Dharmendra's Shelved Spy Thriller 'Sher' Revealed: A Glimpse into the 80s Cinematic Treasure

In a fascinating look back at the 1980s, filmmaker Anil Sharma has revisited the story of 'Sher', a shelved spy thriller that was meant to star the legendary Dharmendra in a James Bond-like avatar. As fans across the country pray for the 89-year-old actor's recovery, Sharma has shared rare insights into this little-known cinematic project.

According to Sharma, 'Sher' was planned before their 1987 hit 'Hukumat' and was envisioned as a big-scale spy film that would showcase Dharmendra in a stylish, larger-than-life role. The director revealed that the film had a "big star cast" and was launched with a grand mahurat at Mumbai's Hotel Sea Rock, with dialogues written by Kadar Khan and music composed by Laxmikant-Pyarelal.

Despite this promising start, 'Sher' never made it to the screen due to issues from the producers' side. Sharma, who was "almost a newcomer at that time," expressed his regret, saying, "Kash ye film ban pati. Bahut hi jabardast and entertainment se bharpur thi script... but 'hoye vahi jo ram rach rakha'."

While 'Sher' remained an unrealized vision, it became the starting point of a successful creative journey between Sharma and Dharmendra. The duo went on to collaborate on four action-packed films, including 'Hukumat,' 'Elaan-E-Jung,' 'Farishtay,' and 'Tahalka.' Sharma later extended this association to the next generation, working with Sunny Deol and Bobby Deol on blockbusters like 'Gadar: Ek Prem Katha' and 'Ab Tumhare Hawale Watan Saathiyo.'