'Apne 2 NOT Shelved, Will Be An Homage To Dharmendra Ji', Says Producer Deepak Mukut

Just as director Anil Sharma had revealed that Apne 2 had been shelved after Dharmendra‘s passing, producer Deepak Mukut has confirmed that the film is indeed happening and will serve as a tribute to the late, legendary actor. The news of Dharmendra’s death has left a deep void for his fans, and the buzz surrounding Apne 2 has caught everyone’s attention.

Deepak Mukut said in a statement, “People need to stop spreading unverified rumours. Apne 2 is NOT shelved. This film is happening, and it is happening with full conviction. We have been working quietly but consistently, and there has never been a question of dropping the project. Apne 2 is not only on track but remains one of the most emotionally significant projects undertaken by our banner.”

He added, “Apne belonged to Dharamji. His presence, his warmth, his soul, everything he stood for made that film what it became. Apne 2 is extremely close to my heart. In many ways, the film will be a shradhanjali, a heartfelt homage to Dharamji. We want the sequel to celebrate him, his values, and the emotional world he created with the Deol family on screen.”

Dharmendra, 89, died on November 24 after battling a prolonged illness. He had been discharged from Mumbai’s Breach Candy Hospital just days earlier and was being monitored at home when his condition worsened.

Anil Sharma, who had been preparing to direct Apne 2, recently admitted that the film cannot go ahead now. Speaking to Hindustan Times, he said, “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!”

The sequel was planned as a continuation of the 2007 family drama Apne, with Dharmendra, Sunny Deol, Bobby Deol and Karan Deol leading the narrative. Despite being announced years ago, the film never began shooting.

Meanwhile, Dharmendra’s last film to release will now be Ikkis, directed by Sriram Raghavan and starring Agastya Nanda. The film arrives in cinemas on December 25, 2025, exactly a month after the actor’s passing.