The news of Dharmendra’s death has left a void in the industry as well as the hearts of his fans. His six-decade-long legacy came to an end and so did the hopes of one of Bollywood’s most nostalgic projects. Director Anil Sharma has now confirmed that Apne 2, a film expected to unite three generations of the Deol family, has been shelved following the death of the veteran actor.
Anil Sharma confirms Apne 2 is cancelled
Dharmendra died on November 24 at the age of 89 after battling a prolonged illness. The actor had been discharged from Mumbai’s Breach Candy Hospital just days earlier. He was being monitored at home, but his condition worsened.
Anil Sharma was preparing to direct the sequel of his 2007 film, Apne. Now the filmmaker has clarified that Apne 2 cannot go ahead without Dharmendra. Speaking to Hindustan Times, Anil shared, “Apne to apno ke bina nahi ho sakti. Without Dharamji, it’s impossible to make the sequel. Everything was on track and the script was ready, but he left us. Some dreams remain unfulfilled. Without him, it’s not possible!”
The sequel was planned to be a continuation of the 2007 family drama Apne. Dharmendra, Sunny Deol, Bobby Deol and Karan Deol were believed to lead the narrative. Interestingly, despite being announced years ago, the film never went on the floors.
Sharma and Dharmendra have worked together in multiple films, including Hukumat, Elaan-E-Jung, Farishtay, Tahalka, and Apne. Their reunion with Apne 2 was meant to be another chapter in their partnership.
Dharmendra’s final film
Following his death, Dharmendra’s last film to release will now be the war drama Ikkis, directed by Sriram Raghavan. It stars Agastya Nanda in the lead and arrives in cinemas on December 25, 2025. Hours before the news of his death broke out, the makers shared a tribute poster for Dharmendra and wrote, “Fathers raise sons. Legends raise nations. Dharmendra ji, an emotional powerhouse as the father of a 21-year-old immortal soldier. One timeless legend brings us the story of another.”
Dharmendra will be seen playing the role of M L Khetarpal, the father of Second Lieutenant Arun Khetarpal played by Agastya Nanda.