Late legends Dharmendra and Asrani share screen space one last time in Sriram Raghavan’s Ikkis, starring Amitabh Bachchan’s grandson, Agastya Nanda.
In a poignant reunion that spans decades of cinematic history, two of Hindi cinema’s most cherished characters, Veeru and the unforgettable Jailor from the 1975 epic Sholay, are set to share the screen one final time in the upcoming war drama, Ikkis.
The late legendary actor Dharmendra, who recently passed away on November 24 at the age of 89, and Asrani, who passed away in October at age 84, shared screen space in a brief, nostalgic moment captured in a clip from the new film.
A short viral clip showed Dharmendra reciting heartfelt lines, “Aaj bhi ji karda hai, pind apne nu jaanwa” (I still feel like going to my village today), and fans quickly noticed a blink-and-miss appearance of Asrani. As the camera panned, Asrani was spotted beside the veteran actor, sharing a laugh, a moment that instantly triggered a wave of nostalgia among fans of the classic Sholay.
Asrani, known as the “king of comedy,” had passed away on October 20 due to a chest infection. Following his demise, the official Instagram account handler shared a sorrowful message, praising his unique acting, simplicity, and humor, and emphasizing that the life he breathed into every character will live on forever.
The film, Ikkis, is a war drama directed by Sriram Raghavan and stars Agastya Nanda and Simar Bhatia. It is based on the heroic life of Arun Khetarpal, the youngest recipient of India’s highest military decoration, the Param Vir Chakra. Sholay, the classic film that originally cemented the legendary pairing of Veeru (Dharmendra) and Jailor (Asrani), was an epic action-adventure directed by Ramesh Sippy, which also starred Amitabh Bachchan, Hema Malini, and Jaya Bachchan.