Ikkis: Agastya Nanda replaces Varun Dhawan for THIS reason

The biopic of Second Lieutenant Arun Khetarpal PVC has been under production for a while. The movie Ikkis, which was to be directed by none other than Sriram Raghavan, who previously directed Andhadhun, was to be a reunion with his Badlapur hero, Varun Dhawan. Varun's departure from the project has since been confirmed, and it appears that Agastya Nanda has benefited from this.

However, there has been much speculations over whether he had a fall out with either director Raghavan or producer Dinesh Vijan, or both. But the recent reports confirm that it's not like that at all. Varun's relationships with Dinesh and Sriram have remained the same. After Bhediya, Dinesh Vijan and Varun are actually planning another movie, the source claimed.

A source informed Bollywood Hungama that the reason is “The age factor”. “The Param Vir Chakra winning soldier Arun Khetarpal on whom the film is based died defending our country at 21. Varun is now 35. So chronologically they don’t match. When Ikkis was announced three years ago Sriram thought he would pull it off with Varun. But now everyone felt the actor playing Arun Khetarpal must be younger. Agastya is just the right age to play Arun Khetarpal. Besides that, the boy is hugely talented,” says the source.

Meanwhile, Agastya is Amitabh Bachchan's grandson and Shweta Bachchan Nanda's son and he will make his feature film debut in Ikkis. The movie, directed by Sriram Raghavan, is based on the life of Second Lieutenant Arun Khetarpal PVC, the youngest person to receive the prestigious Param Veer Chakra. Second Lieutenant Khetarpal is a war hero. He was only 21 years old when he lost his life in the 1971 Indo-Pak conflict.

The cast will include Dharmendra in addition to Nanda. The movie will be produced by Dinesh Vijan's Maddock Films.