Two Hindi films arriving in theatres on January 1 have triggered an unusual box office face-off and a wider social media debate. While Ikkis, starring Dharmendra, Agastya Nanda and Simar Bhatia, opened in cinemas, Dhurandhar, led by Ranveer Singh and Akshaye Khanna, returned to theatres with a revised version after a strong initial run.
Despite telling very different stories, both films explore themes of patriotism, the Indian Army and India’s conflict with Pakistan, prompting comparisons among audiences online.
Disclaimer in Ikkis draws attention
Amid the box office chatter, the disclaimer shown at the start of Ikkis has gone viral on social media. The disclaimer describes the humane conduct of a Pakistani brigadier depicted in the film as an “exceptional incident” and alleges repeated violations of the Geneva Convention by Pakistan’s army, urging Indian citizens to remain alert given alleged terror activities.
The strongly worded message has sparked mixed reactions, with some viewers calling it contextually appropriate for a war film, while others questioned its tone and necessity.
Box office performance so far
At the ticket window, Ikkis has collected ₹20.15 crore in its first four days, according to trade tracker Sacnilk. The Sriram Raghavan directorial earned ₹7 crore on Thursday, followed by ₹3.5 crore on Friday, ₹4.65 crore on Saturday and ₹5 crore on its first Sunday.
The film recorded an overall occupancy of 23.93 per cent. Morning shows began at 9.74 per cent, rising to 28.15 per cent in the afternoon. Evening shows saw the highest occupancy at 37.23 per cent, while night shows stood at 20.59 per cent.
Dhurandhar remains dominant
Meanwhile, Dhurandhar continues its remarkable run, having earned ₹772.25 crore at the domestic box office in 31 days. Its re-release has ensured sustained footfalls, posing stiff competition to new releases like Ikkis.
Story rooted in real heroism
Ikkis is based on the true story of India’s youngest Param Vir Chakra awardee, Second Lieutenant Arun Khetarpal. Set during the 1971 Indo-Pak war, the film chronicles the bravery and sacrifice of the officer, who was martyred at the age of 21 during the Battle of Basantar.
As both films continue their theatrical journeys, the contrast between commercial dominance and historical storytelling has kept audiences and social media deeply engaged.