The Indian film industry was plunged into mourning on November 24 with the passing of the beloved veteran actor, Dharmendra. His demise sent shockwaves through Bollywood and led to the immediate shelving of the highly anticipated family drama, 'Apne 2', which was to feature the legendary star alongside his real-life sons, Sunny Deol and Bobby Deol.
Project Halted, Then Revived as a Tribute
Following the tragic event, filmmaker Anil Sharma, who directed the original 2007 film, confirmed that the project had been put on hold indefinitely. However, in a recent development, producer Deepak Mukut has revealed that the team is not abandoning the film. Instead, they are revisiting and rewriting the script to honour Dharmendra's memory.
Mukut shared that a few months prior to the actor's passing, he had discussed the 'Apne 2' script with Dharmendra. "The actor expressed great excitement about reuniting with his sons and working alongside his grandson Karan," Mukut stated. He emphasized that it was one of Dharmendra's cherished wishes to make the sequel with his children.
New Narrative Focus and Script Changes
The producer detailed the significant changes being made to the screenplay. The story will now be told primarily from the point of view of Sunny and Bobby Deol's characters. "There will be some changes as Dharmendra is no more. We are working on incorporating the Dharmendra character in some way," Mukut explained.
He further clarified the plot's continuation, noting that the sequel will follow the storyline from the first film and introduce Karan Deol as the son of Sunny Deol's character, Angad.
'Apne 2' as a Final Salute to a Legend
For Deepak Mukut and the team, the film has now transformed into a heartfelt shraddhanjali (tribute). "If I cannot make a movie with Dharamji, I can pay my respects to him through it. Apne 2 will be made and it will be a tribute to Dharamji," the producer affirmed. This decision reframes the project from a mere sequel to a cinematic homage celebrating the late actor's legacy.
The original 'Apne', released theatrically on June 29, 2007, was a major family-centric hit. Directed by Anil Sharma and produced by Prime Focus and Glamour Entertainment, it starred Dharmendra, Sunny Deol, Bobby Deol, Katrina Kaif, Shilpa Shetty, and Kirron Kher. The film is currently available for streaming on Amazon Prime Video.
The journey of 'Apne 2' now stands as a poignant example of how the film industry adapts to profound loss, choosing to channel grief into a creative endeavour that immortalizes a star's final dream.
