Ikkis,” directed by Sriram Raghavan and featuring Agastya Nanda in the lead role, has made significant strides at the box office. As of now, the film has grossed over ₹21 crore, according to reports from Sacnilk.com.
In its first week, “Ikkis” saw a varied collection. It started strong with ₹7 crore on opening day, followed by ₹3.5 crore on the second day. It garnered ₹4.65 crore on day three and ₹5 crore on the fourth day. Early estimates suggest that the film earned approximately ₹1.13 crore on its first Monday, bringing the total net collection in India to around ₹21.28 crore. The film maintained an overall occupancy rate of 8.19% for Hindi screenings on Monday.
Shortly after the film’s release, Agastya Nanda shared a heartfelt message via his sister Navya Naveli Nanda’s Instagram. Posting a picture taken with director Sriram Raghavan, he expressed his gratitude for portraying Arun Khetarpal, stating, “This was, is, and always will be the most special character I got to play. Thank you, Arun Khetarpal. Love, Agastya.”
The Hindustan Times offered a poignant review of “Ikkis,” highlighting that the film transcends traditional war narratives and embodies a deeper, more painful reminder of the sacrifices made for freedom. It articulates that true reflection on such sacrifices might leave the audience feeling hollow rather than uplifted.
The review further notes that “the ache that lingers long after viewing is its most devastating triumph.” The emotional weight of the film requires viewers to confront the grief of loss—”for a son who never came home, for a father who lived long enough to carry that loss… for a country that remembers its heroes mostly in passing.”
Produced by Dinesh Vijan’s Maddock Films, the screenplay is co-written by Sriram, Arijit Biswas, and Pooja Ladha Surti. The cast includes notable performances from actors such as Dharmendra, Simar Bhatia, Vivan Shah, Sikandar Kher, and Jaideep Ahlawat.
Agastya portrays the character of Arun Khetarpal, a young soldier who was martyred at just 21 years old during the Battle of Basantar in the 1971 Indo-Pak War. His valor and sacrifice earned him the Param Vir Chakra posthumously, marking him the youngest recipient of this prestigious military honor in India at that time.