‘Apne’ director Anil Sharma recalls how 71-year-old Dharmendra outpaced a running train on a bicycle as 15,000 fans cheered

Dharmendra's passing has left the film world in sorrow, yet his legendary determination and powerful screen presence keep inspiring many. Director Anil Sharma once shared a visual memory from the shoot of ‘Apne,’ where the 71-year-old actor amazed the entire crew by going above and beyond what was expected for a single scene.

Joyful shoots and deep emotions

Over many years of working together, Sharma observed Dharmendra’s cheerful nature while filming ‘Apne.’ As reported in News18, he recalled the deep impact the story had on the legend. “He was very happy during the Apne shoot. He used to cry and get emotionally choked whenever he’d listen to the story or watch the film later,” Sharma said, highlighting the actor’s emotional connection to the project.




Crowd fuels epic cycle chase.

The director shared an unforgettable moment from Apne, saying, “I remember a shot in Apne. Dharmendra was on a cycle, racing with a running train. About 10,000-15,000 people just showed up on set, and they began cheering, ‘Dharmendra! Dharmendra!’" Sharma revealed how the massive crowd's energy fueled the actor. “Dharam ji got so pumped up that he overtook the train on his cycle, even on the rocky path next to the railway tracks."

Family milestone on screen

‘Apne’ represented a deeply personal milestone for Dharmendra, uniting him onscreen with sons Sunny and Bobby for the first time. Sharma stressed crafting a tale rooted in emotion rather than pure action. The director said that he didn’t want an action film with all three of them together. There can be action, but there should be a basic emotion in the story too. So, it took a year or a year and a half to write the story, but it worked out.

Heart-tugging scene highlight

Sharma also shared the emotional moment from the film that touched him most deeply. He said, “It’s empty, and there’s silence. Then he talks to the signs of his son’s blood on the mat. Wow, what a scene! Dharam ji is extraordinary when it comes to emotion. People say his action and comedy are great, but I say Dharam ji is the best in everything, but his emotion really touches you. It feels very real. And he never puts glycerine. None of the three Deols do that. Tears just flow out of their eyes."





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