Imagining the world of Apne (2007) without Dharmendra is hard not only for the legend’s fans, but also for producer Deepak Mukut and director Anil Sharma. In fact, after the veteran actor’s demise on November 24, Sharma, in a media interaction, said that Apne 2 would be shelved. However, the latest update is that the sequel — starring Sunny Deol, Bobby Deol, and Karan Deol — is being rewritten since the script originally had Dharmendra in a pivotal role.

Talking to mid-day, Mukut reveals that he had narrated the script to Dharmendra only a few months ago. The veteran actor was gung-ho about reuniting with his sons on the silver screen, and more importantly, about sharing screen space with his grandson Karan.

He shares, “Dharam ji was very excited about the sequel. It was one of his wishes to make Apne 2 with his children. We are reworking the script now, which will be told from the point of view of Sunny and Bobby’s characters. There will be some changes as Dharam ji is no more, and we’ll miss him dearly. We are working on incorporating Dharam ji’s character in some way.”

The second instalment will be the producer’s “shraddhanjali” to the late actor. “If I cannot make a movie with Dharam ji, I can pay my respects to him through it. Apne 2 will be made and it will be a tribute to Dharam ji,” emphasizes Mukut.

A family drama, Apne told the story of Dharmendra’s Baldev Singh Choudhary, who hoped to regain his lost glory as a boxer through his sons. The next edition will take the original story forward. “It is a continuation of the original, and Karan will be introduced as Angad’s [Sunny’s character] son,” reveals the producer. One wonders why Sharma announced shelving the sequel when work on it is ongoing.

Ask Mukut, and he says, “I don’t know why Anil said it. When I asked him, he flatly denied having said that the sequel is shelved.”

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Dharmendra and Sunny Deol appeared together in ‘Sultanat’ (1986) and ‘Kshatriya’ (1993). The veteran actor had a cameo in ‘Sunny’ (1984), but didn’t share screen space with his son.

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‘Apne’ was the first film that saw Dharmendra share screen space with his sons Sunny and Bobby Deol. The trio then appeared in the ‘Yamla Pagla Deewana’ franchise, which had three instalments.

Filmmaker Anil Sharma, who worked with the late actor Dharmendra on seven films, called the veteran’s passing on Monday at the age of 89 as a personal and professional loss. The director, who had planned a sequel to Apne (2007), states that the project can no longer proceed “without his idol.”

The 61-year-old says, “Apne to apno ke bina nahi ho sakti. Without Dharam ji, 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 directed Dharmendra in Hukumat (1987), Elaan-e-Jung (1989), Farishtey (1991), and Tahalka (1992), later producing Policewala Gunda (1995), directing Apne, and a cameo in Singh Saab The Great (2013). He also worked with Dharmendra’s sons, Sunny and Bobby Deol.

Recalling their last meeting Sharma says, “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 three Deols were set to reunite on screen with the sequel after nearly two decades.

Sharma first met Dharmendra on the sets of The Burning Train (1980) as an assistant. “He put his hand on my head and said, ‘mehnat se kaam karna’. When I narrated Hukumat, he approved the story in 10 minutes. ” Recalling the shoot, Sharma said: “Dharam ji’s connection with his fans was incredible. He was a great actor — unaware of the legend he was, and will remain, even after he has gone!”.”

One can’t imagine a better time for Dharmendra, Sunny and Bobby Deol to come together on screen. After all, each actor has enjoyed a blockbuster this year—from the veteran actor in Rocky Aur Rani Kii Prem Kahaani, to Sunny’s Gadar 2: The Katha Continues and Bobby’s Animal. Naturally then, there is much interest around Apne 2, which was announced in November 2020. However, Bobby says the family drama won’t roll anytime soon.

Reason—director Anil Sharma and the team haven’t found the perfect script to bring together three generations of the Deol family, including Sunny’s son Karan. Bobby says, “We have a concept, but we’re still searching for the right kind of story. It all depends when the story gets ready. We’re clear that we will make Apne 2 only when we feel that it has rich emotions and the right [dose of] drama. It should be a heartfelt emotional story upholding family values, like Apne. God has been kind to all of us this year, so now we need to be careful about what we do together.”

It has been a successful second innings for Bobby, who returned to the movies after a long hiatus with Poster Boys (2017) and Race 3 (2018). While Love Hostel (2022) and Aashram caught everyone’s attention, his popularity soared as he played the antagonist in Ranbir Kapoor’s Animal. Interestingly, in the past few years, he has continuously taken up dark roles. Has that been a conscious decision?

“I’m not always looking to play negative characters. I want to play different characters. Portraying Kashipurwale baba [in Aashram] was challenging. During the first few days of Aashram shoot, when I was playing something all-out negative for the first time, I’d feel a bit disgusted with myself. But then I accepted that the character is like that. Now, playing dark roles doesn’t affect me. I don’t carry the characters in my head.”

Up next, he will be seen as the baddie in Tamil movie Kanguva, and Telugu offering Hari Hara Veera Mallu where he will reportedly play the tyrannical Mughal emperor, Aurangzeb. “I cannot comment as the makers haven’t officially announced anything. I select roles on the basis of their substance. I’ve got offers from big banners to play the villain, but I said no because I cannot do caricature villains. I’ve been lucky to be appreciated whenever I played negative characters.”

It’s been a long run at the cinemas for Sunny Deol, who made his debut with Betaab in 1984. Among the many projects, he is currently working on are the sequel to Gadar and Apne 2, which will see him sharing screen space with son Karan along with father, Dharmendra and brother Bobby. The actor is now in a new phase of his career, where the story and screenplay matter more than a larger-than-life presentation of him on screen. In a conversation with BT, the actor talks about breaking stereotypes attached to his name, the 2. 0 version of his career and why Apne 2 is the most special film of his life. Excerpts:

I’m actually doing quite a lot of films right now. In fact, I have projects releasing in theatres, and there’s something interesting for the digital format, too. Some of my movies are already on floors, a few will roll out in a few months, and my content for the digital platforms is being worked on. I think that you have to give the audience different kinds of content instead of dishing out the same thing repeatedly, hoping this is what they want to see.

(Cuts in…) R Balki’s films have unique worlds where I know I can work differently and do something distinct with my characters. The characters he creates, like the one in Chup, are not typical, larger-than-life breed of roles that I am offered all the time. They have a certain kind of layering. Balki has narrated a couple of projects to me after Chup, which I have loved, and I want to work with him on some of those because I have loved his style of ideation.

I love the idea of a film like Baap. It’s one of those films that not only features my colleagues from the ’80s, but it also has a unique story revolving around friendships and emotions; it brings back something from the bygone era and mixes it with new-age ideas. As for Apne 2 and Gadar 2, I was clear that unless we have something that could match the emotional quotient of the originals, we won’t go ahead with them. Apne 2 literally features almost all the Deol men. My whole family is in it. I didn’t want the writing to falter. I can now say that it has shaped up well. With the four of us in the same film, Apne 2 is one of the most special movies of my life. As for Gadar 2, we wanted a story that could emotionally be at par with Gadar. Gadar’s Tara Singh was not about pump ukhadna and chillana. It was a family’s struggle to fight divisive forces and be together. It had the ingredients of a great family film. We embarked on Gadar 2 only when we were sure we had something promising to take the legacy forward. It was a huge challenge to create something as good and live up to its name. I hope we have managed that.

I do feel that this is the most liberating phase of my career, and more so because of the digital world that has opened up, where you can make what you want and base your decisions on the strength and depth of a screenplay and story. You can play characters that you’ve never played, display a lot of detailing and layering in your performances and do what makes you happy as an artiste, without any box-office pressures. I feel that at one point in my life, I was typecast so much that my dhai kilo ka haath and my big action image overshadowed the characters and what they were meant to do in a film. But now, I can explore so much more. This is my time to fly as an actor and not struggle to keep an image alive. I am thankful for everything I’ve had, and I look forward to so many new experiences, roles, films and journeys, which will help me dive deep into my own emotions and enhance my understanding of life and cinema.

Mithoon is refreshingly invested in this conversation. Unlike interviewees who are easily distracted during telephonic interactions, the composer is attentive, and eager to express, when prodded on his working methods. His razor-sharp focus, we assume, would make him a terrible multi-tasker. On the contrary, Mithoon has been juggling a gamut of projects with panache. “Be honest to the moment,” he says, when we ask him his secret. In this conversation, he reveals some more.

Edited excerpts from the interview:

I have different [elements] that need my attention. If I’m waiting on a melody, I need isolation, and must be disconnected from people. That process can take several days. But, if I’m recording, I can be part of multiple sessions at one time. Because, in this case, we have written, and arrived at the idea. I know what has to be done. But, what is important is finding the right emotion for a song. Having my own studio also makes things easier. If I am honest to the moment, I don’t need to carry the burden of tackling different genres. For instance, if I’m talking to you, I am honest to this conversation. Composition is like having a conversation with music. Also, a director’s energy is infectious for a composer. When I jam with Mohit Suri [for Ek Villian], his intensity reflects in the soundtrack. For Anil Sharma, the Gadar 2 soundtrack is a reflection of how epic he wanted it to be. The director-composer equation is crucial. Lakshmikant-Pyarelal wouldn’t make for any other director the kind of music that they made for Subhash Ghai. A R Rahman and Mani Ratnam also had a similar [relationship]. I believe in that formula, and respect it. 

The character. When I was composing for Ji Huzoor [Shamshera], I wasn’t thinking of Ranbir. I was thinking of the character, Balli. And that inspiration came from [director] Karan Malhotra. He spoke of how Balli walks, talks, and acts. The character is bigger than the actor. 

I don’t have a song bank. I am always looking to understand what the director wants. Also, there are different raagas, time-stamps, and key signatures. There are different raagas for the day, and I try to follow these [rules], because they were made for a reason. For example, if I talk of the bhairav raag, it’s a raag associated with the morning. It is scientifically connected to that time of the day. In Satyam Shivam Sundaram, the raag was suited for the morning, in accordance [with how it was shot]. It’s an important science associated with the human physiology. Also, I always say that a song should be written without production. I played Ji Huzoor to Karan on the piano. The song is actually a heavily produced one, with 120 elements. 

I’ve never done something like Shamshera. Meeting Karan was a life-changing experience, even at a personal level. The joy and vibrancy that he brought into my studio was refreshing. He would come in, call for tea, and spend an hour chatting with me. I am a silent person. But he was [affecting me] on a sub-conscious level. His Shamshera character, Balli, is [outspoken]. So, Karan wanted me to be brash, like Balli. I enjoyed that experience.

Shilpa Shetty, who had a release over the weekend in Nikamma, is enjoying a short break from the shoot of Indian Police Force. The actor will resume work on Rohit Shetty’s web series, which marks her OTT debut and also features Sidharth Malhotra and Vivek Oberoi, late next month. With the Amazon Prime Video offering taking up bulk dates of her diary, Shilpa is unable to be a part of Apne 2 that is slated to roll soon.

The offering is a sequel to the 2007 movie that saw Shilpa play a key role as Sunny Deol’s love interest. She admits that director Anil Sharma was keen to rope her in for the second instalment of the family drama, which features Dharmendra, Sunny, Bobby and Karan Deol.

“Anil sir did call me once. I don’t speak about films when I am not able to do them. I have a lot of respect for Sunny and Dharam ji, and I respect Anil sir’s vision. But I am not able to fit [the film] in the scheme of things,” she says. The actor also has Sukhee in the pipeline.

Sunny Deol, who started shooting for Gadar 2 recently, preferred to keep a safe distance from social media. But that’s changing now. The actor says, “I have become a little better at it now. I can only do things that allow me to function the way I like. I can’t post things for the heck of it. I can’t match the craziness, but now I have begun to post things that I like talking about — like my parents, children, siblings. Gradually, I will get around this also.”

In recent times, Sunny has also begun to actively scout for projects to work in. He has completed work on R Balki’s next with Pooja Bhatt and soon after Gadar 2, he’s expected to put Apne 2 back on track. He’s also in talks for a few other projects.

Bring this up and he says, “There is so much happening. There’s so much that people talk about me, but I am still struggling to sign a good film. That is the irony of our country. For how many more years do I have to prove that I am a good enough actor? Things have changed a lot. I had stopped acting in films, but now I want to do four-five films a year like Akshay Kumar and Ajay Devgn. I am sure usmein se ek to chalegi.”

He continues, “I have decided I will do five films a year and that will be my achievement. I have done very little work in the last 15 years. I wasted a lot of time, but now I have to take my career forward with good films. Currently, I am working on some good projects. Digital platforms have opened up a wide range of things an actor can do. There is an audience for everything and nothing never goes to waste. Someone or the other is lapping it up. So, I may as well try doing that, too. For an actor, this is paradise where there is no border, no boundary. They can choose to do whatever they want. I feel some subjects are great for the big screen and some are great for digital.”

While most filmmakers are feeling confident about taking their projects on floors, director Anil Sharma has chosen to err on the side of caution. The director, who had hoped to roll Apne 2 — starring Dharmendra, Sunny, Bobby and Karan Deol — in the UK in September, has done a rethink.

A source reveals, “The film has to be shot across London. Since things have only now begun to open up the world over, Anil thought it would be best to push the project by a few months, and shoot when the situation is more conducive. Another factor influencing his decision was Karan’s prep for the movie. The youngster has to pick up boxing. However, the US-based boxer, who was roped in for his training, has been unable to fly down to India.”

This is the second time the family drama — the sequel to the 2007 film, Apne — has been deferred. Originally, the project was to roll in April this year, but the second wave of the pandemic thwarted the filmmaker’s plans.

Sharma confirms the recent change of plans, saying, “The film has now been pushed. We will start shooting by March 2022.”

After a hiatus of three years since Yamla Pagla Deewana: Phir Se (2018), actor Dharmendra is gearing up to do what he loves doing the best — being in front of the camera. Exhilarated to be back, he says, “The camera is my love. I believe it loves me back. I’ve received so much from my audience because of it. Now that it has called me back, I’m elated.”

The recently announced Rocky Aur Rani Ki Prem Kahani, helmed by Karan Johar, will see the veteran actor playing a romantic hero. A close friend of the late filmmaker Yash Johar, Dharmendra looks forward to collaborating with the former’s son. “I begin shooting from August. I frequently catch up with Karan. But we never speak about work. It so happened that he narrated the story of the film to me. He has written something special; it’s true to life,” he shares.

The 85-year-old is also excited about his onscreen reunion with Jaya Bachchan, 46 years after Sholay (1975). He says, “Jaya will always be my Guddi. It’s so easy working with her. We’ve been part of some really special films. I miss those days when we worked together along with other artistes of our time. I’m sure we’ll have a blast and reminisce about old times.”

The Life In A... Metro (2007) actor will also star in Apne 2, where he’ll be sharing screen space with his sons, Sunny Deol and Bobby Deol, and grandson, Karan Deol. “For me, Apne (2007) was the most emotional film. And with the sequel, we want to go a notch higher. I’m extremely happy to be working with Karan. He has the same passion like his father and me,” he ends.

Once derailed due to the second lockdown, director Anil Sharma is keen to kick-start shooting of his ambitious project Apne 2 as soon as possible. While the first instalment showcased the entire Deol family — Dharmendra, Sunny and Bobby, the sequel will also focus on the youngest actor in the family, Karan. 

Sharma hopes to revisit the idea of shooting in Punjab and London once travel situations improve. “The preparation for Apne 2 is in full swing, but because of the Coronavirus pandemic, we are not able to fix a date,” says the director, adding that the initial plan was to begin shoot by March-April. “We hope to begin the London schedule by September, once the lockdowns are eased.” The film requires a boxing arena and huge crowd, which cannot be executed effectively with social distancing.

Set in the backdrop of boxing, Sharma wants Karan trained in the sport before the schedule is set in motion, for which the director has roped in an expert from the US. “I am waiting for my action director to come from America. Once his visa [is approved], he will come down to India to train Karan. [In the meanwhile], Karan has already started his prep work in boxing with other trainers.”

With shoots tentatively stalled till May 15, filmmakers will have an uphill task of making up for lost time when they resume work. But a tougher road ahead awaits big-budget productions that have been envisioned against the picturesque backdrops of foreign locations. As several countries barred flights from India in the wake of the deadly second wave and the possibility of international travel in the coming months remains bleak, producers have little option but to defer their projects.

A prime example is Akshay Kumar’s The End, an ambitious series that was to go on floors in the last quarter of 2021. Producer Vikram Malhotra says the team is taking it one day a time. “We are shortlisting countries at this stage. Various factors, including the conditions in the country we go to, will play a role in determining our destination. We also need [clarity] on travel restrictions and [the implementation of] vaccine passports. Our crew members belong to the 18-44 age bracket, and we need them to be vaccinated before starting work.”

If things had gone as per plan, Katrina Kaif would be showing her action prowess in front of the camera by mid-2021. But director Ali Abbas Zafar cannot kick off his actioner in the UAE until the entire team is inoculated. The timeline of several projects is linked to the nationwide vaccination drive. A unit hand, who was expected to head to Europe in August for a Disney+ Hotstar show, notes, “Given the vaccine shortage and the backlog it will create, it’s unlikely that those in the 18-44 bracket will complete both their doses before the year-end.” 

Director Anil Sharma, who pushed the filming of Apne 2 from April to August, may be second time unlucky. “If things aren’t under control by then, we will delay the London leg, but we won’t risk anybody’s life.” He adds that adhering to the quarantine rules means exceeding the crew’s stay by two weeks in the UK, which will be an added expense.

Anticipation around the next edition of Apne, —13 years after the Dharmendra, Sunny and Bobby Deol starrer hit cinema halls — has been growing ever since news of the development hit headlines. Director Anil Sharma, who was to start filming in the month of March, is now eyeing a schedule in London, where a certain extent of normalcy has been restored. 

“How can we release it in Diwali when we have not begun shooting for the movie? What can we do when cases are on the rise and we need a large unit? It’s impossible,” says Sharma, addressing the initial plan to release the film this year. “We were to shoot across Punjab, but now we are planning to begin the first schedule in London in July, if things get better. I have not stepped out my home, choosing instead to fine-tune my scripts, with my actors.”

With each day presenting a new set of restrictions, he admits that decisions about filming can no longer be made in advance. “We will take another call after May 15. We have not even done a recce in London because we are not getting visas. If we begin to shoot in London, it will be over a 45-day schedule. Then we will return to Punjab and Mumbai.”

Considering the current circumstances, he admits that the decision to impose restrictions is ideal, and that film-making can be postponed till the situation is favourable. “Theatres will open only after a few months. So what is the point in completing a movie now? One’s health is of utmost importance. I know so many who have contracted the virus. The next two weeks are crucial for all of us. We have to be careful about his [Dharmendra’s] safety and health. It’s not important for Apne 2 to release in Diwali. What is important is that everybody stays healthy.”

Bobby Deol has shared screen space with dad Dharmendra in just a handful of films, which include Apne (2007) and the three films of the Yamla Pagla Deewana franchise. Though the actor will be seen with his dad in Apne 2 in the future, he wishes he could have worked a lot more with his dad over the years. He says, “I wish I could have done more movies with my dad.”

After a lull in his career, Bobby made a comeback in Bollywood with Race 3, and he won immense appreciation for his role in MX Player’s much-acclaimed, popular show, Aashram recently. Besides his father, Apne 2 will also feature his brother Sunny and nephew Karan.

Talking about working with the Deol clan, Bobby says, “I think it is always special to work with your family members. This time, we also have Karan in the film. I remember, the first time I faced the camera with my father, it was for Apne. I was staring at him as he stood in front of me. I looked at him as my father. I was getting a little confused about how to react on camera. Seeing that I was nervous, he took me aside and asked me to relax. He also told me to think of us as two mere characters and that changed it all.”

He further adds, “I would have liked to do an action film with my dad since he has this He-Man image associated with him. An emotional drama with action in it will be a good option, too.” 

One of the original heartthrobs of the Hindi film industry, the dashing Dharmendra, turns 85 today. His career, spanning over six decades, boasts of some of Indian cinemas most iconic films, and on his birthday, the actor tells BT that while he loves his quiet time, he hasn’t gotten over his love for cinema yet. “Camera is my love and the camera loves me. I can self-analyse and I know what I am capable of at this point in my life. When I know I can do it, why shouldn’t I? People tell me that I am turning 85, but I stopped counting my age after 60. Maine zindagi jee bharke jee hai, aur zindagi ne mujhe jawaan hi rakha hai. I am about to work at 85 and I am not playing a buzurg per se in Apne 2. There’s emotion, but also a thrill element to the film,” he reveals.

The veteran actor, who has a massive fanfollowing is immensely grateful for being loved by his fans and well-wishers for decades. However, he is heartbroken by the current unrest in the country around COVID-19 and the farmers’ protest. “Log Coronavirus ko bhi bhool gaye hai. Desh bhar mein afra-tafri phaili hai. Main janam din kaise manau? Hum sab Bharat maa ke bachhe hain. Humanity se bada koi dharm nahi. Kisiki sharafat, majburi ya insaniyat ka faayda na uthaye. Kisaan kya bolna chahte hain, unki baat ek baar sunlo. Woh sadkon pe baithein hain itni sardi mein. Ek mutual dialogue se hal nikal sakta hai,” he says.

Talking about why he deleted a tweet about the current news that has gripped the nation, he reasons, “All I intended to say was please hear out the farmers. Main hamesha positive baat karta hoon lekin log uska alag hi matlab nikaalte hain. Twitter pe bhadaas nikaalte hain. I will now keep my distance from it, because it can be extremely toxic. Dil tod dete hai log.”

The actor, who prefers to stay on his farm away from the chaos of the city and write poetry, doesn’t celebrate his birthday in a big way. He explains, “Maa bhagwan hoti hai. Jab khushi dene wali nahi rahi, toh kaise manau janam din? Bas rasme nibha leta hoon aur tanhai mein maa ko yaad karke ro leta hoon. Woh jab thi tab mere janam din par halwa banati thi.”

While Apne featured two generations of Deols, its sequel will have the third generation of the family — Sunny’s son Karan — joining the cast. The loving grandfather says, “It’s a great feeling ke main apne potey ke saath kaam kar raha hoon. Mujhe pata hai kitna dum hai usme. He is a good actor and I am sure woh apne kirdaar ko acchi tarah se nibhayega. Uskey khoon mein ek neki hai, insaniyat hai. When real-life relationships are essayed on screen, they have a beauty of their own.”

Picking his favourite co-star comes easy to Bobby Deol. "Papa is a professional, and knows exactly what he wants to do in each scene," he says of his superstar father and screen idol Dharmendra. Naturally then, the actor is thrilled at the prospect of reuniting with his father and brother Sunny Deol for Apne 2. Director Anil Sharma will return to helm the sequel.

Where the 2007 drama revolved around a family united by their love for boxing, Bobby reveals the second instalment will offer a fresh story. "I believe papa, bhaiyya and I have an innate chemistry, which clicks with the audience. The Deols are known to be a close-knit family, and [our values] are reflected in the family dramas we make. The familial relationships were the USP of Apne," says the actor, who will reunite with the duo two years after Yamla Pagla Deewana: Phir Se (2018).

The film is slated to roll by mid-2021. The lockdown may have seen Dharmendra, 85, take in the simple pleasures of farm life, but his first love has been calling out to him. "Papa can't wait to face the camera. He has been working since he was a teenager and is a complete workaholic. We will definitely take the necessary precautions; endangering his life during the shoot is out of the question. We are hoping that by the time the movie rolls, things will be better."

It is evident that Bobby is enjoying his second innings in showbiz, balancing mainstream films Race 3 (2018) and Housefull 4 (2019) with digital offerings in Class Of '83 and Aashram. However, his self-styled godman act did not go down well with a section of viewers, who felt that the Prakash Jha-directed web series hurt religious sentiments. "As an actor, it is my job to play different kinds of characters. I will never do anything that will bring shame to our country. But Aashram reflects what is happening in our society," he states. Earlier this week, Jha and MX Player were served a legal notice by Karni Sena, which claimed that the series targets "the ancient tradition, customs and Hindu culture" and demanded that the release of the second part be stalled.