The Times Of India | Feb 01, 2026 , 10:55:53 IST

Ikkis: Movie Review and Release Live Updates: Agastya Nanda-Simar Bhatia starrer opens strong at the box office

As the global box office gears up for a blockbuster-heavy 2026, 'Ikkis' bravely becomes the first Hindi release of the year to step onto the box office battlefield. Directed by Sriram Raghavan, the war drama opens in theatres on January 1, putting Agastya Nanda at the forefront of the New Year box office race.Nanda, who made his screen debut in Zoya Akhtar’s 'The Archies', takes on his first lead role in a theatrical release as Second Lieutenant Arun Khetrpal, the youngest recipient of India’s highest military honour, the Param Vir Chakra. 'Ikkis' chronicles Khetrpal’s life and sacrifice during the Battle of Basantar in the 1971 Indo-Pak war, where he was martyred at the age of 21.Agastya’s performance has already drawn praise from his grandfather, Amitabh Bachchan, who penned a glowing review on his blog after watching the film. Calling his grandson’s work “perfection in every shot,” Bachchan wrote, “tonight to see him in frame, unable to take my eyes off each time he fills the frames of the film…” He further described Ikkis as “flawless in its presentation… its writing… its Direction,” adding that the film left him “with tears of joy and pride… unable to speak out… in silence.”From a trade perspective, 'Ikkis' is opening on modest note. Early trends suggest that the film's advance bookings are just around the Rs 1 crore mark. Early industry estimates state that the film could just open to numbers around the Rs 2 crore range, while overseas performance may just push the film to a Rs 3–4 crore worldwide opening.The film’s release comes after a series of delays. Originally slated for a Christmas debut, 'Ikkis' was pushed back by a week amid the box office dominance of 'Dhurandhar', which continues to draw in the big bucks even a month into its release.The film also starring Jaideep Ahlawat, Sikandar Kher and newcomer Simrar Bhatia, marks the final on-screen appearance of Dharmendra, who passed away on November 24 at the age of 89.
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