A special screening of the upcoming war drama Ikkis was held in New Delhi, making the evening both emotional and memorable. The event was attended by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, senior defence officials, Army personnel, and their families, marking a proud moment for the team behind the film.
At the special screening of Ikkis, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh warmly greeted the cast and crew and presented them with mementos. The event also saw the presence of Chief of the Defence Staff General Anil Chauhan, Chief of the Army Staff General Upendra Dwivedi, along with Indian Army personnel and their families.
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Speaking at the event, lead actor Agastya Nanda, who plays war hero Second Lieutenant Arun Khetarpal, shared his hopes for the film’s impact. He said, “We really hope that this reaches every person in this country so that they can realize how brave the forces are, what they do for us and the sacrifices they give.”
Production house Maddock Films later shared glimpses from the screening on social media. They captioned the post, “A warm and deeply moving special screening of #Ikkis, shared with the Honourable Defence Minister – Shri Rajnath Singh, Chief of the Defence Staff – General Anil Chauhan, Chief of the Army Staff – General Upendra Dwivedi, along with our Army personnel and their families. 🇮🇳 An evening we’ll always hold close.”
Felicitated the family members of Second Lieutenant Arun Khetarpal, PVC, and the next of kin of his tank crew at the special screening of film ‘Ikkis’ in New Delhi. Arun Khetarpal fought valiantly in the 1971 war and made the supreme sacrifice for the nation. The film Ikkis… pic.twitter.com/RUMBbOGD2p
— Rajnath Singh (@rajnathsingh) December 22, 2025
During the event, Rajnath Singh also honoured the family of Second Lieutenant Arun Khetarpal, who was posthumously awarded the Param Vir Chakra for his bravery during the 1971 war. Later, the Defence Minister shared photos from the moment on his social media and wrote, “Felicitated the family members of Second Lieutenant Arun Khetarpal, PVC, and the next of kin of his tank crew at the special screening of the film Ikkis in New Delhi.”
He further added, “Arun Khetarpal fought valiantly in the 1971 war and made the supreme sacrifice for the nation. The film Ikkis showcases his bravery and celebrates the courage of our Armed Forces. Also had a wonderful interaction with the actors of Ikkis. I wish them success in their future endeavours.”
Originally planned for a Christmas release, Ikkis is now set to hit theatres on January 1, 2026. The film holds special emotional value as it marks Dharmendra’s posthumous on-screen appearance, where he plays Brigadier ML Khetarpal (Retd.), the father of Arun Khetarpal. Along with Agastya Nanda and Simar Bhatia, the cast includes Jaideep Ahlawat, Shree Bishnoi, Suhasini Mulay, Sikander Kher, Rahul Dev, Vivaan Shah, and others.
Also Read: Photos: Amitabh Bachchan, Akshay Kumar and More Attend Ikkis Screening Ahead of Its Release
