Ikkis Choreographer Recalls Dharmendra Shooting Dance Sequence Despite Discomfort: “Getting Up Was Also Difficult”
Late veteran actor Dharmendra’s dedication to his craft continues to move those who worked closely with him. As his final film Ikkis released in theatres on January 1, members of the team have been sharing heartfelt memories from the set. Now, choreographer Vijay Ganguly has recalled a powerful moment that reflected Dharmendra’s determination to give his “100 percent,” even when he was struggling physically.
Speaking to Pinkvilla, Vijay Ganguly revealed that the incident took place during the shoot of a qawwali sequence, which was set during Dharmendra’s character’s college reunion. The sequence was being filmed late at night, around 2:30–3 am, when the veteran actor was already experiencing difficulty standing.
“It was around 2:30-3 am. We told him that he had to dance just a little bit and he could do whatever he was comfortable with but he asked what the others were doing. We showed him that the other boys were doing a leg step while holding each other by their shoulders. He asked, ‘Why can I not do this?’” Vijay recalled.
The choreographer shared that the team was cautious and did not want Dharmendra to overexert himself. They suggested that he take it easy, move around slightly, and simply enjoy the music. However, Dharmendra remained firm about participating fully in the sequence.
“He insisted on doing the steps. He was sitting because for him, getting up again and again was also a little difficult… He got up and he did it. Eventually, we told him not to do it because if we have many retakes, it would be physically exhausting for him. And honestly, dancing at that point was not very important for his character but for him personally, his thought was that he has to give his 100 percent. He was also feeling like no one should think that he can’t do it so he showed that he could. We were like, ‘Wow, this is fantastic’,” Vijay added.
Vijay Ganguly further revealed that Dharmendra’s commitment extended beyond just the dance steps. The late actor even asked for the song’s lyrics and volunteered to memorise them in case lip-syncing was required, underlining how eager he was to contribute fully to the film.
Dharmendra passed away on November 24 last year, just days before his 90th birthday on December 8. He had been discharged from Mumbai’s Breach Candy Hospital earlier in November and was recuperating at home. The actor was cremated in Mumbai on November 25.
Ikkis, directed by Sriram Raghavan, marks Dharmendra’s final appearance on the big screen. The film stars Agastya Nanda in the lead role, along with Jaideep Ahlawat and Simar Bhatia in key roles. It tells the story of the bravery and sacrifice of Second Lieutenant Arun Khetarpal, the youngest recipient of the Param Vir Chakra, and has received positive reviews from both critics and audiences.
Speaking to Pinkvilla, Vijay Ganguly revealed that the incident took place during the shoot of a qawwali sequence, which was set during Dharmendra’s character’s college reunion. The sequence was being filmed late at night, around 2:30–3 am, when the veteran actor was already experiencing difficulty standing.
“It was around 2:30-3 am. We told him that he had to dance just a little bit and he could do whatever he was comfortable with but he asked what the others were doing. We showed him that the other boys were doing a leg step while holding each other by their shoulders. He asked, ‘Why can I not do this?’” Vijay recalled.
The choreographer shared that the team was cautious and did not want Dharmendra to overexert himself. They suggested that he take it easy, move around slightly, and simply enjoy the music. However, Dharmendra remained firm about participating fully in the sequence.
“He insisted on doing the steps. He was sitting because for him, getting up again and again was also a little difficult… He got up and he did it. Eventually, we told him not to do it because if we have many retakes, it would be physically exhausting for him. And honestly, dancing at that point was not very important for his character but for him personally, his thought was that he has to give his 100 percent. He was also feeling like no one should think that he can’t do it so he showed that he could. We were like, ‘Wow, this is fantastic’,” Vijay added.
Vijay Ganguly further revealed that Dharmendra’s commitment extended beyond just the dance steps. The late actor even asked for the song’s lyrics and volunteered to memorise them in case lip-syncing was required, underlining how eager he was to contribute fully to the film.
Dharmendra passed away on November 24 last year, just days before his 90th birthday on December 8. He had been discharged from Mumbai’s Breach Candy Hospital earlier in November and was recuperating at home. The actor was cremated in Mumbai on November 25.
Ikkis, directed by Sriram Raghavan, marks Dharmendra’s final appearance on the big screen. The film stars Agastya Nanda in the lead role, along with Jaideep Ahlawat and Simar Bhatia in key roles. It tells the story of the bravery and sacrifice of Second Lieutenant Arun Khetarpal, the youngest recipient of the Param Vir Chakra, and has received positive reviews from both critics and audiences.
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