Jaideep Ahlawat, who appears in Sriram Raghavan’s upcoming war biopic Ikkis, speaks with immense admiration and warmth when he recalls working alongside legendary actor Dharmendra. For him, the experience was not just professional ,it was unforgettable.
Reflecting on his time with the veteran actor, Jaideep says, “There was a legend Dharam ji. I can’t explain the intensity, I can’t explain the humour… everything he did on set and off set was so amazing. I’m sure everyone agrees with this.” According to him, Dharmendra brought an effortless ease into every environment he stepped into. “Whenever he came on set, he would make the whole atmosphere lighter, more comfortable.”
But behind that warmth was an incredibly demanding role. In Ikkis, Dharmendra plays the father of Param Vir Chakra awardee Arun Kheterpal a character carrying layers of grief, pride, and emotional restraint. Jaideep recognises just how challenging the performance was: “The role he is playing is not easy. It’s extremely difficult. People may not immediately understand how complex it is. He is playing Arun Kheterpal’s father, and there is this very thin line between expressing grief and judging it and Dharam ji balanced that line brilliantly.”
For Jaideep, filming scenes with Dharmendra was a personal milestone. “Those were very special moments for me… the scenes I got to perform with him. They will stay with me forever.”
Ikkis, directed by master storyteller Sriram Raghavan and featuring a stellar cast led by Agastya Nanda, Simar Bhatia, Dharmendra, and Jaideep Ahlawat arrives in theatres on December 25, 2025.