Fresh reactions from a star-packed screening of Ikkis have Bollywood buzzing, with casting director Mukesh Chhabra hailing it as deeply personal cinema that hits hard emotionally. The film, directed by Sriram Raghavan, honors Second Lieutenant Arun Khetarpal, India's youngest Param Vir Chakra recipient from the 1971 India-Pakistan War, ahead of its January 1, 2026 release.

The December 29 Mumbai premiere drew heavyweights like Salman Khan, Sunny Deol, Rekha, and the Deol family, amplifying excitement for this shift from Raghavan's thriller roots in Andhadhun to a raw biopic on Arun's heroism during the Battle of Basantar, where he destroyed 10 enemy tanks. Chhabra called it "cinema that feels personal," praising its lingering impact and realism that even Army Chief General Upendra Dwivedi said felt like stepping into a soldier's life.

Jaideep Ahlawat delivers a stunning surprise as Pakistani officer Brigadier Khwaja Mohammed Naseer, leaving Chhabra genuinely taken aback by his intensity after roles in Raazi. Dharmendra, in what many see as his final film following his November 2025 passing at 89, brings heartbreaking depth and grace to Brigadier ML Khetarpal, Arun's father, with Chhabra noting it "truly breaks the heart."

Debutant Agastya Nanda, Amitabh Bachchan's 21-year-old grandson, captures the young soldier's innocence and bravery perfectly, mirroring his own age when he signed on, while sharing strong chemistry with Simar Bhatia, Akshay Kumar's niece in her Bollywood entry. Vivan Shah and Sikandar Kher add solid support, turning this into a family saga of sacrifice that echoes patriotic hits like Uri and Lakshya without melodrama.