Sriram Raghavan's biographical war drama Ikkis, starring debutant Agastya Nanda, has opened to a strong start at the domestic box office, collecting an estimated Rs 7 crore on its first day, Thursday, January 1, 2026. However, in a telling sign of the ongoing dominance of the Ranveer Singh-starrer Dhurandhar, Ikkis's debut earnings amounted to only about 50 per cent of what the spy blockbuster collected on its 28th day in theatres.
A Solid Start Amidst Giant Competition
According to data from industry tracker Sacnilk, Ikkis registered an India nett collection of Rs 7 crore. The film's worldwide gross stood at Rs 8.25 crore as of 9 am on Friday, January 2. This marks a promising beginning for Bollywood in 2026, contrasting sharply with the previous year, which saw a sluggish start with no major releases until late January.
The film recorded an overall occupancy of 31.94 per cent in the Hindi market across over 2,400 shows. Occupancy started at 12% for morning shows, climbed to 35% in the afternoon, peaked at 47% during evening screenings, and settled at 34% for night shows.
How Ikkis Stacks Up Against Recent Releases
Ikkis has outperformed director Sriram Raghavan's last two directorial ventures by a significant margin. His 2024 film, Merry Christmas (starring Katrina Kaif and Vijay Sethupathi), opened at Rs 2.45 crore, while the 2018 hit Andhadhun (featuring Tabu and Ayushmann Khurrana) collected Rs 2.7 crore on day one.
The film's opening is also notably better than other early-2025 releases like Kangana Ranaut's Emergency (Rs 2.5 crore) and Ajay Devgn's Azaad (Rs 1.5 crore). It was Akshay Kumar's Sky Force, released on January 24, 2025, that eventually opened higher at Rs 12.25 crore, though that film was later deemed a box-office disappointment.
The Dhurandhar Juggernaut Continues
The real context for Ikkis's performance, however, is set by the unprecedented run of Aditya Dhar's Dhurandhar. On its 28th day, the Ranveer Singh-led spy thriller recorded a staggering India nett collection of Rs 15.75 crore. This means the four-week-old film earned more than double what the fresh release Ikkis managed on its opening day.
Dhurandhar has been registering double-digit collections for a record 28 consecutive days and has grossed over Rs 1100 crore worldwide, inching close to the numbers of the blockbuster KGF: Chapter 2.
Future Prospects and Film Details
With positive reviews pouring in for its poignant storytelling and performances, trade analysts suggest Ikkis could pick up pace over the weekend. The film holds sentimental value as it marks the final on-screen appearance of the legendary late actor Dharmendra, who features in a key role alongside Jaideep Ahlawat and Simar Bhatia.
Based on the life of Second Lieutenant Arun Khetarpal, PVC, the film centres around the heroic Battle of Basantar during the 1971 India-Pakistan War. Both Ikkis and Dhurandhar are backed by Jio Studios, and it is expected that Dhurandhar may reduce its show count in the coming days, potentially freeing up more screens for Ikkis.
The coming days will be crucial to see if the strong word-of-mouth and patriotic narrative can help Ikkis carve its own successful path at the box office, even as it shares the marketplace with a historic giant.
