‘Dharmendra was constantly cracking jokes, reciting poems’: Jaideep Ahlawat recalls working with the late legend on Ikkis

Jaideep Ahlawat recalls working with Dharmendra on Ikkis.

The passing of Dharmendra is a loss that will take time for the nation to fully absorb. Especially after watching his swan song, Ikkis, where he delivers one of his most poignant and understated performances, a symbolic reflection of a legend who entertained audiences for more than six decades. Even in his final outing, he commanded the screen with effortless craft. His presence was nothing short of gentle and warm. Reflecting on this, his Ikkis co-star Jaideep Ahlawat recently opened up about the void left by Dharmendra.

In an interview with Times of India, Jaideep said, “The whole country, I think, all cinema lovers, there was not a soul who didn’t feel bad. I felt a void while promoting Ikkis. I wish he were there, in all these promotions. He should have been with us to watch this film, to see his work. So anyway, this is a hollow hypothetical thought. It’s destiny, nothing can be done about it.”

Recalling their time together on set, Jaideep shared, “You feel lucky to be part of a project where the legend is there. I had a lot of fun working with him. Being with him, I never feel that you are working with such a great legend. He makes you feel like family. He was constantly cracking good jokes, making small one-liner jokes, reciting very beautiful poems, telling stories. Working with him has made me feel amazing.”

Ikkis also marks one of the final screen appearances of another legendary actor, Asrani. In fact, there is a memorable moment when both Dharmendra and Asrani share the screen, a scene that is sure to stay in the memories of cinephiles for ages to come. Directed by Sriram Raghavan, the film is currently playing in theatres and has earned a modest Rs 25.5 crore at the box office after a week of release.