Megastar Amitabh Bachchan recently paid a moving tribute to his late friend and co-star Dharmendra, sharing a behind-the-scenes secret from their iconic film Sholay. The emotional recollection happened on the set of his popular quiz show, Kaun Banega Crorepati.
A Final Bow and Fond Memories on KBC
The occasion was the promotion of Dharmendra's final film, Ikkis, which is scheduled for release. Director Sriram Raghavan, along with cast members Agastya Nanda and Jaideep Ahlawat, visited Bachchan's show. This prompted Bachchan to remember the legendary actor, who passed away in November 2025 at the age of 89.
"Ikkis is the last precious film that the great actor Dharmendra did for his millions of fans," Bachchan stated. He emphasized an actor's desire to work until the very end, noting, "An actor wants to practice his craft till his last breath, and my friend Dharmendra Deol did the same. He was not just a person; he was a feeling. And a feeling never leaves you."
The 'Pehelwan' Grip That Created Cinematic History
With a smile, Bachchan then delved into a classic anecdote from the making of Ramesh Sippy's Sholay. He highlighted Dharmendra's formidable physical strength, a trait often associated with wrestlers or 'pehelwans'.
"He had a quality, which I would describe as his physical quality. He was a pehelwan. I got to learn this myself," Bachchan revealed. He pointed specifically to the film's climactic and tragic death scene where his character, Jai, succumbs to his injuries. "In the death scene, when I am in agony, it is because of him. He held me so tightly, I was acting naturally here."
This revelation offers a fascinating glimpse into method acting from a classic era, where Dharmendra's real-life strength inadvertently contributed to the raw and authentic pain visible on Bachchan's face, making the scene one of Indian cinema's most memorable moments.
Cast and Director Reflect on a Legend's Last Film
The KBC segment also featured insights from the team of Ikkis. Director Sriram Raghavan expressed his gratitude, saying, "I am very blessed that he worked in my film and his last film. I think he is extraordinary in it."
Actor Jaideep Ahlawat, who shared numerous scenes with the veteran, recalled his down-to-earth nature. "I am very lucky because I had the maximum scenes with him. When he was on set, I never felt that I was with such a big star. It always felt like he was a part of the family."
Raghavan further shared that Dharmendra had seen a significant portion of Ikkis before his health declined. "We had some dubbing with him in October... he saw around 50-70% of the film, he sort of liked it," the director mentioned. He expressed a poignant regret that Dharmendra could not see the final cut, drawing a parallel to composer R.D. Burman not being present for the acclaim of '1942: A Love Story'.
This heartfelt episode of Kaun Banega Crorepati served as a touching tribute, blending nostalgia for a timeless film like Sholay with the poignant promotion of a cinematic legend's final performance in Ikkis.
