MUMBAI: Anil Sharma is an Indian film director, producer, and screenwriter best known for crafting commercially successful patriotic action-dramas and family-oriented narratives throughout his four-decade-long career.
His filmography is dominated by large-scale productions and mass-appeal cinema, highlighted by two of the biggest box-office successes in the history of Indian film, including Gadar: Ek Prem Katha and Gadar 2.
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The highly anticipated sequel, Apne 2, which was intended to reunite three generations of a prominent acting family on screen, will no longer proceed.
Director Anil Sharma confirmed the project has been shelved, citing the profound impact of the loss of the legendary Dharmendra, the patriarch of the family and the star of the original film.
Dharmendra passed away on November 24, 2025.
His death marked a significant personal and professional loss for the team behind the sequel, which was meant to feature him alongside his sons, Sunny Deol and Bobby Deol, and his grandson, Karan Deol.
Director Anil Sharma, who helmed the 2007 original film, revealed that the preparation for the sequel was well underway.
“The script was ready. We had even finalised the entire storyline and were ready to take it into production,” Anil stated.
However, he emphasised that the emotional foundation of the film was intrinsically linked to Dharmendra's presence and contribution.
The original Apne (2007) film was a powerful sports drama centred on boxing and familial bonds, starring Dharmendra as Baldev Singh Chaudhary, a disgraced former heavyweight boxer.
Baldev's sole dream is to wash the stain of a false doping charge from his career by training his sons, Angad (Sunny Deol) and Karan (Bobby Deol), to become World Heavyweight Champions.
The story follows the emotional turmoil and sacrifice within the family as the sons navigate their father’s ambition and their own dreams.
The original Apne film was a powerful drama centred on boxing and the emotional bonds within a family, resonating deeply with audiences due to the genuine camaraderie of the family.
According to Sharma, recreating that magic and honouring the spirit of the first film became impossible without Dharmendra.
"Dharmendra's presence was the soul of the Apne franchise.
Without him, it wouldn't be the same,” Sharma explained, indicating that the decision to cancel was driven by respect for the actor's legacy and the desire to protect the integrity of the original film's emotional core.
"It is too big a loss for us to proceed with a film that was so closely tied to his character and our personal equation with him," he concluded, marking the definitive end of the project.
The decision to retire the franchise ensures that the memory of Dharmendra's contribution to the original film remains unique and untouched.
The film Ikkis, directed by Sriram Raghavan, will stand as the final on-screen appearance of the legendary actor Dharmendra.
Set for a worldwide theatrical release on December 25, 2025, the war drama will arrive exactly a month after the actor's passing on November 24, 2025.
In the film, Dharmendra portrays Brigadier M.L. Khetarpal, the father of the central character, Second Lieutenant Arun Khetarpal (played by Agastya Nanda), who was India’s youngest Param Vir Chakra recipient.
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CREDIT: NEWS 18
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