Apne 2 has hit an unexpected stop. Director Anil Sharma says the film just can’t go on without Dharmendra. The script was ready, everyone was set to go, and then, suddenly, the dream just slipped away with Dharmendra’s passing.

For Sharma, this isn’t just a professional setback. Dharmendra was his idol. He made it clear: there’s no way he’s recasting or trying to rework the story. “Apne to apno ke bina nahi ho sakti,” he told the press. In other words, Apne isn’t Apne without family and, for this film, Dharmendra was the heart of that family.

Why the sequel was so significant?

The original Apne wasn’t just another movie. It brought Dharmendra together with his sons Sunny and Bobby Deol, turning a real-life father-and-sons bond into movie magic. Audiences loved it. That chemistry, that emotional punch, that’s what made a sequel so appealing. Sharma had even announced in late 2025 that Apne 2 was in full swing, with both Sunny and Bobby signed on.

Industry reaction and context

But after Dharmendra’s death, the whole industry paused. Tributes poured in from every corner of Indian cinema. It’s not just nostalgia, people genuinely feel the gap he’s left behind. The outpouring at memorials and in the media makes it obvious: you just can’t replace someone like Dharmendra. That’s why Sharma has shelved the sequel for now. Apne 2 needs him, plain and simple.

What this means for Apne 2 and similar legacy projects?

This isn’t the first time Bollywood has faced a crossroads like this. When a movie’s soul rests on a single performer, filmmakers have three choices: recast (and risk losing what made it special), rewrite the story, or walk away. Sharma picked the last one. He wants to preserve what made the original so meaningful, instead of forcing something that would feel hollow.

The legacy Dharmendra leaves behind

Dharmendra wasn’t just a star; he was a phenomenon, action, romance, comedy, you name it. And Apne, with all three Deols on screen, hit a nerve with fans that still lingers. Sharma’s decision is really a tribute, a way of saying that some things matter more than just getting a movie made.

So, that’s where things stand. Apne 2 is on hold, maybe forever. The script’s finished, the plans were real, but sometimes a film is too closely tied to the people who bring it to life. For now, fans can go back and watch the original Apne, or any of the countless films that built Dharmendra’s legendary career. And maybe that’s the best way to remember him.