Ikkis hit theaters on January 1, 2026, and honestly, the timing couldn’t have been better. Thanks to the New Year holiday, the film pulled in a decent crowd on its first day. Still, when you look at the bigger picture, its genre, its budget, and all the expectations, it lands somewhere in the middle. The numbers look promising at first glance, especially since Ikkis doesn’t have the usual flashy, commercial hooks that pull in massive audiences. But for a big-budget film, and especially one that marks Dharmendra’s last time on the big screen, you’d expect something bigger.

Early estimates suggest Ikkis brought in about ₹9-9.5 crore nett on Thursday. Not bad, but it’s not the kind of opening that sets the box office on fire. By early afternoon, occupancy hovered around 27 to 28 percent, which isn’t terrible, just not spectacular either. Before release, advance bookings showed roughly 36,000 tickets sold across the major chains. So there was definitely curiosity, especially with a fresh cast leading the story.

Ikkis outperformed some recent films, like Tu Meri Main Tera Main Tera Tu Meri. But the real challenge is the competition. Big releases like Dhurandhar are still pulling in crowds weeks after their debut, and Avatar: Fire and Ash refuses to slow down, grabbing both attention and screen space that Ikkis could’ve used for a stronger run.

But there’s more to Ikkis than just numbers. Directed by Sriram Raghavan and featuring Agastya Nanda, Jaideep Ahlawat, Simar Bhatia, and the late Dharmendra, the movie dives into the true story of Second Lieutenant Arun Khetarpal, India’s youngest Param Vir Chakra awardee. Beyond the war drama, the film carries the weight of nostalgia, Dharmendra’s final performance on the big screen has fans and film buffs tuning in for more than just the plot.

Ikkis don’t rely on explosive openings. Instead, they need strong word-of-mouth and staying power in theaters. If audiences connect with the film and spread the word, Ikkis stands a real chance to pick up steam over the weekend and maybe even make back its investment, despite the slower start. The first weekend is going to be key, if the buzz grows, it could extend its run and prove itself in an already crowded market.

So in the end, Ikkis had a solid start, with the holiday giving it a helpful push. The first-day numbers might not match the film’s ambitions or budget, but the story doesn’t end there. With real emotional heft and historical roots, Ikkis has people watching to see whether it can turn early curiosity into a lasting box office presence.