The new year release 'Ikkis', headlined by debutant Agastya Nanda and veteran star Dharmendra, has managed to record a marginal increase in its box office collections on its third day. The Sriram Raghavan-directed war film, which opened strongly on January 1st, is facing stiff competition from the blockbuster spy thriller 'Dhurandhar', starring Ranveer Singh.
Ikkis Day 3 Collection: A Slight Uptick
As per early estimates reported by industry tracker Sacnilk, 'Ikkis' earned approximately Rs 4.65 crore in net collections across India on Saturday, January 3rd. This figure represents a slight improvement over its second-day Friday numbers, which saw a dip to around Rs 3.5 crore. The film had commenced its theatrical journey on New Year's Day with a robust opening of Rs 7 crore.
With the Saturday earnings included, the cumulative India net collection for the emotional war narrative now stands at an estimated Rs 15.15 crore. In gross terms, the film has garnered about Rs 18 crore domestically. Adding an estimated Rs 1.75 crore from international markets, the worldwide gross total for 'Ikkis' has reached roughly Rs 19.75 crore.
Occupancy Trends and Audience Reception
The film's occupancy rate on Saturday showed a positive trend as the day progressed. The overall Hindi occupancy for the day was 20.69%. It started slow with morning shows at 7.95%, picked up significantly in the afternoon to 20.24%, and further climbed during evening shows to 26.34%. The night shows recorded the highest footfall, with occupancy peaking at 28.21%.
Despite the modest box office figures, 'Ikkis' has been generating positive word of mouth. Audiences and critics on social media have praised its poignant storytelling, the respectful treatment of a real-life war hero's legacy, and the moving farewell performance by the late Dharmendra.
Facing the Dhurandhar Juggernaut
The primary challenge for 'Ikkis' has been the unprecedented dominance of Ranveer Singh's 'Dhurandhar'. The spy action spectacle continued its historic run on the same Saturday, raking in an estimated Rs 11.75 crore and returning to double-digit daily figures. This has propelled 'Dhurandhar's' total collection to a staggering Rs 759.50 crore, as per Sacnilk, dwarfing the business of all other releases.
While 'Ikkis' tells a powerful true story of valour, it has so far been unable to counter the mass appeal and box-office firepower of the established franchise film.
About the Film 'Ikkis'
'Ikkis' is a war drama that portrays the life of Second Lieutenant Arun Khetarpal, PVC, who was martyred at the young age of 21 during the Battle of Basantar in the 1971 Indo-Pak war. For his extraordinary bravery in the face of the enemy, he was posthumously awarded the Param Vir Chakra, India's highest military honour, becoming its youngest recipient.
The film, directed by Sriram Raghavan, features Agastya Nanda in the lead role of Arun Khetarpal. The late legendary actor Dharmendra plays a pivotal part, marking one of his final film appearances. The supporting cast includes Simar Bhatia, Vivan Shah, Sikandar Kher, and Jaideep Ahlawat.
