Film Director, Producer

As the son of G.P. Sippy, one of India’s most eminent producers and industry leaders, Ramesh Sippy already had large shoes to fill, but he exceeded expectations. He directed the hugely acclaimed Sholay, one of the biggest blockbusters in Hindi film history. Forty-three years after it was released, Sholay remains a must-watch for every movie lover.

Mr. Sippy loved cinema and developed a passion for film making from a tender age, but he had to work hard to achieve his goals. He visited the sets of his father’s first film, the Dev Anand starrer Sazaa. His first film job came at age nine, when he played Achala Sachdev's son in the 1953 film Shahenshah. He worked for eight long years, assisting in almost every department before becoming the director of the critically acclaimed Andaaz in 1971. He has directed films such as Saagar, Shaan, Seeta Aur Geeta, Zamaana Deewana, Akayla and Bhrashtaachar.  He has also produced movies like Kuch Na Kaho, Bluff Master, Taxi 9211, Chandni Chawk to China, Dum Maaro Dum, and Nautanki Saala, to name a few.

He was a pioneer of the television era with his mega serial Buniyaad.

Mr. Sippy has received many honors for his contributions to the film and television industry, including the Padma Shri. He has served as the chairman of prestigious organizations such as NFDC, the Film & Television Producer's Guild and FICCI. He has chaired several lndian film juries including those of Filmfare and Screen, as well as many International ones. He has chaired the jury for the national awards twice.

He was a founding member and trustee of MAMI, the Mumbai film festival, for 15 years, and continues to serve on the board of IFFA. The Ramesh Sippy Academy of Cinema and Entertainment (RSACE) is his way of giving back to the industry that has given him so much. RSACE is a comprehensive learning institution for budding talent in the world of filmmaking. It is affiliated to the Mumbai University and the University of Mumbai’s Garware Institute of Career & Education Development, and offers graduate courses in film art, animation, visual effects, film production and management, and screen writing, as well as short-term courses in editing, digital photography, and acting. RSACE has also collaborated with the Media and Entertainment Skills Council (MESC) to be the first to offer dual certification in short-term courses, with the first certificate being from RSACE and Garware Institute, and the second being from MESC and the National Skill Development Corporation.