Kiara Advani’s bodyguard recalls scary incident after a fan tried to hug her during pregnancy: ‘Sidharth was afraid’Kiara Advani’s bodyguard recalled a scary incident during her pregnancy when a fan tried to hug her, leading to a tense situation. Apr 25, 2026
BJP National President Nitin Nabin met and welcomed the Rajya Sabha MPs Raghav Chadha, Sandeep Pathak, and Ashok Mittal at the BJP Headquarters in Delhi after they joined the Bhartiya Janata Party. New Delhi: BJP National President Nitin Nabin met and welcomed the Rajya Sabha MPs Raghav Chadha
Indian Railways: Indian Railways periodically formulates rules to ensure the convenience of its passengers. For those traveling by train with young children, the rules regarding fares and seat bookings are determined based on the child’s age
Residents of Punjab are urged to stay calm as a high-risk civil defence mock drill is scheduled for April 24, from 8:00 PM to 8:15 PM. Chandigarh: Residents across Punjab are advised to remain calm as the state government prepares to conduct a high-risk civil defence mock drill tonight, April 24
RBI cancels Paytm Payments Bank licenceBacked by One97 Communications, Paytm Payments Bank secured a limited banking licence in August 2015 to take small deposits but not give out loans. Updated on: Apr 24, 2026 7:47 PM IST By HT Business Desk Share via Copy link The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has
Ikkis Team Was Unsure About Casting Dharmendra, Writers Say 'Some Felt He Was No Longer Relevant'
Ikkis Team Was Unsure About Casting Dharmendra, Writers Say 'Some Felt He Was No Longer Relevant'
Ikkis, one of the first releases of 2026, quickly grabbed everyone's attention due to its plot and cast. In the film, Agastya Nanda essays the role of Second Lieutenant Arun Khetarpal, India's youngest recipient of the Param Vir Chakra. Dharmendra appears as his father in what marks his final performance. The legendary actor passed away a little over a month before the film's release, adding a poignant emotional layer to the narrative. But did you know, some people in the team were unsure about casting him?
In a recent chat with SCREEN, the film's writers, Pooja Ladha Surti and Arijit Biswas, made this revelation while discussing the scenes that Dharmendra had improvised. One scene in the film shows Dharmendra's character, Madan Lal, remembering his father upon seeing a tree in his Pakistan home. The writers revealed that this was Dharmendra's idea.
Surti said, “That entirely came from Dharam Ji. When we narrated the script to him, he shared that when he went to Punjab, his father, a school headmaster, had a neem tree. He said he could hear his father's voice in that tree. When we found a similar location during scouting, we told him, and he was elated. The lines about the tree reminding him of his father are his own words."
Another key scene in the film sees a Pakistani officer abuse Madan Lal, and the character responds by hugging him. Biswas revealed, “That was again entirely Dharam Ji's idea. Sriram called me and said, ‘Dharam Ji has this idea, he wants to hug this Pakistani soldier, what if the character comes at him aggressively?' I thought it was superb. We fleshed out the scene, but the core, the hug breaking the hatred, was his…"
Surti continued, “The sheer beauty of Urdu in his voice, the humanity, it's unmatched. Internally, we had a bit of a debate about casting him; some felt he was no longer relevant. But Sriram was sure it had to be him. All three of us were sure it had to be him. We have been his fans all along, and it's sad that he is no longer with us. But the passion he had for his work, the fact that he used to write all the dialogues, including those of other actors in Urdu, and even being on set for filler shots, is something I'll never forget."
“In fact, I remember the zeal he had; it's something even the younger lot doesn't possess. I vividly remember when he heard the script, he said, ‘This is me. How can anyone else do this?' He was so happy and even told Sriram that if, for any reason, he couldn't do it, the story must still be made, it's too important not to be told in these times," she concluded.
Source: News18
Related Posts: Diabetologist shares 5 food mistakes increasing your risk of heart attack Laura Anderson shares update from Dubai after airport hit by drone attack Ikkis First Review Ikkis first review out Ikkis first review out Gill & Co. look to quickly adapt to long format as India face depleted West Indies in first Test Would’ve Got Less Hate If I Grabbed His A** Kanika Kapoor Faced Awkward Moment After Fan GRABBED Her On Stage In Meghalaya The viral moments that grabbed India's attention this year Man who grabbed Ariana Grande kicked out of Lady Gaga concert
At least 23 ordinances—including key measures on human rights, judicial oversight, anti-corruption, and policing—have been repealed or allowed to lapse after failing to secure parliamentary approval within the constitutional timeframe. New Delhi: In a significant development
1 minutes ago
Aquarius Horoscope Today for April 25, 2026: Today's cosmic shifts bring positive outcomes in your personal lifeAquarius Horoscope Today: If savings, investments, or trading are involved, avoid making major moves while unsettled. Published on: Apr 25
1 minutes ago
The eldest son of the late Hollywood director Rob Reiner has told how his world "collapsed" after his parents were stabbed to death, and his own brother was charged with their murders. Jake Reiner, 34, wrote in a blog post that "nothing compares to losing both of them at the same time and
1 minutes ago
Multilevel facility: ‘Poor infra, fire safety’, MC lists Sector-17 parking overhaulPointing to broken pathways, doors, window panes and rolling shutters, he directed officials to get them repaired without delay Published on: Apr 25, 2026 7:54 AM IST By HT Correspondent
1 minutes ago
IPL 2026 DC vs PBKS Delhi police has issued traffic advisory for tomorrow. Check list of roads to avoid, diversion points, stadium entry gate numbers and free parking details. The Delhi Traffic Police has released a traffic advisory in view of the Day-Night IPL match scheduled for tomorrow
1 minutes ago
Seven Aam Aadmi Party Rajya Sabha MPs have resigned from the party. Raghav Chadha and others stated the party has strayed from its founding principles. Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta described the resignations as a blow to Arvind Kejriwal's leadership
1 minutes ago
Iran is preparing an offer to meet United States demands. Peace talks are anticipated to restart in Pakistan soon. United States envoys will travel to Islamabad for discussions with an Iranian delegation. President Trump stated the U.S. military will maintain a blockade against Iran's ports until
1 minutes ago
Reliance Q4 results 2026: Mukesh Ambani-led oil-to-telecom conglomerate Reliance Industries Ltd (RIL) declared its Q4 results 2026 on Friday evening. When the Reliance Q4 results 2026 were declared, the Indian stock market was closed, but the London Stock Exchange was open
1 minutes ago
Ahaan Panday reveals what he learnt from superstar ‘uncle’ Shah Rukh Khan; talks about why there's ‘no one like him’Ahaan Panday, who grew up with Shah Rukh Khan's son Aryan Khan, talked about the superstar in a recent interview and said this. Apr 25, 2026
1 minutes ago
Kohli led the 206-run chase with a commanding 81 off 44 balls, sharing a decisive stand with local favourite Devdutt Padikkal at the batting-friendly M. Chinnaswamy Stadium, sealing the win in 18.5 overs. Put in to bat, Gujarat opener Sudharsan dominated the Bengaluru attack from the outset
1 minutes ago
Patrick Mahomes gives thumbs up as Chiefs draft LSU star Mansoor Delane at No. 6Patrick Mahomes expressed excitement over the Chiefs selecting LSU cornerback Mansoor Delane with the No. 6 pick in the 2026 NFL Draft. Updated on: Apr 25, 2026 7:42 AM IST Edited by HT Global Sports Desk Share via Copy
1 minutes ago
LONDON (AP) — Running past Buckingham Palace during training, Tilly Dowler is closing in on a goal she once thought out of reach. Dowler, who has Stargardt disease and says she has about 10% useful vision, only began running last year, starting with a couch to 5K program before building up to
1 minutes ago
European Trade Commissioner Maros Sefcovic discussed U.S. sanctions relief on Russian oil with U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent. Sefcovic understood the relief was temporary, addressing difficulties faced by lower-income nations due to Strait of Hormuz closures
1 minutes ago
Brain teaser: Can this tricky puzzle really predict your thoughts? Internet says yesA brain teaser stunned internet users as many got the same answer after following simple maths steps. Published on: Apr 24, 2026 9:59 PM IST By Mahipal Singh Chouhan Share via Copy link Brain teasers have long
1 minutes ago
The Gauhati High Court on Friday rejected Congress leader Pawan Khera’s plea for anticipatory bail. In a setback for Pawan Khera, the Gauhati High Court on Friday rejected the Congress leader’s plea for anticipatory bail in the case recently registered against him by the Crime Branch of Assam
1 minutes ago
A Delhi court on Friday dismissed an interim bail petition of jailed Lok Sabha MP Abdul Rashid Sheikh to meet his father, who is critically ill, PTI reported. Sheikh, who is popularly known as Engineer Rashid, has been in jail since August 2019 in connection with a terror-funding case filed by the
1 minutes ago
Ahead of the India Africa Forum Summit, officials urged deeper engagement with African financial institutions and enhanced insurance for projects. India's commitment to Africa's development is evident in its expanding diplomatic presence and significant overseas development assistance
1 minutes ago
Union Home Minister Amit Shah declared that the BJP will prevent the construction of a "Babri Masjid" in West Bengal as long as a single party worker remains alive. He accused Mamata Banerjee of permitting a mosque modeled on the Babri Masjid in Murshidabad
1 minutes ago
China’s DeepSeek Launches Long-Awaited AI ModelChina’s DeepSeek launched preview versions of its long-awaited V4 model, breaking months of silence from one of the country’s most closely watched AI labs. Published on: Apr 24, 2026 6:59 PM IST WSJ Share via Copy link China’s DeepSeek launched
1 minutes ago
The Union government on Friday said that of the 26 Indians whose families had moved the Supreme Court seeking their safe return from Russia, 10 have died while fighting the war in Ukraine, reported Live Law. Most of them had joined the Russian military voluntarily, the Centre claimed
1 minutes ago
Iran’s military might was never going to be a match for the US and Israel. So instead it turned to the highly effective weapon it has at its disposal – geography. Blocking off the Strait of Hormuz has shaken the global economy. It has doubled the price of a barrel of crude oil
1 minutes ago
The seven-times Grand Slam champion picked up the injury in the first round of the Barcelona Open earlier this month before withdrawing from the tournament. Scans showed the issue was more serious than initially thought, after which the 22-year-old also withdrew from the Madrid Open
1 minutes ago
High court orders rape accused to pay Rs75,000 monthly to victim, child in KarnatakaThe court directed the accused to either pay the amount himself if he had the means to do so, or, get his parents to pay the amount. Updated on: Apr 25, 2026 7:34 AM IST By Ayesha Arvind Share via Copy link The
1 minutes ago
India to host a three-day Heads of Mission meet on West Asia tensions, Strait of Hormuz crisis, US-Iran standoff and possible non-career envoy appointments. The impact of the ongoing tensions in West Asia on regional economies, diplomacy, and shifting geopolitical alignments will dominate
1 minutes ago
India Palm Oil Crisis: Indonesia, the world’s largest palm oil producer, will now use it to make diesel instead of exporting it. India imports 90% of its palm oil, which is used in everything from soap and biscuits to chips and shampoo. Palm Oil crisis: The Iran war could lead to another major
1 minutes ago
Stop switching apps: You can now recharge your Jio or Airtel plan while chatting on WhatsAppBut there's a catch. This feature is being rolled out for prepaid users only. Updated on: Apr 24, 2026 4:55 PM IST Share via Copy link Recharging your mobile numbers is about to get a whole lot easier in
1 minutes ago
“Go Beyond Classrooms,” says Gurugram’s Advit Agarwal after scoring 99.8% in CBSE 10th exam - check study tipsAdvit Agarwal of Gurugram shares his study tips, preparation strategy and message to juniors for scoring highest marks. Published on: Apr 24
1 minutes ago
