Agastya Nanda's Ikkis set for strong start; here's why it won't face Ranveer Singh's Dhurandhar hurdle

The spy thriller Dhurandhar continues to dominate the movie office as we enter the first week of 2026. The unprecedented run of the Ranveer Singh film is ongoing, but other films have faced formidable obstacles because of its massive visibility. Screen allocation was a problem for several recent movies, including Kapil Sharma’s Kis Kisko Pyaar Karoon 2, Avatar: Fire And Ash by James Cameron, and the romcom Tu Meri Main Tera Main Tera Tu Meri starring Kartik Aaryan and Ananya Panday.

Resolving industry conflicts for release of Ikkis

According to Bollywood Hungama, "fights and disagreements" erupted over screen-sharing in the past few weeks, while Dhurandhar held a firm grip on the market thanks to distributor leverage and exhibitor demand. However, it appears that Ikkis, the first major release of 2026, starring Agastya Nanda and the late great actor Dharmendra, will avoid such conflicts in the industry.

The shared distribution network that supports both projects is the main factor that makes the move easier. Ikkis is directed by Sriram Raghavan and produced by Maddock Films in association with Jio Studios—the same powerhouse that produced and distributed Dhurandhar.

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Balancing fifth-week blockbuster with new launch

According to an exhibitor source, because of the phenomenal success of the Ranveer Singh vehicle, Dhurandhar, the producers are in no hurry to cut down on airtime for the show. On top of that, on Friday, January 2, it will start its fifth week. As a result, they have requested a 30%-to-40% advertising budget for Ikkis.

Screen count and demographics informed the fine-tuning of the Ikkis release. "In cinemas with 2 screens, they have asked for 4 shows. In three-screen cinemas, they have requested six shows and eight in four-screen multiplexes. In cinemas with five screens and more, they have made a request for 10+ shows. And that’s not all. In single-screen, two-screen, and three-screen cinemas, they have instructed exhibitors not to have shows very early in the morning, possibly because Ikkis is a film that will not attract the audience early in the morning and would grow gradually by word of mouth," the same source claims.

Commitment to regular weekend ticket pricing

The distributors have decided against charging exorbitant costs for tickets in an attempt to make the military drama accessible. The source noted, “Lastly, the theatres have been instructed to sell tickets at regular weekend rates. Hence, the tickets of Ikkis will be available at reasonable prices.”

The trade expert, highlighting how Ikkis has established a greater imprint in some territories compared to its predecessors, said that Ikkis probably has more shows in a city like Mumbai than Tu Meri Main Tera Main Tera Tu Meri, though the latter had wider appeal as it was a rom-com. Ikkis has secured shows in those single screens where it can attract an audience, which is its largest benefit. Such theatres had exclusively shown Dhurandhar up until last week.

Achieving scheduling harmony across regional markets

For the sake of scheduling harmony, a number of single-screen cinemas in regional markets will screen two showings of Dhurandhar, two showings of Ikkis, and one showing of the Marathi film Krantijyoti Vidyalay Marathi Madhyam, which includes Sachin Khedekar and is Prajakta Koli's debut in Marathi.

The release is still fairly targeted, though, despite the widespread support. As a result of a limited distribution plan, some single screens around the country will likely not show the film, while high-occupancy "mass" pockets will keep showing the Dhurandhar phenomenon.

Ikkis FAQs:

Q: What is the movie Ikkis about?

A: Ikkis is a biographical war drama directed by Sriram Raghavan. It tells the heroic true story of Second Lieutenant Arun Khetarpal, India’s youngest Param Vir Chakra awardee, who showed immense bravery during the Battle of Basantar in the 1971 Indo-Pak War.

Q: Is Ikkis Dharmendra’s last movie?

A: Yes, Ikkis is the final on-screen appearance of the legendary actor Dharmendra.

Q: Why was the release of Ikkis postponed to 2026?

A: Originally slated for December 2025, the release was moved to January 1, 2026, to avoid a crowded box office.