Director Sriram Raghavan said he was surprised by how audiences received Ikkis in theaters, noting that early army screenings were highly positive. He suggested critics may not have seen the film yet and hopes they’ll watch it soon. Ikkis, based on Arun Kheterpal’s life, marks Agastya Nanda’s debut and features Dharmendra in his final role. Read on to know more in detail.
Sriram Raghavan recently attended a session hosted by the Screenwriters Association (SWA) where he talked about his recent release, ‘Ikkis’. The filmmaker acknowledged the fact the theatrical response to the movie shocked him and his team as well. He also added that people criticizing the movie might not have seen it. Let’s take a look at what he has to say.
Sriram Raghavan addresses backlash received by ‘Ikkis’
Addressing the backlash ‘Ikkis’ received, Sriram Raghavan said (as quoted by India Today), “It becomes a bit crazy if I start censoring myself out of fear when I feel I want to say something, but I’m scared to. If that happens, I have to find a way to do it.”Sharing his advice further, he said, “As filmmakers, that’s what we must do. Even in this case, I feel many of those who are objecting probably haven’t seen the film. Now that it’s out, I hope they watch it—then I will respond.”Sriram Raghavan added that the movie was initially screened for the people from the army, and they loved it. However, the response after its release in theaters caught them off-guard. He said, “We were quite baffled, actually, by the response after the film came out. Our first screening was for an audience of 800-plus people in Delhi, which was entirely army, top brass, veterans, and young cadets.”
More about ‘Ikkis’
‘Ikkis’ marked the big screen debut of Agastya Nanda, the grandson of Amitabh Bachchan. The film also featured Jaideep Ahlawat, Simran Bhatia, and was the last film of late legend Dharmendra. The movie was based on the life of Arun Kheterpal, the youngest recipient of the Param Vir Chakra, the highest gallantry award of India. The movie was released in theaters on January 1, 2026. It premiered on Amazon Prime Video on February 26, 2026, and is available for streaming.
