Ikkis

About the film

Ikkis (transl. Twenty One) is a 2026 Indian Hindi-language biographical war drama film directed and co-written by Sriram Raghavan. It is co-produced by Dinesh Vijan, Binny Padda, Sharada Karki Jalota, and Poonam Shivdasani under Maddock Films. It stars Agastya Nanda, Dharmendra, Asrani, Jaideep Ahlawat and Simar Bhatia. This also marks the final film appearance of Dharmendra. It is based on the life of Arun Khetarpal, the youngest recipient of the Param Vir Chakra award, and centered around the Battle of Basantar during the 1971 India–Pakistan War. The film's title is in reference to the age at which Arun Khetarpal was killed in action.

Originally scheduled for 25 December 2025, the theatrical release of Ikkis was later postponed to 1 January 2026. The film received positive reviews from critics but flopped at the box-office.

Plot

The film chronicles the events in the life of 2nd Lieutenant Arun Khetarpal and eventually his martyrdom in the Battle of Basantar during the 1971 India Pakistan War. It also depicts the events that happen when his father, Brigadier Madan Lal Khetarpal (retd), visits Pakistan 30 years later. On 14 October 1971, at a training camp in Ahmednagar, officers celebrate 2nd Lt. Arun Khetarpal's 21st birthday while it is announced that training is cancelled due to increasing tension at the border. Time shifts to 2001 in Lahore, Pakistan, where Brigadier Jaan Mohammed Nisar prepares for the arrival of Madan Lal Khetarpal, Arun's father, who is staying for a college reunion and to visit his village, Sargodha. Time shifts back and forth and show Arun's biography, including falling in love with a girl named Kiran Kochar, being a tank commander, going to Pakistan on 3 December 1971 (the day Prime Minister Indira Gandhi declared war on Pakistan), being mistaken for the Pakistani army by civilians, fighting against over 14 Patton tanks, and ultimately breathing his last (which is later revealed that it was caused by Nisar himself). It also shows ML Khetarpal visiting the spot where his son died. In the end, it is revealed that Kiran still sends a birthday cake to Arun's family, although she broke up with Arun in June 1971.

Production

The film was produced by Dinesh Vijan's Maddock Films and Binny Padda, alongside Sharada Karki Jalota, Keval Shah, Antara Banerjee, Naved Farooqui, and Poonam Shivdasani. The film has been co-written by Sriram Raghavan, Arijit Biswas, and Pooja Ladha Surti. It was in the pipeline since 2019 when it was first announced on Arun Khetarpal's 69th birth anniversary and was supposed to go on floors in 2020 but was delayed due to the COVID-19 pandemic in India. The film has been shot across various locations in North India. The film has a poem titled Aj vi ji karda hai, pind apne nu jaanwa, which has been written and orated by late actor Dharmendra himself. Agastya Nanda who plays Arun Khetarpal underwent a strict regimen as the role required a strict fitness requirement.

The film was first announced in 2019 on 69th anniversary of Arun Khetarpal's birth, with Varun Dhawan originally cast in the lead role. After COVID-19, Dhawan couldn't do the film due to date scheduling issues. A new cast was announced on 8 December 2022, the 87th birthday of Dharmendra, retaining only him in the role of the father Madan Lal Khetarpal, newcomer Agastya Nanda was cast in the role of Arun Khetarpal and Akshay Kumar's niece debutant Simar Bhatia was finalised as the female lead. Jaideep Ahlawat was cast as Pakistan Army officer Jaan Mohammad, the character is based on Khwaja Mohammed Naseer, who confessed to Arun's father that he was the man who pulled the tank's trigger that killed his son in the Battle of Basantar. Sikandar Kher, who plays Risaldar Sagat Singh joined the cast in February 2025. Shree Bishnoi, a Rajasthani actor who plays Sowar Parag Singh as the driver of Arun's tank 'Famagusta' also joined the cast on 15 October 2024. Comedy icon Asrani who died late last year was also cast in a small role. Vijay Ganguly has been roped in as the choreographer for the film. Sujeet Subhash Sawant and sriram Kannan Iyengar did the production design of the film, Bishwadeep Chatterjee was roped in for sound designing and Amrit Singh with Alexander Samokhvalov are responsible for action sequences.

The film was shot across various locations in North India. During shooting sequences Dharmendra, for better understanding, improvised and rewrote his dialogues in Urdu and other actors cues as well. He was eager to watch the complete film but managed to see only about 50 percent in post-production rushes. During the filming, the late actor had recorded a message that 'India and Pakistan' must see the film. This Behind the Scene message was shared by the production team on his 90th birthday on 8 December 2025. During filming of the song 'ikkis' Dharmendra despite his advanced age used to stay awake till early morning to complete the song. Agastya Nanda who plays Arun Khetarpal underwent a strict regimen as the role required a strict fitness requirement. To prepare for the role, Nanda did extensive training for 2–3 years at the Indian Army and Poona Horse regiment, followed by National Defence Academy at Khadakwasala, Pune. Later, he went to Aurangabad, where he did tank training for a few days. As the film is based on a tank war involving Centurion tanks, that dont exist except as showpieces, the filmmakers recreated 3 Centurion tanks from scratch to film the tank battle. Production designer Sujeet Subhash Sawant and Sriram Kannan Iyengar designed and executed the exterior and interior of tanks, period Punjab villages as set and army camps. Even though special effects have been …

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