Ikkis trailer out: Agastya Nanda shines as war hero Arun Khetarpal in Sriram Raghavan’s biopic

Maddock Films released the trailer of Ikkis, featuring Agastya Nanda as war hero Arun Khetrapal, a 21-year-old soldier who died fighting in the Battle of Basantar. Veteran actor Dharmendra and Jaideep Ahlawat are also part of the film.

“Dharmendra - Agastya Nanda - Jaideep Ahlawat: Dinesh Vijan Unveils 'Ikkis' Trailer… #Ikkis is a war-drama based on the life of Second Lieutenant #ArunKhetarpal. The film arrives in cinemas in Dec 2025,” Taran Adarsh wrote on X.

DHARMENDRA - AGASTYA NANDA - JAIDEEP AHLAWAT: DINESH VIJAN UNVEILS 'IKKIS' TRAILER… Post #Badlapur , #NationalAward-winning director #SriramRaghavan reunites with #DineshVijan for #Ikkis, starring #Dharmendra,

#AgastyaNanda, #JaideepAhlawat, and #SimarBhatia.#IkkisTrailer ????:… pic.twitter.com/UwUB7gRFnf

— taran adarsh (@taran_adarsh) October 29, 2025

The trailer features Agastya Nanda's portrayal of Second Lieutenant Arun Khetarpal going through intense military training, followed by shots of the battlefield and individual sacrifice. The story then shifts to an emotional scene in which Khetrapal and his mother advise him to ‘fight like a lion’ before entering the battlefield.

In the meantime, Dharmendra—Khetrapal's grandfather appears as the narrator of the elder generation, connecting the soldier's journey to family heritage. “This legacy isn’t just for India—it’s recognised by our adversaries too,” says an army general played by actor Jaideep Ahlawat, according to India Today.

Arun Khetarpal valiantly defended his squadron against a Pakistani counteroffensive during the Battle of Basantar in the 1971 Indo-Pak War. He was critically injured after refusing to abandon his tank and destroying multiple enemy vehicles.

Khetarpal received the highest military honour in India, the Param Vir Chakra, posthumously. He was the youngest recipient of the award at the time of his death, at the age of 21.

Agastya Nanda, who debuted in Zoya Akhtar's Netflix filmThe Archies(2023), plays a challenging role in this Sriram Raghavan-directed war film.

The movie also represents a return to emotionally charged content for Dharmendra, connecting the traditional and the modern. Actors Sikandar Kher, Shree Bishnoi, and Ekavali Khanna are also part of the ensemble cast.

With lyrics by Amitabh Bhattacharya and music and background score by the pair Sachin-Jigar, the movie attempts to strike a balance between cinematic spectacle and patriotic zeal. Ikkis is slated for release in theatres in December 2025, and based on reviews and fan reactions so far, it might end up being one of the year's more emotionally impactful war biopics.