Ikkis Box Office Collection Day 1: Ikkis was released in cinemas on January 1 with high expectations. The war drama marks the big-screen debut of Agastya Nanda and also features the late Dharmendra in his final on-screen role. Directed by Sriram Raghavan and produced by Maddock Films, the film arrived amid tough box office conditions and stiff competition.
Despite the challenges, Ikkis managed a better-than-expected opening on its first day.
Ikkis Box Office Collection Day 1
As per industry tracker Sacnilk, Ikkis has earned Rs 7 crore net at the Indian box office on Day 1. The film collected around Rs 8.40 crore gross before taxes. It played across nearly 2,468 shows nationwide.
Occupancy remained average through the day. Early estimates showed around 31.8 per cent attendance, with evening and night shows recording stronger footfall than morning shows. This trend suggested that word of mouth helped the film as the day progressed.
What grabbed attention was that the opening figure crossed most pre-release expectations. Trade predictions had remained cautious due to weak advance bookings. Some analysts had even expected the film to open around Rs 3-4 crore. Therefore, the final Day 1 number surprised many in the trade.
Ikkis faced heavy pressure from Ranveer Singh’s blockbuster Dhurandhar, which continues to dominate screens even in its fourth week. The film still enjoys strong occupancy and has limited the availability of prime shows for new releases in several cities.
Because of this, Ikkis struggled to secure enough screens and favourable show timings. Even so, the film managed to draw audiences later in the day. Trade experts believe curiosity around the subject and emotional interest in Dharmendra’s final performance played a key role.
Ikkis Box Office Collection Pushed By Corporate Booking?
Industry insiders also pointed out that poor pre-sales and slow advance bookings hinted at a difficult run. However, the opening day numbers suggested that audience response improved after release. Reports from portals like BOI and Pinkvilla also mentioned external feeding.
Some observers accused the makers of relying on corporate bookings to push the opening figures. Strategic block bookings at multiplexes may have helped lift the Day 1 total slightly. This has led to mixed reactions within trade circles.
A Reddit user wrote, “Dino bhai is infamous now for corporate booking.”
Another commented, “The movie may be good, but corporate bookings are definitely done. I saw a report on Hindustan Times, saying that it’s struggling to open above 3-4cr.”
A third user said, “Sucks that every single Bollywood film recently has had feeding done even if they’re good. We’re probably the only country in the world with this dumbass trend.”
About The Film
Ikkis is a biographical war drama based on the life of Second Lieutenant Arun Khetarpal, India’s youngest Param Vir Chakra awardee. The story is set during the 1971 Indo-Pak War and focuses on the Battle of Basantar, where Khetarpal destroyed ten enemy tanks before being martyred at just 21.
The film uses two timelines. One follows the 1971 battlefield. The other moves to 2001 and shows Arun’s father, Brigadier ML Khetarpal, visiting Pakistan and meeting Brigadier Naseer, who was linked to Arun’s final moments.
Agastya Nanda plays Arun Khetarpal. Dharmendra essays the role of his father. The supporting cast includes Jaideep Ahlawat, Simar Bhatia, Sikandar Kher, Rahul Dev and Vivaan Shah.
Released on January 1, 2026, Ikkis has a runtime of 147 minutes. The reported production budget ranges between Rs 40 crore and Rs 60 crore, while some estimates suggest higher costs after marketing. The film’s box office journey now depends on weekend growth and sustained audience interest.
