Producer Deepak Mukut recently dismissed director Anil Sharma’s claim that Apne 2 cannot be made after the sudden demise of Dharmendra. Mukut says the film will move ahead as a tribute to the late actor. He believes this is the right time to honour Dharmendra’s legacy and not step back from the project.
Apne 2 Producer To Remove Anil Sharma From The Sequel?
Mukut told Bollywood Hungama, “On the contrary, Apne must be made now, more than ever before. We were working on the project with Dharam ji. Now Sunny (Deol) and I are going to work on Apne as a homage to Dharam ji. He will be there in the project in spirit.”
He also said Sunny Deol’s son, Karan, will have a strong role in the sequel. Mukut will sit with Sunny after the mourning period to plan the next steps.
The producer is unhappy with Anil Sharma’s statement that Apne 2 has been shelved. Sharma reportedly said the film cannot be made without Dharmendra. Mukut disagrees and says the director had no right to make such a claim. “He is not authorised to make such a rash statement. I wonder why he said this. He denies having made such a statement. But how can he be quoted on something so sensitive if he didn’t say it?”
He added that only he and Sunny Deol can decide the film’s future. “It is not Anil Sharma’s call to go ahead with the project or not. It is up to Sunny and I to take the project ahead, and we are going ahead full throttle. We owe it to Dharam ji and his fans all over the world.”
When asked if he may replace Anil Sharma, Mukut said he is open to the idea. “It is a possibility. I am not ruling it out. We may have a new director. That is not important. The important thing is, we are going ahead with Apne 2 as a homage to Dharamji with Sunny, Bobby and Karan Deol.”
Sharma had earlier told Hindustan Times, “Apne to apno ke bina nahi ho sakti. Without Dharamji, it’s impossible to make the sequel. Everything was on track, and the script was ready, but he left us. Some dreams remain unfulfilled. Without him, it’s not possible!”
About Original Film Starring Dharmendra And How Sequel Was Planned
Released in 2007, Apne became a hit for its emotional family story and real-life casting of Dharmendra, Sunny and Bobby Deol. Dharmendra played a former boxer trying to regain his lost honour. The father-son bond and heartfelt moments made the film a fan favourite.
Apne 2 was announced in 2020 with Dharmendra, Sunny, Bobby and Karan Deol. Fans were excited to see three generations together. After Dharmendra’s death on November 24, the team will rework the script, but will stay committed to the project.
Dharmendra’s prayer meet took place at Taj Lands End in Bandra. Stars like Salman Khan, Shah Rukh Khan, Aishwarya Rai, Karan Johar and many more attended to pay their respects. The industry continues to mourn the loss of a legend, even as his family and team try to keep his legacy alive through Apne 2.
