Anil Sharma Recalls Dharmendra’s Shelved Spy Film Sher: ‘He Was India’s James Bond’

Anil Sharma often credits the Deol family for shaping his filmmaking journey, especially Sunny Deol, with whom he delivered blockbusters like Gadar and its sequel. But long before he became synonymous with the Sunny-led cross-border action franchise, Sharma’s career was actually fortified by Sunny’s father, the legendary Dharmendra. The director’s early years in the industry were anchored by four back-to-back collaborations with the veteran star throughout the late 1980s and early 1990s. The Unfinished Dream: Dharmendra As India’s James Bond Before Sharma and Dharmendra created Hukumat in 1987 — a massive commercial success that positioned Dharmendra as one of Indian cinema’s highest-paid stars — there was another film they hoped to make together. On Saturday, as fans across the country prayed for Dharmendra’s recovery, Sharma reached into his archives and revealed the poster of the long-lost 1986 film Sher, a project that was shelved before it could take proper shape. The poster shows Dharmendra shirtless, gripping a gun, his expression fierce and unwavering. Sharma revealed that Sher was envisioned as a full-fledged spy thriller, with Dharmendra playing an Indian version of James Bond. The tagline boldly declared, “To save humanity!” indicating the film’s sweeping ambitions. It was intended as an international co-production between India’s RSD International and Thailand’s Alkemal — an unusually global venture for its time. Scenes Shot, Music Recorded — But Fate Intervened Sharma shared that they had already filmed several action sequences and even shot a song composed by the legendary duo Laxmikant–Pyarelal on a set in Mumbai. He fondly remembered Dharmendra performing “highly stylish action and lovely comedy scenes,” bringing both intensity and charm to the role. The film boasted a strong ensemble, with dialogues penned by veteran writer Kader Khan. Its mahurat was held grandly at Mumbai’s iconic Hotel Sea Rock, just before Hukumat released. Yet, despite everything going smoothly, production abruptly halted due to what Sharma diplomatically described as “issues of the producers.” “I was almost a newcomer at that time. I wish this film had been made. It was an incredible script full of entertainment. But as they say, what happens is up to God’s will,” Sharma wrote, expressing nostalgia tinged with regret. How the Shelved Project Shaped What Came After Though Sher never materialised, Sharma and Dharmendra went on to make four hit action films together: Hukumat, Elaan-E-Jung (1989), Farishtay (1991), and Tahalka (1992). Years later, Sharma fulfilled his desire to make a spy film — not with Dharmendra, but with his son. In 2003, he directed Sunny Deol in the espionage drama Hero: Love Story of a Spy. His association with the Deols continued with films like Apne (2007), bringing Dharmendra, Sunny, and Bobby together, and later Singh Saab the Great (2013) and the blockbuster Gadar 2 (2023). What remains is a tantalising what-if: Dharmendra as India’s own Bond-like spy in the ambitious Sher, a film that could have further expanded the superstar’s already monumental legacy — but now lives only in memory and a single surviving poster.