The sixth day at the domestic box office proved to be another challenging one for the Sriram Raghavan-directed film Ikkis, starring Agastya Nanda and the legendary Dharmendra. The film, which opened to largely positive reviews, has failed to gain commercial momentum, earning a modest Rs 1.5 crore on Day 6. This takes its estimated net domestic collection to approximately Rs 23 crore.
Ikkis Faces Tough Competition and Low Occupancy
According to data from industry tracker Sacnilk, Ikkis recorded an overall occupancy of only 15.55% across India on its sixth day. The film was screened in around 2,190 shows, a slight reduction from its opening day count of 2,468 shows. Interestingly, its performance was even overshadowed by another recent release, Tu Meri Main Tera Main Tera Tu Meri, starring Kartik Aaryan and Ananya Panday. Despite having fewer shows (1,858), that film managed to collect around Rs 1.75 crore on its corresponding sixth day.
The stark contrast in fortunes is further highlighted by the fact that Kartik Aaryan's film has seen a drastic reduction in its show count—from 2,290 on Christmas to nearly 500 now—due to mixed word of mouth. Ikkis, however, has managed to retain a relatively higher number of screens, partly due to a dry spell in major Hindi film releases until Border 2 arrives on January 23.
The Unstoppable Dhurandhar Dominance
The primary force stifling the growth of all other films, including Ikkis, is the Aditya Dhar-directed blockbuster Dhurandhar, headlined by Ranveer Singh. Now in its fifth week, the film shows no signs of slowing down. On its 33rd day (5th Tuesday), Dhurandhar added a formidable Rs 4.75 crore to its kitty from nearly 3,830 shows across the country.
This colossal run has propelled the film past the Rs 1,200 crore mark worldwide since its release on December 5. To put its dominance in perspective, Tu Meri Main Tera..., with 500 shows, earned a mere Rs 25 lakh on the same day. The wave of Dhurandhar, driven by phenomenal word of mouth, continues to command the lion's share of audience footfall and screen space.
Context and Career Crossroads
Ikkis holds significant personal milestones for its lead actors. It marks the second film and first theatrical release for Agastya Nanda, the grandson of Amitabh Bachchan, following his digital debut in The Archies. More poignantly, it is billed as the final film of veteran superstar Dharmendra, a fact that had generated considerable emotional interest among fans.
Despite critics describing it as Sriram Raghavan's "love letter to peace," the film's box office performance indicates a disconnect with the mass audience. For director Sriram Raghavan, this continues a recent trend of critical acclaim not translating into commercial success. His last release, Merry Christmas with Katrina Kaif and Vijay Sethupathi, met a similar fate. The filmmaker, known for cult classics like Badlapur (2015) and Andhadhun (2018), is yet to deliver another clear box office hit in his over-two-decade-long career spanning seven features.
The coming days will be crucial for Ikkis to leverage the limited competition and try to maximize its collections before the next wave of big releases hits the theatres later this month.
