Mumbai: Sriram Raghavan’s much-awaited war-drama ‘Ikkis’, starring Agastya Nanda and Bollywood legend Dharmendra, hit theatres on January 1.
On seeing Dharmendra, the He-Man of Bollywood, in his final screen appearance, fans got emotional and said called ‘Ikkis’ was a moving tribute to the legend.
Several movie buffs even called Dharmendra, who passed away on November 24, the soul of the film.
“The film truly belongs to the legendary Dharmendra in his final on-screen role. Playing the grieving father, his silent, dignified performance is heartbreaking and anchors the emotional core. Unlike typical actioners, this is an intimate, claustrophobic look at war that honours both a young martyr and a cinema icon. A deeply moving watch,” wrote one user.
“Ikkis honors PVC Arun Khetarpal while decisively changing the cinematic template of war films in India. Here’s welcoming #AgastyaNanda and #SimarBhatia to movies. They are sincerely brilliant on screen, and you’d want to see more of them. Their chemistry feels very organic. I’m sure it wouldn’t have been easy for Agastya to get under the skin of PVC Second Lieutenant Arun Khetarpal, but he does it effortlessly,” expressed another user.
“Watching #Dharmendra ji on the big screen for one last time is extremely emotional. Even at the age of 90, he has terrific screen presence. Jaideep Ahlawat is one of the exceptional talents we have, you give him any role and he just nails it every damn time. Speaking about the film as a whole, director Sriram Raghavan takes a very different route in approaching a war drama. The film has all the flavors of patriotism, valor, emotion, thrill, and romance. He truly is one of the finest directors we have,” shared one netizen.
If the first Twitter reviews are anything to go by, biographical war drama ‘Ikkis’ is set to emerge as a winner. The film revolves around Indian Army officer Second Lieutenant Arun Khetarpal, India’s youngest Param Vir Chakra recipient.
“#Ikkis is about what remains after the battlefield falls silent. It explores love, duty, grief, and the enduring human spirit—emotions that transcend borders, uniforms, and politics. By choosing empathy over glory, the film achieves something rare in modern-war cinema,” commented one user.
Another said, “Sriram Raghavan’s Ikkis is a poignant masterpiece that chooses raw emotion over loud noise. 🇮🇳✨ Agastya Nanda shines in a sincere breakout performance as 2nd Lt. Arun Khetarpal, perfectly capturing the journey from innocent boy to battlefield hero.”
#IkkisReview: STAGGERING WAR FLICK!
RATING – ⭐⭐⭐⭐ 4/5*SRIRAM RAGHAVAN DOES IT AGAIN!😎
PATRIOTISM, ACTION, COURAGE! 👑Never doubt this man. #Ikkis is his first war genre movie and he nails it. The inspiring tale of the youngest #ParamveerChakra recipient #ArunKhetarpal… pic.twitter.com/I84eeuPDqp
— $@M (@SAMTHEBESTEST_) January 1, 2026
