Ahead of its global release, the highly anticipated biopic Ikkis held a deeply personal and emotional screening for a very special guest: Mukesh Khetarpal, the younger brother of the film's subject, the legendary war hero Second Lieutenant Arun Khetarpal. The moving interaction, captured in a video shared by PVR Cinemas, has become the talk of the town.
An Overwhelming Tribute
In the video, a visibly emotional Mukesh Khetarpal is seen addressing the film's director, Sriram Raghavan. He expressed how the film powerfully brought back memories of his valiant brother. "My grouse is you made me cry," he told Raghavan. "You made me relive… Certain things were in my mind, and moment by moment, when I saw it on screen, I got so emotional I couldn't stop crying."
He went on to praise the final product, stating that the movie's impact was exponentially greater than the trailer suggested. "Now that I have seen the movie, I mean, the movie is ten times, maybe twenty times or even a hundred times more powerful than what we see in the trailer. Oh, fantastic!" he exclaimed.
'You Will Be Arun for Life'
The most poignant moment came when Mukesh met the film's lead actor, Agastya Nanda, who portrays his late brother. Embracing the young actor, Mukesh bestowed a blessing that is every biopic actor's dream. "Whatever else you are, you will be Arun for life. There is no taking that away from you. Well done!" he said, cementing Nanda's portrayal with the family's ultimate approval.
The Legacy of a Hero
Ikkis chronicles the extraordinary life of Second Lieutenant Arun Khetarpal, an Indian Army officer and tank commander revered as the "tank ace of aces." During the Battle of Basantar in the 1971 Indo-Pakistan War, he was credited with destroying 10 enemy tanks before making the ultimate sacrifice.
For his unparalleled bravery, he was posthumously awarded the Param Vir Chakra, India's highest military honour. Tragically, he became its youngest recipient, having laid down his life just two months after turning 21 in December 1971. He had joined the Indian Army at the tender age of 17, continuing a distinguished family legacy of military service spanning generations.
The film, which also stars Jaideep Ahlawat and features the late veteran actor Dharmendra in his final on-screen appearance, aims to bring this story of unparalleled valour to a new generation. The emotional validation from the Khetarpal family adds a profound layer of authenticity to this cinematic tribute, setting the stage for its official release.
