Filmmaker Sriram Raghavan said that when he first met Agastya Nanda, he was reminded of Amitabh Bachchan in his debut film Saat Hindustani. Agastya, Bachchan’s grandson, stars in Raghavan’s upcoming film Ikkis,
where he plays Arun Khetrpal, the youngest person to receive the Param Vir Chakra. Raghavan said Ikkis needed a fresh and young face to show a boy growing into a man. After meeting Agastya, he felt he was right for the role. He also praised the actor’s hard work, saying the role was physically demanding, with Agastya having to climb onto a tank many times and work in tight spaces. The film also stars Dharmendra in his final film, along with Jaideep Ahlawat, Sikandar Kher, and newcomer Simrar Bhatia, who is Akshay Kumar’s niece. Raghavan said the mix of young actors and senior stars worked well for the film.
Known for thrillers like Ek Hasina Thi, Johnny Gaddaar, Badlapur, Andhadhun, and Merry Christmas, Raghavan said Ikkis was a new experience for him and gave him confidence to try different stories. Produced by Maddock Films founder Dinesh Vijan, Ikkis will release in theatres on January 1, 2026.
Recently, Amitabh Bachchan shared his review of the film. He praised Agastya’s performance, lauding his ‘maturity’ and ‘unfiltered honesty’, and said that he couldn’t take his eyes off his grandson whenever he appeared on screen. He also added that he got emotional when the film ended, and his eyes were filled with tears of joy and pride.
He recalled the journey from his grandson’s birth to the day he finally chose to follow his dream of becoming an actor. “Emotions flow ..As do they tonight when you witness the grandson excel in IKKIS .. the time when his Mother , Shweta is being rushed to Breach Candy Hospital as she encounters final labour pains .. his birth .. holding him barely a few hours later, and discussing whether his eyes were blue .. to the time when he grew a bit and holding him in my arms, and he fiddles with my beard .. to his growth .. to the final personal decision of his to be an actor , and tonight to see him in frame, unable to take my eyes off each time he fills the frames of the film,” wrote Amitabh Bachchan in his blog.
