Bobby Deol lends his voice to Dharmendra’s younger role in Sriram Raghavan’s Ikkis

Bobby Deol has lent his voice to a younger version of Dharmendra in Sriram Raghavan’s upcoming biographical drama Ikkis, which releases on Thursday, January 1. The film is being described as the legendary actor’s final on screen appearance, while it also introduces Agastya Nanda, Amitabh Bachchan’s grandson, in a lead role.

According to a report by The Indian Express, Bobby Deol has received a Special Thanks credit from the producers for his contribution to the film. Bobby has reportedly dubbed select dialogues for the younger version of ML Khetarpal, the character portrayed by Dharmendra.

Dharmendra, who passed away in November at the age of 89, plays ML Khetarpal, the father of Second Lieutenant Arun Khetarpal. Arun Khetarpal was India’s youngest recipient of the Param Vir Chakra and lost his life during the 1971 Indo Pakistan war.

The makers felt the need for a voice that could naturally align with Dharmendra’s screen presence in the character’s earlier years. Bobby stepping in added a personal and emotional layer to the narrative without altering the tone of the film. “This creative decision brings an added sense of authenticity and legacy to Ikkis, seamlessly bridging generations both on and off screen. Bobby’s voice subtly enhances the portrayal of the character’s younger years, making the transition across timelines more intimate and impactful,” the makers said in an official statement quoted by MensXP.

For Bobby Deol, the association with Ikkis also carries strong emotional significance. His first film as a leading actor was Rajkumar Santoshi’s Barsaat in 1995, produced under Dharmendra’s banner, Vijeyta Films.

However, Bobby’s connection to cinema began much earlier. In 1977, at the age of eight, he appeared as the younger version of Dharmendra’s character Dharam Singh in Manmohan Desai’s Dharam Veer. He was credited as Master Bobby at the time.

Nearly five decades later, Bobby is now linked to Dharmendra’s final film, not as an actor on screen, but as the voice shaping a part of his father’s performance. The moment reflects a quiet coming together of family, memory, and cinema, fitting for a film rooted in history and sacrifice. The film aims to honour legacy while maintaining restraint in its storytelling.