Agastya Nanda, during the music launch of his upcoming film "Ikkis," became emotional while recalling the presence and impact of veteran actor Dharmendra on set. The film, a war drama directed by Sriram Raghavan, features Agastya Nanda in the lead role as Second Lieutenant Arun Khetarpal, India's youngest Param Vir Chakra awardee. Dharmendra plays the role of Arun Khetarpal's father, Brigadier M. L. Khetarpal.
"Ikkis" chronicles the life of Arun Khetarpal, who was posthumously awarded India's highest military decoration for his bravery in the 1971 Indo-Pak war. The film is scheduled to release in theaters on December 25, 2025.
The music launch event saw the release of "Sitaare," a song from the film sung by Arijit Singh. Agastya described "Sitaare" as the emotional heartbeat of the film's story, a bubble of calm and love before Arun's life takes a dramatic turn. He added that watching the visuals blend with Arijit Singh's voice gave him goosebumps. Simar Bhatia, who plays the female lead in the film, echoed this sentiment, describing "Sitaare" as soft, intimate, and full of delicate emotions, setting the tone for Arun's journey.
Agastya Nanda's performance in "Ikkis" marks his first theatrical release, following his debut in Zoya Akhtar's OTT film, "The Archies". In "Ikkis", he steps into a completely different world, portraying a real-life war hero. The film also marks the reunion of "Sholay" co-stars Dharmendra and Asrani for one last screen moment.
Dharmendra's involvement in the film is particularly poignant, as "Ikkis" is set to be his final on-screen appearance. The film features a poem written and recited by Dharmendra, titled "Aj bhi ji karda hai, pind apne nu jaavan" (My heart still yearns to go back to my village), capturing his deep connection to his roots and mirroring the film's themes of love, loss, and longing for home.
The recently released trailer of "Ikkis" has been praised for its powerful mix of patriotism, emotion, and youthful determination. It offers glimpses into Arun Khetarpal's romantic journey and showcases the courage and pride of his mother. The film is directed by Sriram Raghavan and produced by Dinesh Vijan under Maddock Films.
