Karan Johar reviews Dharmendra's Ikkis; Calls Agastya Nanda's film 'a love letter to peace'
Dharmendra and Agastya Nanda's war drama, Ikkis, has been performing decently at the box office amid the Dhurandhar craze. Here's how Karan Johar reviewed Sriram Raghavan's film.
Last Updated: 04.54 PM, Jan 05, 2026
Ikkis, starring late actor Dharmendra, Amitabh Bachchan's grandson, Agastya Nanda, and Jaideep Ahlawat, was released in cinemas on January 1, 2026 and has been earning decent numbers at the box office, despite competition from Ranveer Singh's Dhurandhar. Ikkis has been receiving positive responses from fans and critics, and now filmmaker Karan Johar shared his review.
How did Karan Johar like Ikkis?
On January 5, Karan Johar took to his Instagram and shared a long, heartwarming review for Ikkis. He praised Dharmendra, Agastya Nanda, Jaideep Ahlawat, and the full cast. He wrote, "IKKIS is a love letter to peace… an honestly and earnestly told story about the absolute redundancy of war."
KJo shared that he was moved by so many moments of the film, and it silently screams, and that’s where Sriram Raghavan gets it so right. "I was moist eyed everytime Dharamji was on screen…. He has the most towering screen presence and yet can be so gentle and your heart goes out to his immensely dignified portrayal of a grieving father …. @jaideepahlawat proves time and again what an outstanding force of nature he is…he is ROCK SOLID!!" he wrote.
Praising Agastya Nanda, Karan called him 'outstanding' as he brilliantly portrayed the 21-year-old Arun Khetarpal. The filmmaker also praised his endearing innocence, silent resolve and eventual climax that proves his mettle as an artist.
"Was so proud and excited to see him emerge as such a sincere and solid actor… can’t wait to see his journey unfold. Kudos to Dinoo and @maddockfilms for supporting this brave and new take on a war film. Please go watch this gem of a true story….#ikkis," KJo concluded.
Is Ikkis based on true events?
Ikkis (2026) is a Hindi biographical war film directed by Sriram Raghavan, telling the heroic true story of India's youngest Param Vir Chakra recipient, Second Lieutenant Arun Khetarpal, who sacrificed his life at age 21 during the 1971 India-Pakistan War at the Battle of Basantar.
The cast includes Agastya Nanda as Arun Khetarpal, Dharmendra as his father, and Jaideep Ahlawat as a Pakistani officer.
The narrative interweaves Arun's bravery with his father's later journey to Pakistan, where he meets the enemy officer who faced his son. As a young tank commander, Arun Khetarpal displayed immense bravery, destroying multiple enemy tanks before being martyred, famously refusing to abandon his operational tank. Ikkis is a humane anti-war story, which highlights the courage, patriotism, humanity and pain of soldiers on both sides.
Also Read: Ikkis review: Sriram Raghavan delivers profound anti-war film that chooses empathy over jingoism
Ikkis FAQs
Q: Where to watch Ikkis online?
A: After its theatrical run, Ikkis will be released on Prime Video.
Q: Who plays Arun Khetarpal in Ikkis?
A: Amitabh Bachchan's grandson, Agastya Nanda, will be seen playing the role of Second Lieutenant Arun Khetarpal in Ikkis.
Q: Is Ikkis Dharmendra's last movie?
A: Yes. Ikkis marks Dharmendra's last movie. The veteran actor passed away on November 24, 2025.