Ahead of Ikkis release, Sunny Deol and Bobby Deol call Dharmendra’s final film his ‘gift to the earth he loved'

Ikkis stars Amitabh Bachchan's grandson, Agastya Nanda, late actor Dharmendra, and Jaideep Ahlawat in the lead roles. The film, directed by Sriram Raghavan, marks late actor Dharmendra's last film, which is set to be released on January 1, 2026. Ahead of the release, Sunny Deol and Bobby Deol penned an emotional note, calling Ikkis their father's gift to the earth he loved. 

Bobby Deol and Sunny Deol pen note ahead of Ikkis

On December 31, 2025, Sunny Deol and Bobby Deol shared a note, highlighting the essence of Ikkis being the last film of their late father, Dharmendra. They also used the late actor's poem from Ikkis as background music. 

They wrote, "Our Papa, the man of the soil, Ikkis is his salute - his gift to the earth he loved and to the fans who always stood by him. For our family, it is a treasure filled with his spirit, courage, and his heart. Today, with love and immense pride, we share it with the world, hoping it lives on the way he does - forever."

Amitabh Bachchan reviews Ikkis

After attending the special screening of Ikkis, Amitabh Bachchan shared a long post on his blog where he showered praise on Ikkis, which also stars his grandson, Agastya Nanda. 

Praising Agastya’s performance, Big B wrote, "His maturity, his unfiltered honesty in his performance, his presence justifying the character he portrays .. nothing frith or froth, just the Arun Khetarpal soldier, who fought in his bravery as the 21 year old, defending the nation during the India -Pak war of 1971 .. nothing excessive, just the perfection in every shot .. when he is in the frame you only watch him .. and this is not a grandfather speaking, this is a hardened viewer of cinema."

The veteran actor also praised the writing, direction, and presentation of Ikkis.  

About Ikkis

Ikkis is a 2026 Hindi war drama by Sriram Raghavan, based on the real-life heroism of India's youngest Param Vir Chakra recipient, Second Lieutenant Arun Khetarpal, who died at 21 in the 1971 Indo-Pak War.

Ikkis stars Agastya Nanda as Arun Khetarpal, alongside Dharmendra as his father, and Jaideep Ahlawat in a key role. The film focuses on sacrifice, duty, and the emotional depth of young soldiers in battle. The primary themes of Ikkis are courage, sacrifice, duty, and patriotism. This film is presented as a realistic, humane story of a young man who becomes a legend through his boundless courage and commitment to his nation.

Also Read: Ikkis removes 15-second dialogue on India-Pakistan relations ahead of release; Runtime revealed

Ikkis FAQs

Q: Is Ikkis based on a true story?

A: Ikkis is based on the heroic true story of Second Lieutenant Arun Khetarpal, India's youngest Param Vir Chakra recipient, martyred at age 21 in the 1971 Indo-Pak War.

Q: Where to watch Ikkis on OTT?

A: After the theatrical run, Ikkis will land on Prime Video.

Q: Is Ikkis Dharmendra's last movie?

A: Yes. Ikkis marks Dharmendra's last movie. The veteran actor passed away on November 24, 2025.