In the process, it’ll also avoid a clash with Sameer Vidhwans’ romantic comedy Tu Meri Main Tera Tu Meri Main Tera, starring Kartik Aaryan and Ananya Panday. Both their last films — Bhool Bhulaiyaa 3 last year and Kesari Chapter 2 this year respectively — were commercial successes. Even Kartik’s last team-up with Vidhwans, Satyaprem Ki Katha (2023), was much-loved. Tu Meri Main Tera Tu Meri Main Tera also comes from a banner like Karan Johar’s Dharma Productions, which has a rich history of rom-coms, right from Kuch Kuch Hota Hai (1998) to Rocky Aur Rani Kii Prem Kahaani (2023).

Ikkis will also avoid a clash with Nanda Kishore’s pan-Indian action fantasy Vrusshabha, headlined by Malayalam superstar Mohanlal. December looks like a packed month for theatrical movies, given Aditya Dhar’s period spy thriller Dhurandhar is already dominating the box office, and James Cameron’s Hollywood fantasy epic Avatar: Fire & Ash is also likely to perform well in India upon its release this Friday on December 19.

The Border 2 juggernaut

Maddock Films, in its press release, also hailed Dinesh Vijan’s strategy to choose “clarity over clashes.” It quoted the example of Vijan pushing the release date of Saket Chaudhary’s 2017 hit dramedy Hindi Medium to avoid a clash with SS Rajamouli’s blockbuster action fantasy Baahubali 2: The Conclusion.

Another instance that was invoked was just last year, when Vijan pushed Laxman Utekar’s period action drama Chhaava, starring Vicky Kaushal, by a month to January this year in order to avert a clash with Sukumar’s blockbuster Telugu action thriller Pushpa 2: The Rule, starring Allu Arjun, last December. Chhaava went on to become Hindi cinema’s biggest domestic hit ever.

However, the third time may or may not be a charm, given Ikkis will now release in the same month as Anurag Singh’s Border 2. Both are war dramas, that too set in the 1971 Indo-Pak War. While Ikkis will get a head start by three weeks, fans of the genre may choose to wait some more days for the release of Border 2 on January 23, 2026.

Border 2 already enjoys brand value steeped in patriotism. Its first part, JP Dutta’s Border, also set in the 1971 Indo-Pak War, was a monstrous hit for its time. Sunny Deol returns for the sequel, this time as Lt. Col. Fateh Singh Kaler. He’s joined by a younger crop of actors — Varun Dhawan, Diljit Dosanjh, and Ahan Panday — who play war heroes Major Hoshiar Singh Dahiya, Fg Offr Nirmal Jit Singh Sekhon, and Lt Cdr Joseph Pius Alfred Noronha respectively.

Border 2 will also enjoy an extended opening weekend leading up to Republic Day on Monday, January 26, 2026. While it’s produced by JP Films, it’s directed by Anurag Singh of Kesari-fame, the 2019 period war drama starring Akshay Kumar, also known for its patriotic fervour and shining a light on forgotten war heroes.

Ikkis also tells the story of a forgotten war hero — Arun Khetarpal, who was awarded the Param Vir Chakra for his bravery in the 1971 Indo-Pak War. This would mark Agastya’s maiden theatrical release, since his debut film, Zoya Akhtar’s period coming-of-age musical The Archies, released on Netflix India in 2021. Ikkis also marks late legendary actor Dharmendra’s swan song. However, as witnessed in December, love and nostalgia for the actor couldn’t help his restored classic, Sholay: The Final Cut, secure enough screens amid the Dhurandhar storm.

Also Read — Dhurandhar Box Office Collection Day 13: Ranveer Singh’s action film eyes Sunny Deol’s Gadar 2 record, eyes Rs 700 crore mark

Sriram Raghavan is also not known as a war film director, given most of his films have been neo-noir thrillers. Given the odds are stacked against Ikkis even on its new release date, it would take the film war zone-like resilience to bounce back and make its presence felt at the box office.