Sriram Raghavan’s period war drama Ikkis has wrapped up its extended opening weekend on a reasonably stable note, especially considering the odds stacked against it. Fronted by newcomer Agastya Nanda and sharing screens with Ranveer Singh’s still-rampaging Dhurandhar, the film has managed to stay afloat while carving out its own audience.
How Ikkis performed over its first four days
On its first Sunday (Day 4), Ikkis collected ₹5 crore, a slight jump from ₹4.65 crore on Saturday. The film had opened at ₹3.5 crore on Friday, while its best single-day performance came on New Year’s Day, when it earned ₹7 crore thanks to the holiday boost.
By the end of Day 4, the film’s India total stood at ₹20.15 crore, a respectable figure for a war drama led by a debutant.
Agastya plays Arun Khetarpal, the Param Vir Chakra awardee whose story forms the emotional core of the film. While Ikkis marks his first theatrical release, Agastya had earlier debuted on Netflix with Zoya Akhtar’s The Archies.
Not a Saiyaara-level debut, but respectable
Ikkis also introduces Simar Bhatia, Akshay Kumar’s niece, but comparisons with Mohit Suri’s blockbuster Saiyaara were inevitable. The romantic drama starring newcomers Ahaan Panday and Aneet Padda went on to become a phenomenon, eventually earning ₹329.20 crore domestically.
In contrast, Saiyaara had earned more on its opening day alone than Ikkis has collected across its extended opening weekend. That said, expectations were always more measured for Raghavan’s restrained, politically grounded war drama.
How it stacks up against Sriram Raghavan’s past films
Compared to Raghavan’s 2023 release Merry Christmas, Ikkis has clearly performed better. The Katrina Kaif–Vijay Sethupathi thriller had earned ₹11.65 crore in its first four days, nearly half of Ikkis’ current total.
Interestingly, Ikkis has also edged past Andhadhun (2018), which collected ₹18 crore in its first four days before exploding later through word of mouth. However, it still trails Badlapur (2015), which opened stronger with ₹27.5 crore over its first four days.
Holding ground against Dhurandhar
Despite facing stiff competition, Ikkis has managed to survive for a few key reasons. Its political lens on the Indo-Pak conflict is far more subdued than Dhurandhar’s muscular nationalism, giving audiences a clear choice. It also carries emotional weight as Dharmendra’s final on-screen appearance, released just weeks after the legend’s passing.
Additionally, producer Dinesh Vijan’s Maddock Films reportedly ensured that Jio Studios allocated nearly 50% of Dhurandhar’s screens to Ikkis during the opening phase.
Still, the scale difference remains stark. Dhurandhar earned ₹12.75 crore on its fifth Sunday alone, more than double what Ikkis made on its first Sunday.
The real test begins now
The crucial phase for Ikkis starts with its first Monday, where weekday hold will determine whether it can sustain momentum or fade quickly. The challenge only grows tougher with Dhurandhar refusing to slow down and Kapil Sharma’s Kis Kis Ko Pyaar Karoon 2 set for a theatrical re-release on January 9.
Final words
Ikkis may not be a box office juggernaut, but its opening suggests a measured, dignified run rather than a collapse. For a war drama led by a newcomer and released against one of the biggest hits of the year, holding above ₹20 crore in four days is no small achievement. Whether it finds longer legs now depends entirely on weekday stability and audience word of mouth.
