'Woh Ikkis Ka Tha...': Ikkis Trailer Out! Agastya Nanda Embodies Param Vir Chakra Hero Arun Khetarpal!

🎖️ 'Woh Ikkis Ka Tha, Ikkis Ka Hi Rahega': Ikkis Trailer Out! Agastya Nanda Brings War Hero Arun Khetarpal's Story to Life

The highly anticipated trailer for Sriram Raghavan's magnum opus, Ikkis, has dropped, offering a riveting glimpse into the heroic life of India's youngest Param Vir Chakra awardee, Second Lieutenant Arun Khetarpal. Making his theatrical debut, Agastya Nanda steps into the colossal shoes of the 21-year-old soldier, promising an intense and inspiring war drama set against the backdrop of the 1971 Indo-Pak War.

The film, backed by Maddock Films and directed by the National Award-winning filmmaker Sriram Raghavan (Andhadhun, Badlapur), is slated for a December 2025 theatrical release.

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🌟 The Promise of Valor: Agastya Nanda as Arun Khetarpal

The trailer opens on a stirring, confident note, with a young, determined Agastya Nanda (who debuted in The Archies) as Arun Khetarpal, declaring a vow to bring the next Param Vir Chakra to his regiment. This singular focus sets the tone for the journey ahead: from the disciplined training grounds of the National Defence Academy (NDA) to the heart of the Battle of Basantar.

• A Hero's Legacy: Ikkis (meaning 'twenty-one') tells the untold true story of Arun Khetarpal, who, at the age of just 21, displayed unparalleled courage and ultimate sacrifice, destroying multiple enemy tanks before being martyred.
• A Theatrical Debut: This marks a pivotal shift for Agastya Nanda, who embraces the challenge of portraying a real-life national icon in his first major theatrical release, moving from high school drama to high-stakes action.

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👨‍👩‍👦‍👦 Emotional Core: Family, Legacy, and Sacrifice

Raghavan, known for blending sharp thrills with deep emotion, ensures that Ikkis is more than just a war film. The trailer beautifully highlights the emotional world surrounding the young officer:

• Dharmendra as the Grandfather: Veteran legend Dharmendra features prominently, representing a family lineage steeped in military honor. His character narrates stories of valor that inspire young Arun, showcasing how the love for the motherland is passed down through generations.
• The Courage of a Mother: In one of the most poignant moments, Arun’s mother urges him to “fight with the courage of a lion” as he leaves for deployment, capturing the quiet strength and immense pride of the families who send their children to war.
• Jaideep Ahlawat's Powerful Cameo: The critically acclaimed Jaideep Ahlawat appears as a Pakistani officer who, in a surprising yet powerful moment, acknowledges that Khetarpal's bravery is respected even across borders.

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🎬 Sriram Raghavan's Vision and The Iconic Last Words

The director’s trademark nuanced storytelling is evident throughout the trailer, avoiding noisy jingoism and focusing instead on genuine, sacrifice-driven patriotism.

The trailer climaxes with Arun Khetarpal's immortal, final words—delivered as his tank was ablaze and he was ordered to abandon it:

💬 "No, Sir. I will not abandon my tank. My main gun is still working. I'll get these brds."**

This line encapsulates the fierce determination of the Indian tank commander, who refused to retreat and prevented a critical enemy breakthrough.

With stellar supporting cast members including Simar Bhatia and Sikandar Kher, and the creative genius of Raghavan, Ikkis is poised to be a gripping, honest, and unforgettable tribute to a hero who remains "forever 21" in India's military history.

Sanjay Kapoor in awe of storytelling master Sriram Raghavan!

As per media reports, Bollywood star Sanjay Kapoor is the latest addition to Sriram Raghavan's Merry Christmas cast. The movie starring Katrina Kaif and Vijay Sethupathi has already gone on floors. The thriller has been shot across the city and will soon move to Pune, disclosed a media source. 

Responding to the pronouncement, an overjoyed Sanjay Kapoor told, "I am looking forward to working under Sriram Raghavan’s vision. He is one of the best filmmakers of Hindi cinema today."

A media source revealed, "Sanjay plays an extremely important role in the film, however his character details have been kept under the wraps, though his part will have multiple layers. He will start shooting for the film this month. Katrina and Vijay are filming in Mumbai, and will move to Pune soon for another schedule."

Sanjay Kapoor confessed that he has been in awe of Raghavan's cinematic style. The filmmaker, who dished out the 2018 hit Andhadhun, began Merry Christmas in December 2021. The Fame Game star further added, "I have been in awe of his style of storytelling ever since I saw Badlapur. After I watched Andhadhun, I was certain that I would like to work with him some day. He knows the art of making something so normal seem extraordinary on screen."

The Badlapur team join hands for for Second Lieutenant Arun Khetarpal!

Varun Dhawan, Sriram Raghavan and Dinesh Vijan are reuniting for another project.

The Badlapur boys have joined hands for a biopic about Second Lieutenant Arun Khetarpal, who was killed in action during the Indo-Pakistan War of 1971. Varun is honoured to be playing the Param Vir Chakra-awardee on screen, and he understands that Sriram and Dinoo are placing a lot of trust in him to do justice to the martyr’s life. I’m sure the trio will make every effort to ensure Arun’s story is told correctly.

Ayushmann Khurrana and Sriram Raghavan collaborate again after AndhaDhun’s success!

Earlier, Sriram Raghavan and Ayushmann Khurrana delivered a movie that redefined the thriller genre. AndhaDhun, that released last year, is maybe one of the finest work that we have seen in latest times.

Now, there are strong buzz in the industry about a promising reunion. As per media source, "Sriram has pitched an idea to Ayushmann and he has liked it very much. In fact, he has also given his nod to the project. Sriram had taken time off to write two scripts. This is yet again a typical Sriram RAghavan film which will be dark, intriguing and mysterious."

A source further adds, "Sriram doesn't believe in making sequels and franchises. Although there's been enough talk about AndhaDhun 2, this film isn't that one. It's a new project with a completely fresh plotline and he plans to mount it sometime this year after Ayushmann completes Shubh Mangal Zyada Saavdhan."

Ayushmann Khurana becomes The Piano Player for Sriram Raghavan!

Bollywood star Ayushmann Khurana took to his social media handle to share a extraordinary picture. That's right, the gifted actor has kick-started the shoot of Sriram Raghavan's next, Shoot The Piano Player.

Ayushmann posted the picture telling, "I missed the match. But started something really exciting. Great day at office on day 1 in Pune. Sriram Raghavan's Shoot The Piano Player. #ShootBegins." In the photo, a bearded Ayushmann is seen essaying the piano in a dimly lit room, with a cat and a window in the backdrop.

The film is being co-produced by Viacom 18 Motion Pictures and Matchbox Pictures and feautres power house actress Tabu. This is the first time that Ayushmann and Tabu are coming together on-screen. Sriram's last venture, the Varun Dhawan starrer Badlapur, received excellent reviews from the critics. All eyes are on this one to see how it will shape up.

Sriram had spoken about his thriller telling, "This is a genre that has always excited me, and I am looking forward to associate with Viacom 18 Motion Pictures for my upcoming film.”

Presently, Ayushmann has been thrilled about his forthcoming film and about teaming up with gifted artists such as Tabu and Sriram.

No Varun Dhawan for Sriram Raghavan's next!

Sriram Raghavan had lately disclosed to a famous daily that Varun Dhawan was going to be the leading man in his next. Instead, now Mirzya actor Harshvardhan Kapoor will be part of the film and not Varun.

The Badlapur and Agent Vinod director told the daily, "The film is in progress, but not with Varun. It is a black comedy with a thriller element to it."

As to why Varun will not be a part of the movie a source disclosed the daily, "There’s already another movie, Kaabil, about a blind man (played by Hrithik Roshan) coming before that and Varun was uncomfortable playing a blind man so soon after that."

"Playing a blind man entails a lot of research and time and the actor wants to focus on commercial entertainers right now. There would be obvious comparisons with Hrithik. Furthermore, Varun wasn’t convinced about the film’s commercial viability and so, turned it down," the source further added.

The film which also stars Tabu is an edgy dark thriller about a musician who fakes being blind. Would you have liked to see Varun in such a different avatar?  

Newcomer Harshvardhan Kapoor plays lead in Sriram Raghavan's next instead of Varun Dhawan!

When Varun Dhawan and Sriram Raghavan had teamed up for dark revenge drama Badlapur, there had been talks that the two are gearing up to come together for a project once more, but it seems that newcomer Harshvardhan Kapoor, who will be seen making his debut with Mirzya, has been approached for the role instead.

News has it that Sriram's next is an edgy thriller about a man, who pretends to be blind and as Hrithik Roshan is already playing a blind protagonist in Kaabil, Varun developed cold feet about the project, after which, the makers started seeing Harsh for the lead role. In the meantime, after Mirzya releases, Harsh will be seen playing a vigilante in Vikramaditya Motwane's Bhavesh Joshi.

Mirzya, which also stars Saiyami Kher, is slated to release this weekend.

Sriram Raghavan chooses Akshay Kumar for playing an assassin!

Director Sriram Raghavan, who is known for making dark and slick thrillers, is gearing up to thrill his fans yet again with a movie, which is based on a book titled Gone With The Bullet.

News has it that Raghavan will team up with Sheeja Jose, the author of the book to work on the script, which revolves around a love story between an 18-year-old girl and a 40-something assassin. When asked about the casting plans, Sheeja told that Akshay would be perfect to play the role of a threatening assassin in his forties, while Alia Bhatt seems to be the perfect choice for the peppy teenager in love with the killer.

Akshay Kumar will be also seen in Housefull 3 and Rustom.