Producer Dinesh Vijan has finally spoken about the postponement of the much-awaited war drama Ikkis. The film, which was earlier planned for a December 25 release, will now hit theatres on January 1, 2026. The decision was taken just days before release, and according to the producer the move was done keeping the film’s future in mind.
‘Ikkis: A film that needs time and space
‘Ikkis’ is based on the real-life story of Param Vir Chakra awardee Second Lieutenant Arun Khetarpal, who was martyred at the young age of 21 during the 1971 Indo-Pak war. The film stars Agastya Nanda in the lead role. It also features Dharmendra, in what will be his final film appearance, and Jaideep Ahlawat in an important role.
Explaining the delay, Dinesh Vijan told PTI, “I feel you should make a decision that is good for everyone, and that will help you as well. It’s a film that requires space. We are lucky that we’re getting a solo date at the beginning of the year.”
‘Dhurandhar’: The ongoing box office force
The strong box office run of ‘Dhurandhar’ was one of the main reasons behind the postponement. The film continues to dominate theatres and draw huge crowds. Releasing Ikkis alongside such a successful film would have affected it. Vijan shared that such decisions are not new. He said that similar situations happened with films like ‘Chhaava’, ‘Pushpa’, and ‘Hindi Medium’.
December clash: Too many big releases
The original Christmas release would have also put Ikkis in direct competition with ‘Tu Meri Main Tera Main Tera Tu Meri’, starring Kartik Aaryan and Ananya Panday, and ‘Avatar: Fire and Ash’, one of the most awaited Hollywood films.Talking about the new date, Vijan added, “In the new year, we’re also ready to watch a good film. We get a run. So, it works overall for the business because all the films get space to breathe.”
