Some bonds don’t age. They deepen. And on a recent emotional episode of Kaun Banega Crorepati 17, Amitabh Bachchan proved exactly that as he remembered his closest friend, legendary co-star, and Sholay companion Dharmendra.
The moment unfolded when Big B welcomed the team of Ikkis — Dharmendra’s final film — onto the KBC stage. Present were director Sriram Raghavan and lead actor Agastya Nanda, making the moment even more personal for Amitabh, as Agastya is his grandson.
“He wasn’t just a person, he was a feeling”
The tone shifted as Amitabh spoke about Dharmendra, who passed away on November 24, 2025. His words weren’t scripted — they felt lived-in, heavy with memory.
Amitabh described Ikkis as a final gift, not just to fans, but to cinema itself. He spoke about Dharmendra’s lifelong devotion to acting, saying that a true artist never stops practicing their art — not even in their final years.
For him, Dharmendra wasn’t just a colleague or friend. He was family. And feelings, as he put it, never really leave — they stay behind as blessings.
A Sholay memory that still makes him smile
Balancing emotion with warmth, Amitabh lightened the moment by sharing an anecdote from the sets of Sholay — a film that cemented Jai and Veeru as one of Indian cinema’s most iconic duos.
Recalling the famous climax where Jai dies in Veeru’s arms, Amitabh joked that the scene was genuinely painful — not emotionally, but physically. Dharmendra, a trained wrestler, held him so tightly that it became “natural acting” in the truest sense.
It was a small story, but one that perfectly captured Dharmendra’s strength, sincerity, and instinctive approach to performance.
Sriram Raghavan on directing Dharmendra’s final film
Director Sriram Raghavan also shared his gratitude for being part of Dharmendra’s final cinematic chapter. Ikkis, which tells the story of 1971 war hero Arun Khetarpal, features Dharmendra in a pivotal role.
Sriram called the experience a blessing, saying Dharmendra’s performance in the film stands out as something truly special — a fitting final act from an actor who gave everything to the craft.
An industry comes together
Earlier this week, the Hindi film industry gathered in Mumbai for a special screening of Ikkis. The evening was deeply emotional for the Deol family. Sunny Deol was visibly moved by his father’s performance, while Bobby Deol paid tribute by wearing one of Dharmendra’s shirts.
Amitabh Bachchan, who had also attended Dharmendra’s final rites, was present at the screening — quietly standing by the family, just as he always had.
Final words
Ikkis, released in theatres on January 1, 2026, is more than a war film. It’s a farewell. And thanks to Amitabh Bachchan’s words on KBC, it now carries something even deeper — the echo of a friendship that defined generations of Indian cinema.
Jai and Veeru may have been characters.
But Amitabh and Dharmendra were — and remain — a feeling.
