Filmmaker Anil Sharma, who worked with Dharmendra in seven films, expressed that the legendary actor’s passing at the age of 89 was both a personal and professional loss. The director had been preparing a sequel to Apne (2007), but has now stated that the project cannot be carried out without his idol.
“Without Dharamji it is impossible,” Sharma said in an interview with Hindustan Times.
At 61 years old, he mentioned that the film was ready for production until fate intervened. “Apne to apno ke bina nahi ho sakti. Without Dharamji it is impossible to make the sequel. Everything was going according to plan, and the script was ready, but he left us. Some dreams remain unfulfilled. Without him, it is not possible!”
Sharma had a long-standing relationship with the veteran actor and directed him in Hukumat (1987), Elaan-e-Jung (1989), Farishtey (1991), and Tahalka (1992).
Later, he produced Policewala Gunda (1995), directed Apne, and appeared as Dharmendra in a cameo in Singh Saab The Great (2013). He also worked closely with Dharmendra’s sons, Sunny and Bobby Deol.
Recalling their final meeting, Sharma shared, “I met him in early October and he said, ‘Anil, koi acchi kahani laa, acchi film karni hai… camera meri mehbooba hai, mujhe yaad karti hai.
Mujhe jana hai uske samne’.” The Deol trio—Dharmendra, Sunny, and Bobby—were set to reunite after almost two decades for the sequel.
“He approved Hukumat within 10 minutes,” Sharma added.
His association with the legendary actor began long before he became a director. As an 18-year-old assistant on The Burning Train (1980), he approached Dharmendra with a call sheet.
“He put his hand on my head and said, ‘mehnat se kaam karna,’” Sharma recalled.
