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Dharmendra's Final Film: Sriram Raghavan's 'Ikkis' Struggles at Box Office
27 Feb
Summary
- Filmmaker Sriram Raghavan expressed bafflement over the low theatre turnout for 'Ikkis'.
- Dharmendra's final film, 'Ikkis', is now available for streaming on Prime Video.
- Raghavan, known for thrillers, found 'Ikkis' a challenging war drama with dual timelines.
Sriram Raghavan, celebrated for his thrillers like 'Johnny Gaddar' and 'Andhadhun', has expressed surprise at the muted response to his recent war drama, 'Ikkis'. The film, released on January 1 and now available on Prime Video, centers on Second Lieutenant Arun Khetarpal, with Agastya Nanda portraying the war hero. The movie, which also features veteran actor Dharmendra in his final on-screen role, incorporates dual timelines.
One timeline follows Khetarpal during the 1971 India-Pakistan war, while the other tracks his elderly father's quest in Pakistan to understand his son's final moments. Despite critical acclaim for its peace-oriented narrative, 'Ikkis' failed to draw large crowds to theaters. Raghavan acknowledged the industry's current challenges, having experienced two consecutive film underperformances with 'Ikkis' and 'Merry Christmas'.
Raghavan described directing Dharmendra in 'Ikkis' as a "very fulfilling" experience, noting the veteran actor's enthusiastic involvement and numerous ideas that helped shape his character. He recalled Dharmendra's polite refusal of a role in his earlier film 'Agent Vinod' due to its India-Pakistan theme. Raghavan remains actively seeking compelling stories, emphasizing his openness to new scripts from aspiring writers.
