Bollywood producer Sippy dead at 93

MUMBAI, Dec. 27 (UPI) -- Famed Bollywood filmmaker Gopaldas Parmanand "G.P." Sippy has died in Mumbai at the age of 93.

Family sources told The New York Times that Sippy died Tuesday from liver and other age-related ailments.

Although he produced 20 films, many of which he also directed, Sippy is probably best-known for producing the 1975 movie "Sholay," Bollywood's biggest commercial success, the BBC said.

Inspired by Akira Kurosawa's "The Seventh Samurai" and John Sturges' "The Magnificent Seven," "Sholay" is widely recognized as India's first "curry western." Directed by Sippy's son Ramesh, it broke box office records and earned about $60 million in ticket sales.

G.P. Sippy's other films include "Marine Drive," "Adil-e-Jahangir," "Shrimati 420," "Chandrakant," "Light House," "Bhai-Bahen," "Mr. India," "12 O'clock," "Andaz,"

"Brahmachari," "Bandhan," "Seeta aur Geeta," "Shaan" and "Hamesha."

Sippy is survived by his sons, Ajit and Ramesh.