Abhishek Bachchan praises Agastya Nanda as Ikkis shines despite box office competition.
Agastya Nanda‘s War Drama
Can a quiet, emotional war drama survive in the wake of a ₹700-crore hurricane? This is the question currently facing Agastya Nanda and the team behind Ikkis.
While Ranveer Singh’s Dhurandhar continues to dominate the multiplexes like an unstoppable force, a different kind of victory is being celebrated within the Bachchan household.
Abhishek Bachchan recently took to Instagram to publicly validate the “belief” of his nephew, whom he affectionately calls “Aggie.”
The message—”I couldn’t be prouder”—signals a significant shift in Agastya’s career. He isn’t just a “nepo-kid” in a stylized musical anymore; he is the face of a National Hero.
The Weight of the Param Vir Chakra
Ikkis is not your typical high-decibel, jingoistic war film. Under the direction of Sriram Raghavan, the movie focuses on the internal life of Second Lieutenant Arun Khetarpal.
- The Sacrifice: Khetarpal remains the youngest recipient of the Param Vir Chakra, having given his life at just 21 during the 1971 Indo-Pak War.
- The Directorial Choice: Raghavan, known for his noir sensibilities, brings a gritty, unsentimental lens to the battlefield. This isn’t about slow-motion explosions; it’s about the terrifying reality of a young man choosing duty over survival.
- A Final Goodbye: Perhaps the most emotional element of the film is the presence of Dharmendra. Playing Arun’s father, this marks the final screen appearance of the “He-Man” of Bollywood, who passed away in November 2025. Every scene he occupies is now imbued with a tragic, unintended resonance that critics say provides the film’s heartbeat.
Survival in the Era of “Dhurandhar”
The box office reality for Ikkis is complex. Trade analysts were surprised by its better-than-expected opening, yet there is no denying the “impacted footfalls” caused by Ranveer Singh’s Dhurandhar.
Now in its fifth week, Dhurandhar is still pulling in ₹6.63 crore daily—a figure most films would be happy with on their opening Friday.
However, the “success” of Ikkis cannot be measured purely by the ₹745 crore benchmark set by Singh. For Maddock Films, Ikkis represents a prestige project.
It is a film designed for “critical longevity.” In an industry obsessed with the first three days, Ikkis is playing the long game, relying on strong word-of-mouth and the emotional pull of Dharmendra’s farewell to maintain its presence in theaters.
Truths
Most actors making their second film would opt for a safe, commercial romantic comedy. Agastya Nanda’s choice to lead a period war biopic is counter-intuitive.
Belief is a professional risk. By portraying a hero who dies at 21, Agastya is stripping away the “star” persona before it has even fully formed.
Critics have noted that his “restraint” is his greatest strength. In a genre where actors often over-perform “bravery,” Agastya’s portrayal of a young man who is simply doing his job is what makes the film 4/5 star material.
The irony is that by playing a character who loses everything, Agastya may have finally won over the skeptics.
Summary of the Battle
- Abhishek Bachchan has publicly praised Agastya Nanda’s dedication in Ikkis.
- The film serves as the final, poignant screen appearance of the late Dharmendra.
- While Dhurandhar dominates the charts, Ikkis is carving out a niche through critical acclaim and emotional depth.
As the 1971 battle plays out on screen, a modern-day box office battle continues.
Ikkis may not have the massive total of its competitors, but it has the one thing money can’t buy: the “quiet ache” of a story well told.
लेटेस्ट इंडियन सेलिब्रिटी न्यूज़, एक्सक्लूसिव अपडेट्स और ट्रेंडिंग गॉसिप का आपका डेली डोज़। बॉलीवुड और उससे आगे भी जुड़े रहें!