Ahead of Ikkis release, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh sat down for a special screening of Agastya Nanda's upcoming war drama, directed by Sriram Raghavan, in Delhi.
At the event, he not only interacted with Ikkis actors Agastya and Jaideep Ahlawat, but also felicitated the family members of Second Lieutenant Arun Khetarpal, who laid down his life during the 1971 India-Pakistan war at the age of 21.
Sharing pictures from the meeting, Rajnath Singh said, "Felicitated the family members of Second Lieutenant Arun Khetarpal, PVC, and the next of kin of his tank crew at the special screening of the film Ikkis in New Delhi. Arun Khetarpal fought valiantly in the 1971 war and made the supreme sacrifice for the nation. The film Ikkis showcases his bravery and celebrates the courage of our Armed Forces. Also had a wonderful interaction with the actors of Ikkis. I wish them success in their future endeavours."
As reported earlier, Ikkis tells the story of Second Lieutenant Arun Khetarpal, India’s youngest Param Vir Chakra awardee, who was just 21 when he participated in the Indo-Pak war in 1971.
The film’s final trailer, unveiled recently, showcased Agastya Nanda as Arun Khetarpal in the war zone instructing his peers to aim and shoot at locations while the title card reiterated that the film is inspired from "an incredible true story." The troops are in Pakistan where Agastya Nanda displays resilience and bravery in leading his team in the Battle of Basantar. Dharmendra makes an appearance in one of his final films before his demise where he looks distraught. Towards the end of the trailer, he says his "eldest son Arun will always be 21."
Written by Sriram, Arijit Biswas and Pooja Ladha Surti, the film also stars Suhasini Mulay, Sikander Kher, and Rahul Dev, and marks the debut of Akshay Kumar's niece Simar Bhatia. Known for his thrillers, Ikkis marks Sriram Raghavan's first venture into the war drama genre.
Ikkis has been produced by Dinesh Vijan’s Maddock Films. It hits theatres on January 1, 2026.
