Sriram Raghavan's much-anticipated patriotic war drama, 'Ikkis', has wrapped up its crucial first five days in Indian theatres with a total net collection of approximately ₹20.3 crore. The film, which marks the big-screen debut of Agastya Nanda and features veteran actor Dharmendra in his final cinematic role, opened nationwide on 1 January 2026 across more than 4,000 screens.
Day-Wise Box Office Performance: A Detailed Breakdown
The film's box office journey over its initial five days shows a pattern familiar to many releases. 'Ikkis' opened to a relatively strong start, capitalising on the New Year's Day holiday. The collections saw a healthy jump over the weekend, with Saturday (day 3) bringing in around ₹4.65 crore, marking a growth of about 32.9 per cent from Friday's figures. Sunday sustained the momentum with a slight increase, adding roughly ₹5 crore to the kitty.
However, the first working weekday delivered a stark reality check. On Monday, which was the film's fifth day, collections plummeted dramatically to an estimated ₹0.8 crore. This sharp decline highlights the typical post-weekend slump, indicating that the film has so far struggled to attract audiences on weekdays.
Theatre Occupancy Reflects Weekday Struggle
The occupancy data for the fifth day paints a clear picture of the challenge. Morning shows could only fill about 4.78 per cent of seats. While afternoon and evening shows performed marginally better at 8.58 per cent and 11.21 per cent occupancy respectively, these numbers are considered low. Night shows reportedly saw no significant turnout, underscoring the film's limited weekday traction despite its powerful subject and star cast.
Competition and Critical Context
'Ikkis' had the daunting task of finding its audience while competing with the continued dominance of 'Dhurandhar', which has been a box office force since its early December release. The competition was so intense that exhibitors reportedly reduced show counts for some other films to make room for screenings of 'Ikkis', a move acknowledging the special significance of Dharmendra's final film appearance.
The film narrates the heroic true story of Second Lieutenant Arun Khetarpal, the youngest recipient of India's highest military honour, the Param Vir Chakra, awarded posthumously for his indomitable bravery during the 1971 Indo-Pak war. The title 'Ikkis' (Twenty-One) is a poignant reference to his age at the time of his ultimate sacrifice.
Agastya Nanda steps into the role of the young war hero for his Bollywood debut, while Dharmendra delivers an emotionally charged performance as his father. The film's release, given its subject and Dharmendra's farewell, generated considerable media attention and public interest.
Critical reception has been a mixed bag. Reviews have praised the film's earnest tribute to military valour and the strong performances, particularly noting its emotional resonance. However, some critics have pointed out areas where the narrative and overall impact could have been more potent.
The overall weekend performance, while moderate, demonstrates a baseline of interest. The key question for 'Ikkis' now is whether strong word-of-mouth about its patriotic theme and emotional weight can help stabilise collections in the coming days and overcome the intense competition in a crowded marketplace.
