Sunny Deol honours his legendary father in the film’s opening credits
January 23, 2026: Sunny Deol, Varun Dhawan and Diljit Dosanjh-starrer Border 2 released in theatres on Friday, January 23, and has been drawing praise from both audiences and critics. Directed by Anurag Singh, the film is a sequel to J.P. Dutta’s 1997 blockbuster Border and is inspired by the 1971 Indo-Pak war. Along with its patriotic narrative, the film features an emotional tribute to Bollywood’s original “He-Man,” Dharmendra, which has resonated strongly with viewers.
The tribute appears in the opening credits of the film. Instead of listing Sunny Deol’s name alone, the makers added “Dharmendra Ji Ka Beta” in brackets beneath it, a simple yet powerful gesture that immediately caught attention. The moment sets an emotional tone right at the start, underlining the legacy of the Deol family and the deep respect for Dharmendra’s contribution to Indian cinema.
Following the release, social media users praised the Border 2 team for the touching homage. Many described the credit as spine-tingling, while others noted that the film also opens with a title card reading, “This is for Papa.” Dharmendra, fondly known as ‘Dharam Paaji,’ passed away on November 24, 2025, at the age of 89, making the tribute especially poignant for fans and the film fraternity alike.