Ikkis (2026) Movie ft. Jaideep, Agastya, and Dharmendra

Ikkis is a war drama that tells the true story of Second Lieutenant Arun Khetarpal, India’s youngest Param Vir Chakra winner. Agastya Nanda plays Arun, with Dharmendra and Jaideep Ahlawat in key roles as family and officers.

Story and setting

The film covers Arun’s life leading up to the 1971 Indo-Pak war, focusing on his time as a young tank commander during the Battle of Basantar. It shows his training, family relationships, and the moments that defined his courage.

The story balances personal life with military duty. You see Arun as a son, friend and officer – someone who jokes with his father and argues with superiors, but who steps up when the fight starts.

Performances

Agastya Nanda is convincing as the young Arun. He brings energy and innocence to the role without overacting. His scenes with Dharmendra, playing Arun’s father Brigadier ML Khetarpal, feel real and emotional.

Dharmendra carries the weight of the family side. His character is proud but grieving, and he gives the film its heart. Jaideep Ahlawat plays an officer who pushes Arun, and he brings the right mix of toughness and respect.

Supporting roles like Simar Bhatia as Arun’s girlfriend add warmth without taking focus from the main story.

Direction, visuals and sound

Sriram Raghavan moves away from his usual thrillers to make a respectful war film. He focuses on character moments between battles, which keeps the film grounded.

The war scenes are intense but not overdone. Tanks, mud, smoke and chaos feel real rather than flashy. The training sequences show the hard work behind the heroism.

Music by White Noise Collectives stays subtle, with background score that builds tension during action and emotion during family scenes.

What works

• The father-son relationship is the emotional core and feels honest.
• Arun’s character is shown as brave but human, not a superhero.
• War scenes balance action with realism – you feel the fear and stakes.
• Strong supporting cast keeps all characters believable.

What doesn’t

• Some training and family scenes drag in the middle.
• The story follows a familiar “hero rises” path without big surprises.
• A few emotional moments feel predictable.

Verdict

Ikkis is a solid, respectful war drama that honours Arun Khetarpal’s story without turning it into a loud action film. Agastya Nanda shows promise, Dharmendra steals scenes, and the film works best as a tribute to courage and family.

Rating: 4.1/5