Bollywood multi-hyphenate Karan Johar is eagerly anticipating the release of the upcoming war film ‘Ikkis’, which features Dharmendra posthumously.
KJo recently attended the trailer launch of his next production, ‘Tu Meri Main Tera Main Tera Tu Meri’. During the event, he shared his thoughts on recent film releases and the slate ahead as 2025 approaches.
Speaking to the media at the venue, KJo expressed, “I’m incredibly, incredibly proud of the success of ‘Dhurandhar’, and my congratulations to the entire team. It’s a phenomenal film. I’ve heard the best things about ‘Avatar: Fire and Ash’, but I’ve also heard amazing things about our film. I know it’s a Christmas release, and I think it’s a festive release.”
He also mentioned, “I would like to take this opportunity to say how I’m looking forward to watching ‘Ikkis’. It’s such a special film to all of us. For me, personally, we have immense regard, respect, and reverence for Dharamji. It’s been a tremendous loss for all of us. Watching it for one last time would mean the world to all of us as fans and cine-goers. Plus, it’s Agastya’s film. I’ve known Agastya, so I believe all of us can do exceedingly well at the box office. The success should be with Indian cinema because when we prosper, you prosper, and when you prosper, we prosper. It’s just really fascinating.”
Directed by Sriram Raghavan, ‘Ikkis’ is based on the life of Arun Khetarpal, one of India’s youngest Param Vir Chakra awardees who was martyred during the 1971 Indo-Pak war at the young age of 21.
The film’s title directly references Khetarpal’s age at the time of his death. Agastya Nanda takes on the lead role, offering a significant shift from typical debut choices by emphasizing realism over spectacle. Veteran actor Dharmendra plays a key role, adding depth to the narrative.
‘Ikkis’ focuses on themes of military discipline, battlefield decision-making, and personal courage instead of melodrama. Staying true to historical accounts, the film aims to illustrate the human cost of war while honoring a real-life hero whose bravery remains deeply significant to the nation.