The war drama Ikkis, marking the big-screen debut of Agastya Nanda, has entered its second week in theatres with a slow but steady pace. The film, which narrates the heroic story of Second Lieutenant Arun Khetarpal PVC, managed to add Rs 1.35 crore to its kitty on its eighth day, as per industry tracker Sacnilk. This brings the total India net collection for the Sriram Raghavan directorial to approximately Rs 25.6 crore.
A Challenging Second Week Begins
Having concluded its first week with a cumulative total of around Rs 24 crore, Ikkis has not seen a significant spike in momentum as it stepped into the crucial second weekend. The film is navigating a crowded marketplace, holding its ground against other major releases like Aditya Dhar's Dhurandhar and the global spectacle, James Cameron's Avatar: Fire and Ash. An interesting dynamic played out upon its release, where Ikkis secured several screens that were initially allotted to Dhurandhar, as both films share the same backing from Jio Studios.
However, the screen count has seen a reduction. Starting with a strong 2343 shows nationwide, the film has retained most of its screens but has lost about 250 shows since its release. It now plays in just over 2000 shows daily. The occupancy rates for Day 8 reflect the challenge, averaging at 9.55%. The breakdown shows morning shows at 5.14%, afternoon at 9.72%, evening at 11.24%, and night shows at 12.10%.
New Competition and Debutant Pressure
The road ahead for Ikkis gets tougher with the arrival of new competitors. While Hindi and Telugu films often have distinct audience segments, the pan-India release of Prabhas-starrer The Raja Saab poses a significant threat. Prabhas's massive fan following has the potential to draw substantial footfall, which could further impact Ikkis's collection numbers in the coming days.
This box office performance is a critical test for its lead actors, both of whom are making their theatrical debut. For Agastya Nanda, grandson of Amitabh Bachchan, it's about carving his own identity in the industry while carrying the weight of a legendary family legacy. The actor has previously emphasized that his primary focus is to make his father, Nikhil Nanda, proud. Similarly, the female lead Simar Bhatia, niece of Akshay Kumar, is also facing the box office for the first time. Her performance has already garnered praise from her uncle and prominent filmmaker Karan Johar.
Cast and Crew
Directed by the acclaimed Sriram Raghavan, Ikkis boasts a supporting cast featuring veterans and talented actors like Dharmendra, Jaideep Ahlawat, Asrani, Rahul Dev, Zakir Hussain, Vivaan Shah, and Sikandar Kher. The film's attempt to bring a real-life war hero's story to the big screen with fresh faces is now in the hands of the audience, whose continued patronage will determine its final commercial fate.
