New Delhi, January 5, 2026 – Sriram Raghavan’s biographical war film Ikkis, starring Agastya Nanda and Dharmendra, recorded a sharp decline on its first Monday, collecting ₹1.13 crore nett in India. This brings the total domestic earnings to ₹21.28 crore after five days. The film, released on January 1, 2026, amid New Year festivities, opened strongly but struggled with weekday audiences. Day-wise breakdown shows fluctuating performance.
On day 1 (Thursday), it earned ₹7 crore nett, benefiting from holiday crowds. Day 2 (Friday) saw a drop to ₹3.5 crore, a 50% fall. Weekend recovery came on day 3 (Saturday) with ₹4.65 crore and day 4 (Sunday) at ₹5 crore. Monday’s ₹1.13 crore reflects a 77% dip from Sunday, typical for non-mass entertainers post-holidays. Slight variations exist in estimates: day 1 at ₹7.28 crore, day 2 ₹4.02 crore, day 3 ₹5.05 crore, and day 4 ₹5.70 crore, totaling ₹22.05 crore for the opening weekend.
Overseas collections add ₹1.17 crore gross, pushing worldwide to ₹27.42 crore. Hindi occupancy on day 5 stood at 8.19%, indicating low footfall in theaters. Ikkis is based on the true story of Second Lieutenant Arun Khetarpal, the youngest Param Vir Chakra recipient, who sacrificed his life during the 1971 Indo-Pak war at age 21. The narrative alternates between the young officer’s battlefield heroism and his father’s later journey to Pakistan to honor his memory. Directed by Sriram Raghavan, known for thrillers like Andhadhun and Merry Christmas, this marks a shift to patriotic drama.
Agastya Nanda plays the young Arun, while Dharmendra portrays the elderly Brigadier M.L. Khetarpal. The cast includes Jaideep Ahlawat as a Pakistani officer, adding cross-border emotional depth. Produced by Dinesh Vijan under Maddock Films, the movie emphasizes anti-war themes, portraying soldiers as humans divided by borders but united in loss. Raghavan’s direction balances action with sentiment, avoiding jingoism. Reviews are mixed. Times of India praises it as a “moving Indo-Pak war drama” that humanizes conflict, rating it 4/5. Indian Express calls it a “solid start” for Nanda, noting its anti-war stance and soothing narrative.
Hollywood Reporter India highlights Raghavan’s sweet spot between love and war. However, some users criticize biased portrayals, claiming it shows Indian soldiers negatively while favoring Pakistani views. Rotten Tomatoes aggregates a 68% score, with audiences appreciating sincerity but noting pacing issues. Box office analysts attribute the Monday drop to competition and genre limitations. War dramas like Border or Uri succeeded with mass appeal, but Ikkis‘ introspective tone targets urban multiplexes. Reports note a “poor first weekend” at ₹17.75 crore nett over four days, below expectations for a ₹100 crore budget film.
A sharp weekday drop followed modest weekend growth of 32.9% on Saturday. Compared to similar releases, Ikkis outperforms Sam Bahadur (₹6.25 crore opening) but lags behind Fighter (₹24 crore day 1). Nanda’s debut in The Archies was Netflix-bound, so this theatrical outing tests his draw. Dharmendra’s veteran presence adds nostalgia, but youth appeal is key.
Prospects remain cautious. Without strong word-of-mouth, it may struggle to reach ₹50 crore domestically. No major releases clash this week, offering recovery potential. Social media buzz shows praise for Nanda’s performance and emotional climax, potentially boosting mid-week collections.
Industry experts say patriotic films thrive on national holidays, but Ikkis‘ release timing—post-Christmas, pre-Republic Day—might dilute impact. Ticket sales data indicate 30,000-35,000 advance bookings in major chains. Overall, Ikkis delivers a respectful tribute to a war hero, blending history with humanism. While box office numbers dip, its thematic depth could ensure longevity via OTT. As day 6 unfolds, eyes are on whether it stabilizes or slides further.
