All posts tagged: Khetarpal

‘Ikkis is a love letter to peace’: Karan Johar reviews Ikkis, calls Agastya Nanda outstanding as Arun Khetarpal

‘Ikkis is a love letter to peace’: Karan Johar reviews Ikkis, calls Agastya Nanda outstanding as Arun Khetarpal

Published by Webster

Bollywood began the New Year with Sriram Raghavan’s Ikkis. The biographical drama based on the life of Param Vir Chakra awardee Second Lieutenant Arun Khetarpal, a hero of the Indo-Pakistani War of 1971, released in theatres on January 1. The film was special for various reasons. Apart from being Amitabh Bachchan’s grandson Agastya Nanda’s theatrical debut and Akshay Kumar’s niece Simar Bhatia’s Bollywood debut, Ikkis marked Bollywood’s He-Man Dharmendra’s last film, posthumously released after his death. Well, filmmaker Karan Johar has now shared his honest review of Ikkis, lauding Agastya aka Aggy. Karan Johar reviews Agastya Nanda’s Ikkis Along with a poster of Ikkis, Karan Johar wrote: “IKKIS is a love letter to peace… an honestly and earnestly told story about the absolute redundancy of war….i was so moved by so many moments of the film … it silently screams … and that’s where Sriram Raghavan gets it so right… i was moist eyed everytime Dharamji was on screen…. He has the most towering screen presence and yet can be so gentle and your heart …

Ikkis: Real-life story of Arun Khetarpal who was martyred at 21, a day before ceasefire; flouted orders to fight till last breath | Bollywood News

Ikkis: Real-life story of Arun Khetarpal who was martyred at 21, a day before ceasefire; flouted orders to fight till last breath | Bollywood News

Published by Webster

Agastya Nanda-starrer Ikkis released in theatres on New Year’s Day and the film follows the journey of Second Lieutenant Arun Khetarpal, who was martyred in the 1971 India-Pakistan war. The film’s title Ikkis (Twenty one) signifies his age when he died. The film also stars late actor Dharmendra, who plays Arun’s father Brigadier ML Khetarpal, in his last on-screen appearance. Arun’s heroic journey has been immortalised on the silver screen and over the last 55 years, his family has been quite vocal about the brave acts of their son. Arun had finished his training at the Indian Military Academy in 1971, and shortly thereafter, he was commissioned into the 17 Poona Horse. When the war broke between India and Pakistan in December, Arun was in the middle of his Young Officers Course in Ahmednagar. The course had gotten interrupted because of the war, and Arun was asked to finish the months-long course in the next few days. Agastya Nanda in a still from Ikkis. (Photo: Maddock Films/YouTube) ALSO READ | Dhurandhar: Real-life Rehman Dakait killed …

Ikkis team honours Param Vir Chakra awardee Arun Khetarpal before release: ‘I hope school kids watch this film’

Ikkis team honours Param Vir Chakra awardee Arun Khetarpal before release: ‘I hope school kids watch this film’

Published by Webster

Published on: Dec 04, 2025 07:19 pm IST The lead cast and the director of Ikkis paid a heartfelt tribute to Second Lieutenant Arun Khetarpal, the youngest recipient of the Param Vir Chakra. The lead cast and the director of Ikkis paid a heartfelt tribute to Second Lieutenant Arun Khetarpal, the youngest recipient of the Param Vir Chakra, at an event in Mumbai on Thursday. Ikkis brings the true untold story of India’s youngest Param Vir Chakra awardee – Second Lieutenant Arun Khetarpal, who was just 21 at the time of the 1971 Indo-Pakistani war. Agastya Nanda in a still from Ikkis. Event attended by Ikkis cast, Indian Army officials Agastya Nanda is set to play the role of Lt Arun Khetarpal in the film. He will be joined by Jaideep Ahlawat and Simar Bhatia in the prominent roles. It is directed by Sriram Raghavan. To celebrate the bravery of Lt. Arun Khetarpal, the makers organised a tribute event for the courageous hero, attended by the Indian Army and the film’s lead cast. In the …

You’re never too young to change the world: Agastya Nanda on playing Arun Khetarpal in ‘Ikkis’

You’re never too young to change the world: Agastya Nanda on playing Arun Khetarpal in ‘Ikkis’

Published by Parlour News

Mumbai, Actor Agastya Nanda, who has stepped in the shoes of youngest Param Vir Chakra recipient Arun Khetrpal in “Ikkis”, hopes the movie will resonate with younger audiences. You’re never too young to change the world: Agastya Nanda on playing Arun Khetarpal in ‘Ikkis’ Directed by Sriram Raghavan, the film narrates the story of Khetarpal, a second Lieutenant, who was martyred at the age of 21 during the Battle of Basantar in the 1971 Indo-Pak war. “Cantonments have started feeling like home, we’ve been training for three years . Being here is like a family. For me, the main thing that stood out was how young Arun Khetarpal is, and I would like to address the young kids sitting here. I hope you learn something from the life of Arun Khetarpal,” Nanda said at an event of “Ikkis” here held at South Mumbai’s Navy Nagar, a cantonment area. “He was a brave and passionate soldier. If there’s anything that we take away from this film is that, ‘You’re never too young to change the world’. …

Who was Arun Khetarpal? Agastya Nanda brings the war hero to life in Sriram Raghavan’s Ikkis trailer

Who was Arun Khetarpal? Agastya Nanda brings the war hero to life in Sriram Raghavan’s Ikkis trailer

Published by Parlour News

Trailer of Ikkis The trailer of Sriram Raghavan’s war drama Ikkis has been released, starring Agastya Nanda as Second Lieutenant Arun Khetarpal, India’s youngest Param Vir Chakra recipient. The film portrays his courage during the 1971 Indo-Pak war, emotional family bonds, and romance. Produced by Maddock Films and Jio Studios, it promises a powerful tribute to the 21-year-old national hero. Who was Arun Khetarpal? Arun Khetarpal was a Second Lieutenant in the Indian Army’s 17 Poona Horse regiment. He became India’s youngest recipient of the Param Vir Chakra for his bravery during the 1971 Indo-Pak war. He was posthumously awarded the highest military honour for his courageous actions during the Battle of Basantar. Arun Khetarpal’s heroism During the 1971 Indo-Pak war, he made the ultimate sacrifice while fighting in the Battle of Basantar. He was a tank commander who led his squadron through a heavily mined area to provide support and was instrumental in destroying ten enemy tanks before his own was hit. Ikkis pays tribute to the military heroes Sriram Raghavan’s upcoming war drama …

Sriram Raghavan casts Agastya Nanda in war hero Arun Khetarpal movie

Published by Webster

National Award-winning filmmaker Sriram Raghavan is currently receiving a lot of praise for his latest venture, `Merry Christmas`, which stars Katrina Kaif and Vijay Sethupathi in the lead. Now, the director has opened up about his next film, which has Agastya Nanda in the lead. Agastya Nanda debuted with Zoya Akhtar`s `The Archies`, in December 2023. Sriram Raghavan casts Agastya Nanda in war hero Arun Khetarpal movie Sriram Raghavan casts Agastya Nanda in war hero Arun Khetarpal movie. He explained that upon meeting Agastya for the first time, he felt like he was meeting a young Amitabh Bachchan from films like Saat Hindustani (1969) and Anand (1971), among others, and called him “refreshingly normal.”. Sriram told Film Companion, “When I first met him, he reminded me of Amitabh (Bachchan) in Saat Hindustani and Anand. He’s got a certain charm and he looks the part also and I am looking forward working with him. He’s a guy who is refreshingly normal and there’s no bells and whistles. I have seen his The Archies and I loved …