Apne 2 shelved! Anil Sharma recalls Dharmendra’s final moments with a heavy heart

The passing of legendary actor Dharmendra on 24 November has left the nation grieving a man whose charm, grace, and strength defined an era. The beloved 89-year-old, fondly known as Bollywood’s He-Man, was just days away from turning 90 on 8 December.

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In tribute to the late icon, his look from Agastya Nanda- starrer Ikkis was unveiled on the tragic day, honouring his legacy. And recently came a heartbreaking news - filmmaker Anil Sharma confirmed that Apne 2 has been shelved. He also shared deeply emotional details of Dharmendra’s final days.

Apne 2 Shelved! A Sequel That Cannot Move Forward Without Its Soul

For Anil Sharma, Apne 2 was not just another film. It was a reunion of emotions, relationships, and decades of shared memories with the Deol family.

Overwhelmed with grief, Sharma said, “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.”

His words reflect the void left behind - not just in a film, but in an entire industry.

The Final Days: A Glimpse of Hope Before the Silence

Sharma revealed moments from Dharmendra’s last days that still weigh heavily on his heart. After being discharged from the hospital, the veteran actor seemed to be slowly recovering, giving hope to everyone around him.

Speaking to Vickey Lalwani, Anil shared, “I went to his home. He had recovered. He would open his eyes and even move his hands. He was recovering, and doctors were saying that Dharamji bahut strong aadmi hai.”

The medical team too believed that the actor’s extraordinary willpower would help him bounce back. But life had a different plan.

Sharma added, “Doctors assured us he would recover, and even in the hospital, it looked like he would. But age shows its signs, and you can’t fight that. Everyone was hopeful, and we all thought we would celebrate his birthday on 8 December.”

A milestone birthday that the world was preparing to celebrate - now remembered with aching hearts.

A Creative Bond That Spanned Generations

Anil Sharma and Dharmendra’s relationship wasn’t built overnight - it was forged film by film, memory by memory. Their journey began with Hukumat (1987) and continued with Elaan-E-Jung, Farishtay, and Tahalka.

Sharma’s work with the next generation of Deols created more milestones - Sunny Deol’s Gadar: Ek Prem Katha, The Hero, Singh Saab the Great, and Gadar 2.

Also Read: Dharmendra’s first love wasn’t Prakash Kaur, Meena Kumari or Hema Malini- A childhood crush lost to Partition!

He directed Bobby Deol in Ab Tumhare Hawale Watan Saathiyo and united all three Deols - Dharmendra, Sunny, and Bobby - in the emotional family drama Apne (2007).

Apne 2 was meant to be the next chapter of that cherished legacy. But some stories are too deeply rooted in love to continue without the heart at their centre.