"Why Can't I Do This?": Late Night Dance Moment Shows Dharmendra's Heart in Final Film 'Ikkis'

Mumbai: Bollywood legend Dharmendra didn't let pain slow him down during the shoot of his last film 'Ikkis'. Choreographer Vijay Ganguly recalls a touching moment when the actor insisted on performing a dance step deep into the night, even when it was hard for him to stand. 

The film, which released on January 1 and has drawn warm responses from fans, brought out more than just memorable scenes on screen. It brought out a glimpse of the late actor's dedication and spirit behind the camera too.

Why did Dharmendra dance at such a late hour?

During a qawwali sequence for 'Ikkis', the team found themselves shooting around 2:30-3 am. Ganguly told media that they asked Dharmendra to just move gently and enjoy the music because getting up and down was physically tough for him. 

But Dharmendra, then in his late 80s and struggling with mobility, was curious. He asked what the other performers were doing. When shown that they were doing a leg step with linked shoulders, he asked a simple question: "Why can I not do this?" and got up to try it.

Was he really in pain?

Ganguly said that repeatedly standing up was challenging for the veteran actor. Despite this, Dharmendra pushed himself, stood up, and performed the step, even though the crew didn't think many retakes were worth tiring him out.

For his character the dance wasn’t crucial. But for Dharmendra, giving less than his best wasn’t an option. As Ganguly put it, he wanted to show that he could do it.

What does this say about him?

This small moment says a lot about his work ethic and passion. Dharmendra even asked for the song’s lyrics and offered to learn them in case he needed to lip-sync. 

Fans watching 'Ikkis' aren’t just seeing his final screen role, they’re seeing a last bit of the devotion he brought to his craft right up to the end. 

Who else stars in 'Ikkis'?

The film, directed by Sriram Raghavan, also features Agastya Nanda, Jaideep Ahlawat, and Simar Bhatia in key roles. It tells the real-life story of Second Lieutenant Arun Khetarpal, a Param Vir Chakra awardee.

Dharmendra passed away on November 24, 2025, just days before his 90th birthday.