enduring movies made by Sippy Films
Shehzad shared that “Sholay, Shaan, Seeta Aur Geeta, and other action films form the core” of their banner. But their first project will be an animation series. “It’s based on a character from the existing IPs,” he said, refusing to name the character. “It will release in September or October.”
Shehzad Sippy has already zeroed in on his second project, a theatrical film. It is currently in pre-production. “We’re setting it up to be a movie franchise. It could be a spin-off or a prequel of [an existing IP]. The shoot will begin in October,” he said.
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