The cinematic dream of reuniting three generations of the Deol family on screen has been tragically halted. Director Anil Sharma officially confirmed today that the highly anticipated sequel, Apne 2, has been shelved indefinitely following the death of legendary actor Dharmendra on November 24, 2025, at the age of 89.
Sharma, who shared a deep, decades-long professional and personal bond with the ‘He-Man’ of Bollywood, stated unequivocally that making the film without its patriarch is “impossible.” This decision, though heartbreaking for fans, highlights the central and irreplaceable role Dharmendra played in the emotional core of the franchise. The original Apne (2007) was celebrated for bringing Dharmendra and his sons, Sunny Deol and Bobby Deol, together for the first time.
Speaking to Hindustan Times, director Anil Sharma expressed his profound grief and the professional reality of the immense loss. He made clear that the sequel’s entire existence was predicated on Dharmendra’s presence.
“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!” Sharma stated, articulating the deep emotional resonance of the project.
The sequel was announced years ago and was set to be a major cinematic event, not only reuniting Dharmendra, Sunny, and Bobby but also introducing the fourth generation of the Deol family with Karan Deol (Sunny’s son) in a pivotal role. The film was designed as a tribute to family bonds, and Dharmendra’s passing removed the very foundation upon which the sequel’s emotional story rested.
Sharma confirmed that the script for Apne 2 was complete and the film was nearing its production stage before fate intervened. The director, who collaborated with Dharmendra on over seven films, including Hukumat and Elaan-E-Jung, shared a poignant memory of his last meeting with the actor in early October.
Dharmendra, demonstrating his eternal love for the craft, had told the filmmaker: “Anil, koi acchi kahani laa, acchi film karni hai…camera meri mehbooba hai, mujhe yaad karti hai. Mujhe jana hai uske samne” (Anil, bring a good story, I want to do a good film. The camera is my beloved, it misses me. I have to go stand in front of it).
This memory underscores the actor’s fierce dedication right until his final days and makes the shelving of Apne 2 a particularly painful moment for the director and the entire Deol family, who were excited to share the screen with their patriarch one last time.
While Apne 2 will remain an unfulfilled dream, fans will still get one final opportunity to witness the legendary actor on the big screen. Dharmendra’s final film, the highly anticipated war drama Ikkis, is scheduled for release on December 25, 2025.
Directed by Sriram Raghavan and featuring Agastya Nanda (Amitabh Bachchan’s grandson) in the lead, Ikkis carries an immense emotional weight, as it will be the actor’s posthumous release. Dharmendra plays the role of M. L. Khetarpal, the father of the Param Vir Chakra awardee, Second Lieutenant Arun Khetarpal. This performance is expected to be a poignant and powerful cinematic farewell from the iconic star.
The shelving of Apne 2 serves as a final, heartfelt tribute from Anil Sharma and the Deol family, confirming that the story was too deeply personal and dependent on the presence of the cinema legend to ever be recreated without him. His legacy, however, remains intact through his hundreds of films and the enduring love he commanded across generations.
