Sriram Raghavan recalls working on Ikkis with late actor Dharmendra

Sriram Raghavan has said that Ikkis, his upcoming war drama, marks the final screen appearance of the late actor Dharmendra, who died on November 24 — just a month before the film’s release.

In a recent interview, the director mentioned that the veteran star had not been feeling well during his dubbing sessions in October. He also spoke fondly about their collaboration, noting that Dharmendra often rewrote his dialogues in Urdu.

Speaking to Galatta Plus, Raghavan explained that they had completed some of the actor’s dubbing work in October. He recalled that Dharmendra would frequently check in to ask how the film was progressing and when he could watch it. Although Raghavan had offered him a screening before dubbing, the actor had scheduling issues. He eventually managed to see about half of the film and reportedly liked what he watched.

The director said the scenes featuring Jaideep Ahlawat and Dharmendra were particularly memorable. Since Ahlawat shared the most screen time with the legendary actor, Raghavan wanted their on-screen chemistry to develop naturally, which is why filming began with their scenes. According to him, the team was initially in awe of Dharmendra, but Ahlawat’s arrival eased the atmosphere, Indian Express reported.

Raghavan mentioned a humorous challenge: Ahlawat’s habit of delivering his lines quietly sometimes made it difficult for Dharmendra to catch what he was saying. Dharmendra would reportedly ask what his co-star was saying, prompting the director to reassure him and request Ahlawat to raise his volume slightly.

Despite health issues, Dharmendra was said to be thoroughly prepared. Raghavan noted that the actor would rewrite not only his own dialogues in Urdu but also include cues from the other characters. He described this meticulous preparation as one of the highlights of working with him. Dharmendra even provided multiple takes for certain lines so the team could choose the best one.

Raghavan added that Dharmendra was one of the main reasons he decided to make Ikkis. He had shared the film’s concept with the actor years earlier, before Merry Christmas, and Dharmendra had consistently expressed enthusiasm, often asking when the project would begin. Raghavan said their interactions were always warm, with the actor offering thoughts and suggestions for scenes, which the director could choose to incorporate or not.

Dharmendra was 89 when he passed away on November 24.