Dinesh Vijan Explains 'Ikkis' Release Delay Amid 'Dhurandhar' Success

Producer Dinesh Vijan has revealed the reason behind pushing back the release of his film, 'Ikkis.' The movie, featuring Agastya Nanda in the lead role alongside Dharmendra, whose appearance in the film will be his last, was initially slated to hit theaters on December 25th, following Vijay Diwas. That said, the reality is a bit more complicated. the makers opted to delay the release until January, citing the continued success of 'Dhurandhar' at the box office; that film just recorded its best second weekend ever for a Hindi movie.

Vijan explained that the decision to move 'Ikkis' back a week was carefully considered, emphasizing the need for the war drama to have sufficient space in cinemas. Speaking to PTI, he stated, “I believe in making choices beneficial for everyone involved, including ourselves. This film needs room to breathe. We are fortunate to have secured a solo release date at the start of the year.” He drew parallels with films like 'Chhaava,' 'Pushpa,' and 'Hindi Medium,' noting the importance of avoiding release congestion.

In addition to 'Dhurandhar,' 'Ikkis' would have faced competition from 'Tu Meri Main Tera Main Tera Tu Meri,' starring Kartik Aaryan and Ananya Panday, which was also scheduled for a Christmas release. Furthermore, James Cameron's 'Avatar: Fire and Ash' was also set to debut around the same time.

Regarding the new release date for 'Ikkis,' Vijan commented, “People are receptive to watching quality films in the new year. This allows us a good run. It benefits the overall business by giving all films the opportunity to thrive. We are getting a solo release, so we are taking advantage of the opportunity.”

'Ikkis' is a biographical war drama centered on Second Lieutenant Khetarpal, who was martyred at the young age of 21 during the Battle of Basantar in the 1971 Indo-Pak war. Jaideep Ahlawat also stars in the film, which is now scheduled to premiere on January 1, 2026.