Rahul Dev has built his career on looking and living the part. His transformation into Lt Col Hanut Singh for Ikkis is uncannily close to the real-life war hero that it became a talking point both on set and within the regiment. Directed by Sriram Raghavan, the film follows Second Lieutenant Arun Khetarpal, a Param Vir Chakra recipient, played by Agastya Nanda, and his role in the 1971 Indo-Pak war, climaxing with the Battle of Basantar.

To achieve authenticity, Rahul focused on physicality and detail with the same precision as his performance. He chose to grow the moustache that was integral to Hanut Singh’s identity. He says, “Hanut Singh ji had a very distinct personality, and his moustache was a part of that identity. Growing it helped me connect with his energy and reminded me of the responsibility I was stepping into. This physical process builds patience, too. Luckily, my facial structure matched his and the army team was pleased with how I looked.”

His preparation also involved reshaping his fitness routine to match the commander’s lean build. Rahul shares, “Hanut Singh ji was very thin, so I stopped exercising and followed a strict diet because I did not want to look fuller.”

Beyond physical transformation, Ikkis carries emotional weight for another reason. It will possibly mark the last big-screen appearance of Dharmendra, whose passing on November 12 left the country grieving a legend.

Rahul says, “There will be one person like that in several decades. Look at his work; it speaks for itself. He was perfection and the most handsome man. What made him extraordinary was that every single co-actor had only good things to say about him and that is extremely rare in our industry.”

What Rahul remembers most vividly is the warmth Dharmendra radiated off-screen. He shares, “You could go to meet someone else, and he would make you sit with him instead. You would never feel like you were meeting him for the first time. He made you feel at home instantly. Woh itne pyaar se chehra pakadte the aur unki hatheliyon mein chehra hi chhup jaata tha. He loved people with pure affection. Ek hota hai na ki ek aadmi dene hi bas pyaar aaya hai.”

He adds, “They do not make men like him anymore. Although I am extremely fond of Bhaiyya (Sunny Deol) and Bobby, emulating Dharam ji and being like him, even for his sons, would be next to impossible.”