Bollywood’s legendary action star Dharmendra has delivered countless hits, but very few know that he also worked on a film that never saw the light of day. After 39 years, director Anil Sharma has shared the poster of the unreleased 1986 film ‘Sher’, bringing back old memories.

The newly surfaced poster shows Dharmendra shirtless, holding a gun, in a fierce and stylish avatar—proving yet again why he was known as the “He-Man” of Bollywood.

Dharmendra Was Set to Play an Indian ‘James Bond’

Anil Sharma, the filmmaker behind Gadar: Ek Prem Katha, revealed that ‘Sher’ was a spy-action film, crafted to give Dharmendra a James Bond–like character on the Indian screen.

He wrote:
“‘Sher’ was produced by an Indian and a foreign producer. It was a spy film, and Dharam ji’s character had a James Bond–style aura. We shot a few action sequences and an LP-composed song in Mumbai. I still remember how charismatic Dharam ji looked in this role.”

Why ‘Sher’ Never Released

Despite beginning its shoot, the film was never completed, and hence never released.
Anil Sharma said the film was ahead of its time and would have been a major shift for any Hindi film hero of that era.

Due to production issues and disruptions, the film was shelved permanently.

Anil Sharma and Dharmendra Delivered a Hit Instead — ‘Hukumat’ (1987)

Although Sher never made it to the theaters, Anil Sharma and Dharmendra collaborated again in 1987 for the iconic action hit ‘Hukumat’.

The film starred: Dharmendra, Sadashiv Amrapurkar, Shammi Kapoor, Rati Agnihotri, Goga Kapoor, Guddi Maruti
It went on to become one of the major hits of the decade.

Anil Sharma’s Early Career

Born in Mathura, Anil Sharma started his journey in cinema as an assistant director, working on films like: Pati Patni Aur Woh, The Burning Train, Insaaf Ka Tarazu.

He made his directorial debut in 1981 with Shradhanjali, and later directed films such as Bandhan Kachche Dhaagon Ka, Hukumat, and Tahalka.

Dharmendra’s unreleased film Sher remains one of Bollywood’s most intriguing incomplete projects. With the poster resurfacing after 39 years, fans are once again reminded of the superstar’s unmatched charm and the lost potential of a film that could have brought India’s very own “James Bond” to the big screen.