Ikkis director Sriram Raghavan recently opened up about his decision to drop Varun Dhawan, who was initially finalised for the role. He revealed that the character needed to be young to do justice to the life of Second Lieutenant Arun Khetarpal
Varun Dhawan and Agastya Nanda
As Ikkis gears up for release, National Award-winning filmmaker Sriram Raghavan has now opened up about a major casting change in his upcoming war drama. He revealed that Varun Dhawan was initially finalised for the role; however, was eventually replaced by Agastya Nanda.
Sriram Raghavan on replacing Varun Dhawan
According to the filmmaker, the decision to replace Varun was due to one crucial factor, age, and the need to stay truthful to the life of Second Lieutenant Arun Khetarpal, on whose life the film is based.
During an interview with The Hindu, Raghavan noted that the era when actors could play much younger roles well into their 40s convincingly is long gone. “That age when Jeetendra could dance around trees in his 40s is over,” he said, highlighting how audiences today demand authenticity.
Raghavan shared that Varun Dhawan was initially finalised for the project after the two collaborated on Badlapur. He revealed, “Varun was keen, and we had started working on it. But by the time the preliminary scripting was done, COVID happened, and plans changed.”
As the script evolved, Sriram says he realised that age was integral to the narrative. “In certain scenes, Arun is just 19. The story demanded a fresh face,” Raghavan explained.
Additionally, he also stressed the level of commitment that the role required. Sriram said, “We needed an actor who could give two to three years to the project. It’s the story of a boy becoming a man. What Arun did heroically happened in the last two hours of his life. Until then, he didn’t even know he was a hero.”
Interestingly, Agastya Nanda was 21 when he was cast for the film, which ultimately made him a more natural fit for the role. Raghavan added that he wanted Agastya to bring in a sense of innocence and an uncalculated urge to serve. Talking of Agastya, he said, “I think his eyes reflect that."
About Ikkis
Ikkis is set for a theatrical release on January 1, 2026. It revolves around the extraordinary life of Arun Khetarpal, the youngest recipient of India’s highest military honour, the Param Vir Chakra. Notably, it also marks the big-screen debut of Agastya Nanda and Simar Bhatia,
The film also stars Jaideep Ahlawat, Sikandar Kher and Deepak Dobriyal in pivotal roles. It also marks Dharmendra’s final bow on the big screen after he passed away in November this year.
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