‘Why Can I Not Do This’: Choreographer Vijay Ganguly Recalls Dharmendra’s Determination During Ikkis Song Shoot

Sriram Raghavan’s movie Ikkis stands out in Hindi cinema as a deeply poignant film, as it marks the final on-screen performance of the legendary actor Dharmendra. The movie has struck an emotional chord with audiences, who are pouring in all their love for its compelling story and masterful direction. As the fans bid their heartfelt farewell to the late actor, the choreographer of the movie, Vijay Ganguly, recently shared his experience of working with the 'He-Man'. He opened up about Dharmendra's love for his work and how he agreed to perform a few steps on a Qawwali song despite all the pain.

Vijay Ganguly, the assigned dance choreographer of the movie Ikkis, fondly recalled his experience of working with Dharmendra and called it a deeply humbling and unforgettable experience. During a conversation with Pinkvilla, he admired how the actor was unable to stand and even then, he agreed to perform a few steps for a scene. Vijay said, “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?'"

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He further recalled how the late actor asked him for the song's lyrics so that he could learn them in case the scene demanded lip syncing.

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Vijay also shared, "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.'"

 

 

 

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Dharmendra’s Role In Ikkis

The late actor Dharmendra portrayed the role of Madan Lal Khetarpal, who was the father of the Param Vir Chakra Awardee Second Lieutenant Arun Khetarpal. The movie was released on January 1, 2026, and ever since, it has been gathering immense praise and love from the audience. In less than a week, it has earned a net collection of Rs 23 crores.