Despite a slow start, Sriram Raghavan's directorial Ikkis continues to thrive on gradual audience acceptance, not front-loaded numbers. Trends and trade experts suggest that the film could do well in the coming days based on strong word of mouth
(L-R) Simar Bhatia, Dharmendra, Agastya Nanda, and Jaideep Ahlawat in Ikkis
After a slow start, muted advance bookings, and cautious trade expectations, Agastya Nanda-starrer, Ikkis has begun showing positive signs at the box office. While the film hasn’t exploded, it has performed better than recent release — Kartik Aaryan and Ananya Panday’s Tu Meri Main Tera Main Tera Tu Meri — has failed to find any traction. Early estimates suggest that Sriram Raghavan’s war drama, which had an extended weekend, is looking at a cumulative number of Rs 20 crores.
Trade analyst Taran Adarsh believes the Ikkis’s performance reflects lingering uncertainty. “Right now the numbers are not fully in sync, and that’s because the holiday advantage ended on Sunday (Jan 4). Monday (Jan 5) is the real deciding factor in terms of where the film is actually headed,” he tells mid-day.
Breaking down the trend, Adarsh explains that Ikkis opened at approximately Rs 7 crore on Thursday, January 1 before dropping to around Rs 4 crore on Friday, January 2. “Saturday did show some growth at roughly R4.5 crore, which indicates that there is audience acceptance. However, this is not the kind of growth you can bank comfortably on. Sunday, January 4 is expected to remain in the same range rather than showing a dramatic spike which would have helped the film. Ikkis will have to rely on a strong word of mouth.”
A strong factor in the film’s favour is its performance in Punjab and North India, where Dharmendra’s presence continues to command emotional equity. Collections in these circuits have reportedly exceeded expectations, particularly in single screens.
Distributor Gurmeet Singh Seble of Seble Pictures from Chandigarh and Delhi tells mid-day, “For the audience here, this is not just another Friday release. Dharamji is part of their growing-up years. Even if the opening weekend wasn’t massive, the film is holding well show-to-show in these circuits and will continue to do so until Border 2 [releases]”
Trade analyst Girish Wankhede says, “Ikkis may not be a runaway hit, but it has legs.” Comparing it to recent successes like Dhurandhar, he adds, “Ikkis is a very good film, but today, ‘very good’ is sometimes not enough.”
Competing at the box-office globally
Dhurandhar (December 5, 2025)
Rs 1200cr
Tu Meri Main Tera Main Tera Tu Meri (December 25, 2025)
Rs 44cr
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