'This film requires space': Dinesh Vijan on postponing 'Ikkis'
What's the story
Maddock Films producer Dinesh Vijan has revealed the reason behind postponing Ikkis. The film, which stars Agastya Nanda and Dharmendra in his swansong role, was initially slated for December 25 but was later pushed to January 1, 2026. Speaking to PTI, Vijan said the war drama "requires space" at the box office. Ikkis narrates the story of Second Lt Arun Khetarpal, a Param Vir Chakra awardee who was martyred during the Battle of Basantar in the 1971 Indo-Pak war.
Release strategy
'Ikkis' postponed to avoid box office clash
Vijan said, "I feel you should make a decision that is good for everyone, and that will help you as well. It's a film that requires space." He added, "We are lucky that we're getting a solo date at the beginning of the year. This happened with Chhaava and Pushpa, also it happened with Hindi Medium movies." "This is kind of not to have clutter," he said.
Box office clash
'Ikkis' to face competition from 'Tu Meri Main Tera'
Apart from Dhurandhar, which was released on December 5, Ikkis would have also clashed with Kartik Aaryan and Ananya Panday's Tu Meri Main Tera, which is also releasing on Christmas. On top of that, James Cameron's Avatar: Fire and Ash also hit the screens this week. Vijan said the new year is a good time as it gives all films "space to breathe."
Astrology influence
Amitabh Bachchan revealed astrology played a role in postponement
While the box office competition was a major factor, it seems that astrology also played a role in the decision. Amitabh Bachchan, who is Nanda's grandfather, revealed on X that astrologers advised them to postpone Ikkis for a favorable release date. He wrote, "Some astrologers said, brother, it's a good omen let's go just let's go!" The film, directed by Sriram Raghavan, also stars Jaideep Ahlawat and Akshay Kumar's niece, Simar Bhatia, in her film debut.