IKKIS Panel Discussion: Agastya, Simar and Jaideep fondly remember Dharmendra

Soon, Agastya Nanda — grandson of Amitabh Bachchan — and Simar Bhatia, niece of Akshay Kumar, will be seen in the much-awaited war drama Ikkis. With this film, Simar Bhatia is all set to make her Bollywood debut. Before its release, the team participated in a panel discussion, which included lead actors Agastya Nanda and Simar Bhatia, along with producer Dinesh Vijan, director Sriram Raghavan, and powerhouse performer Jaideep Ahlawat. This session was part of the Bollywood Hungama OTT Fest 2025, which further fuelled excitement around the film. Here’s what the team shared at the event…

Agastya on His Character

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Agastya Nanda, who portrays Arun Khetrapal in Ikkis, shared his thoughts, saying, “When I first heard about this young Param Vir Chakra awardee, a sense of responsibility instantly washed over me. I felt the need to truly understand Arun Khetrapal first. Twenty-one is a very young age, a time when most people don’t even know what they want to do in life. And here was someone who stood up and said he would decide what was right. That inspired me deeply.”

Remembering Dharmendra

Agastya also spoke emotionally about legendary actor Dharmendra, who plays an important role in the film. He said, “This is a very emotional moment for me because Dharam ji has worked with every generation of my family. He worked with my great-grandfather and my grandfather, and I got the honour of sharing screen space with him. It’s a privilege. It saddens me that he didn’t receive the love he truly deserved. This will always remain a heartfelt moment for all of us.”

Simar Bhatia Shares Her Experience

Simar Bhatia expressed her excitement about making her debut with Ikkis. She said she feels extremely grateful to work with such seasoned and exceptional artists. Praising the film’s producer and director, she added that working with the team has been a huge learning experience for her. Simar also revealed that director Sriram Raghavan helped her prepare for the role by recommending a list of films to study — including the classic Aradhana.

Jaideep Ahlawat Praises Dharmendra

Jaideep Ahlawat fondly remembered Dharmendra and shared a humorous anecdote from the sets. He said, “Even when he wasn’t feeling well, his sense of humour was incredible. His one-liners were epic. Once, I was shooting a driving scene with him seated in the back. It was a complicated technical shot, so we had several retakes. Every time, I had to reverse the car myself. The road was winding, and I tried my best to get it right. When the shot finally got okayed, Dharam ji smiled at me and said, ‘Puttar, hun tainu driving licence mil sakda hai!’ (Son, now you can finally get a driving licence!).”

Speaking about Dharmendra, Jaideep added, “He received so much love because he gave so much love to everyone. I spent only a few days with him, but in those days, I truly felt his warmth… I remember once I asked him a random question and he suddenly cupped my face and said, ‘Kinna sona puttar hai’ (Such a handsome son). I wondered if he really meant that. He would share stories, recite poetry… he was magic.”

The Atmosphere on Set

Jaideep also described how Dharmendra would light up the environment whenever he arrived on set. “When he walked in, he made everything feel so easy. The role he plays in the film is not easy at all. Only a few people will truly understand how challenging it is. Arun Khetrapal’s father was an Army man — portraying such a character while keeping the spirit of a cheerful soul alive is pure magic. These were very special moments for me.”

He added that sharing a frame with Dharmendra was one of the most historic moments of his career — something he would cherish forever. “Dharam ji was mine, and he will always remain mine. The love he gave me will always stay with me. The whole nation will remember him.”

Praise for Sriram Raghavan

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Producer Dinesh Vijan praised director Sriram Raghavan, saying, “He is one of the finest filmmakers in the country. He always said that war must look and feel like war. And I promise you — when you watch this film, you will feel it.”

About Ikkis

Ikkis is set to release in theatres on 25 December 2025. Directed by Sriram Raghavan, the film features Agastya Nanda as Arun Khetrapal. The cast also includes Jaideep Ahlawat, Sikandar Kher, and Simar Bhatia, who makes her Bollywood debut with this film. Simar is the daughter of Akshay Kumar’s sister, Alka Bhatia.

The film tells the story of the brave 1971 Indo-Pak war hero Arun Khetrapal, who was martyred at the age of 21 and was posthumously awarded the Param Vir Chakra — the youngest soldier ever to receive India’s highest wartime gallantry honour.

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