02 January,2026 01:18 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondent
Ikkis starrer
Filmmaker Sriram Raghavan's directorial Ikkis was released in theatres on January 1, 2026. The first film of the year is a war drama with a strong anti-war core. It stars Agastya Nanda in the lead as Second Lieutenant Arun Khetarpal, on whose life the film is based. Dharmendra plays Brigadier ML Khetarpal, father of India's youngest Param Vir Chakra recipient, Arun Khetarpal. While the film focuses on Arun's bravery, Dharmendra's character emerges as the emotional soul of this anti-war narrative.
Ikkis exceeded expectations on Day 1, opening to healthy collections. The film collected over Rs 7 crore despite Dhurandhar having a successful run in the theatres. Trade analyst Taran Adarsh took to social media to share the box office collection of the Sriram Raghavan directorial. This also marks Agastya Nanda's first theatrical release.
"Ikkis exceeds all expectations, opening to a healthy Day 1 total... Business gathered momentum post-noon, with the new year [1 Jan 2026] holiday giving a clear boost to collections. The film also benefited from the presence of legendary actor Dharmendra, whose final screen appearance happens to be Ikkis. The film now needs to maintain this pace over the extended weekend to post a respectable total," he wrote on X.
The film's narrative swings between 1971 and 2001. Dharmendra's character travels to Pakistan for personal reasons and is hosted by Brigadier Jaan Mohammed Nissar (played by Jaideep Ahlawat). Their conversations recall Arun's final year with pride and fondness. Interestingly, in portions set in the 1970s where Dharmendra appears as a younger father, his voice has been dubbed by his son, actor Bobby Deol, who is duly credited at the start of the film.
Directed by National Award-winning filmmaker Sriram Raghavan, Ikkis tells the inspiring story of Second Lieutenant Arun Khetarpal, India's youngest Param Vir Chakra awardee. The brave soldier fought valiantly during the Battle of Basantar, destroying 10 Pakistani tanks before sacrificing his life.
The film stars Agastya Nanda and Simar Bhatia in their debut roles and features Dharmendra, Jaideep Ahlawat, Sikandar Kher, and Deepak Dobriyal in pivotal roles.
