'Ikkis' director Sriram Raghavan remembers Dharmendra

Veteran Bollywood director Dharmendra died away last month, weeks before the release of his film Ikkis, leaving a deep void among his family, fans, and well-wishers.

As Ikkis director Sriram Raghavan recalls, Dharmendra never got the chance to watch the film completed or the appreciation that his performance would have received; it won't be wrong to say that his absence will bring an added weight to Ikkis—turning it into an emotional farewell to the icon.

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Raghavan also opened up about Dharmendra's association with the upcoming war biopic, which features Agastya Nanda in the lead as Second Lieutenant Arun Khetarpal.

Recalling that Dharmendra was already unwell during the final dubbing sessions in October, Raghavan shared, "I met him in October. That time he was okay, but not too well... He is not here to enjoy the work he had done. That is a regret we have."

The Badlapur director revealed how Dharmendra used to write dialogues in Urdu before the shoot.

"He's old school. He would write his dialogues in Urdu. And he would also write the core actor's dialogues. He was extremely well-prepared," he added.

Producer Dinesh Vijan mentioned that Dharmendra's family is yet to watch Ikkis.

"I think they'll only cry. I just wish our kids could love us as much as they love him. It was heartbreaking to see them. But it was also beautiful. Because that's how you should love your father," Vijan said.

Dharmendra passed away on November 24 in Mumbai. Ikkis, the star's posthumous screen appearance, will release on January 1, 2026.

Ikkis is a war biopic based on Second Lieutenant Arun Khetarpal, the youngest recipient of the Param Vir Chakra, India's highest military decoration.