Praising the film 'Ikkis', Karan Johar took to Instagram on Monday (January 5) to share how moved he was after watching the movie.
"IKKIS is a love letter to peace… an honestly and earnestly told story about the absolute redundancy of war…," he wrote on Instagram.
"I was so moved by so many moments of the film … it silently screams … and that’s where Sriram Raghavan gets it so right…" he wrote.
Heaping praises
Starring late actor Dharmendra, 'Ikkis' released in threatres on January 1, 2026 and has since seen steady box office numbers. In his post, Karan said that he was "moist-eyed everytime Dharamji was on screen".
Also Read | Ikkis X reviews: Dharmendra shines in his final film; Agastya Nanda makes a promising debut
Deeply moved by Dharmendra's performance, Karan said, "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."
Welcoming Agastya Nanda to the movies, Karan called him "OUTSTANDING as the 21-year-old Arun Khetarpal".
Highlighting the young actor's restraint, he said, "His endearing innocence , silent resolve and eventual climax break out proves his metal 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… welcome to the movies," Karan wrote further.
In praise of Jaideep Ahlawat, Karan wrote, "He proves time and again what an outstanding force of nature he is…he is ROCK SOLID!!"
Commending Simar Bhatia for her debut role, Karan lauded her confidence.
In the end, the filmmaker lauded Maddock Films for supporting the "brave and new take on a war film". He urged the people to go and watch "this gem of a true story".
Box office numbers
The first Hindi release of 2026, 'Ikkis' opened to a thumping start and collected an estimated Rs 7 crore on day 1, as per early trade figures. Till date, the movie has collected around Rs 20.15 core, according to Sacnilk.
Also Read | Ikkis film review: A reflective take on war and its aftermath
About the movie
Ikkis is based on the life of Second Lieutenant Arun Khetarpal, the youngest recipient of the Param Vir Chakra, who was killed during the 1971 India–Pakistan war. Agastya Nanda plays Khetarpal, while Dharmendra appears as his father in one of his final screen roles. The film also features Jaideep Ahlawat, Deepak Dobriyal and Asrani.
