Showing posts with label Ikka. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Ikka. Show all posts
Anil Kapoor is responsible for convincing me to become a part of films-Dia Mirza
8:46 AM
Akash Bhatnagar (HINDUSTAN TIMES; July 18, 2026)
For Dia Mirza Rekhi, 2026 is a special year. She marks 25 years as an actor, and was seen in Ikka with Sunny Deol and Akshaye Khanna and opposite Anil Kapoor in Alpha. She also has web series Operation Safed Sagar in the offing.
And it all started thanks to her co-star. “AK (Anil) is responsible for convincing me to become a part of films,” the 44-year-old reveals, adding, “He met me right after my Asia Pacific pageant (in 2000). He and Anupam Kher were very keen that I do the film that they were working on, and they were the ones who helped me get my first film.”
For Dia, starring opposite Anil “felt like a beautiful full circle moment”: “The first time I met him in the lobby of a hotel in Hyderabad, he had told me, “You have so much grace, you would be so beautiful on screen, you must become an actor’.”
Dia is also all praise for Sunny and Akshaye. “I’ve done some films with Akshaye’s father (late veteran Vinod Khanna) and we shared a very special bond, and I’ve known Rahul (Khanna, Akshaye’s brother). I’d actually approached Akshaye to act in a film that I was producing, but that didn’t work out. So, it was cool to finally work with him,” she shares.
Their film also featured a scene of her slapping Akshaye. “I was terrified, and then Sunny sir was quick to jump in and say, ‘Listen, you’re playing my wife, so you shouldn’t be scared’. And I was like, ‘Have you seen Khanna sa’ab’s fan following?’” she laughs, adding, “It’s only in the last eight years that I have been appreciated and my films have done ridiculously well at the box office. The last 25 years have been preparation for what is to come.”
(Crisp) Movie Review: IKKA by FENIL SETA
10:58 PM
Ikka, which has been released today on Netflix, starts on a very promising note. The way things unfold and bring the characters together makes for an interesting watch. A few courtroom scenes are riveting. However, the film falters as the legal proceedings shown in the film appear juvenile in places. It is set in a world where CCTV cameras don't exist. A few interesting plot points are raised, but for some reason, they are never explored in the court. The last scene thankfully saves the film to some extent. The other strong point of the film is the casting. Sunny Deol doesn't indulge in fights or Damini-style dialoguebaazi. Yet, it's an impressive performance. Akshaye Khanna looks like he walked out of Dhurandhar and came on to the sets of this film. But no complaints, as it's just so much fun to see him on screen and in his element. Dia Mirza has a crucial part and does very well. Tillotama Shome is let down by the writing, but as always, she delivers a terrific performance. Daria Bedi (Samaira; Arjun's daughter) puts up a confident act. Sanjeeda Shaikh (Gauri) leaves a mark. Vijay Vikram Singh (Judge) is too good as the judge. All in all, Ikka is an average fare and worth watching only for the coming together of Sunny Deol and Akshaye Khanna.
My rating - ** ½ out of 5!
My rating - ** ½ out of 5!
It’s Sunny Deol to see him be emotionally correct even if he’s morally incorrect-Siddharth P Malhotra
9:44 AM
Mohar Basu (MID-DAY; June 20, 2026)
Put two powerhouse actors in a courtroom, arm them with a gripping story, and sparks are bound to fly. Director Siddharth P Malhotra has done just that with Netflix’s courtroom drama Ikka, reuniting Sunny Deol and Akshaye Khanna nearly three decades after Border (1997). The casting came at the right moment.
While Deol expanded his fan base with Gadar 2: The Katha Continues (2023) and Border 2, Khanna became one of the biggest talking points with Dhurandhar (2025). “They were simply the right actors for the story,” he shares.
Malhotra reveals that he approached Deol for the project almost a year-and-a-half before it materialised. “I told Sunny sir this is a script I want him to do and he liked it. When [the platform] came on board and heard the script, I went back to him and he said, ‘Great, let’s do this’.”
For Deol’s courtroom adversary, Malhotra had only one name in mind. “They asked me who I wanted for the antagonist and I said Akshaye Khanna,” he says, adding that the actor loved the script after reading it in one go.
Ikka centres on a respected lawyer, played by Deol, who is forced to defend a man he had previously helped convict. For Malhotra, the moral conflict is the story’s biggest draw. “The challenge of the script itself is the character’s moral dilemma. The lines between right and wrong and their perspectives are blurring. That’s what makes it interesting for me as a storyteller.”
The filmmaker deliberately avoided presenting Deol as the morally infallible hero. “I’ve seen him in Damini [1993]. Why do I have to give people Damini again? It’s fun to see him be emotionally correct even if he’s morally incorrect,” he smiles.
I have four incredible stories lined up for release-Dia Mirza
10:03 AM
Natasha Coutinho (HINDUSTAN TIMES; January 3, 2026)
The year 2026 promises to be a milestone one for actor Dia Mirza Rekhi, as she balances multiple projects, including the film Ikka with Sunny Deol and Akshaye Khanna, another film with Rahul Bhat, and web series’ alongside actors Nawazuddin Siddiqui and Jimmy Sheirgill, while also preparing to launch her first series of children’s books.
The 44-year-old shares, “I have four incredible stories that I’ve already shot, all lined up for release, along with films we’ve produced and scripts we’re preparing to take forward in the coming year. I’m also excited to see my children’s books reach young readers.”
She adds, “I’m keen to continue learning, especially around storytelling for impact, sustainability, and emotional well-being. I also want to return to quieter, nourishing practices: reading more, spending more time in Nature, and reconnecting with creative disciplines that bring calm and clarity.”
Despite her professional demands, Dia says she is committed to being present for her family, especially her four-year-old son, Avyaan. “In 2026, I wish for our children to grow up in a country where their health is a priority: cleaner air, water, healthier soil and food,” she ends.
Mirror Exclusive: Akshay Kumar to team up with Mission Mangal director for Kaththi remake titled Ikka
8:26 AM
The actor is reuniting with director Jagan Shakti for the official Hindi remake of AR Murgadoss’s 2014 Tamil Vijay-starrer Kaththi
Himesh Mankad (MUMBAI MIRROR; July 30, 2019)
After working as an assistant director on Cheeni Kum, Paa, English Vinglish, Thuppakki and Holiday, Jagan Shakti was to make his directorial debut with the official Hindi remake of A R Murugadoss’s Tamil film, the Vijay-starrer Kaththi. Titled Ikka, the action thriller had Akshay Kumar in a double role. Jagan reveals that the project was put on the backburner when he came across the underdog story of Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) scientists, which culminated in Mission Mangal. “But now Ikka will go on the floors very soon,” he promises, adding that the subject is close to his heart and the team is currently reworking the script. “It will resonate with the underprivileged section of the society. With my second directorial, I want to explore action which is presented in a sleek way.” The 2014 original featured Vijay as the protagonist who fights to protect the rights of poor farmers from greedy MNCs.
Meanwhile Jagan (left) is lining up for his Independence Day release, Mission Mangal, fronted by Akshay, with Vidya Balan, Sonakshi Sinha, Taapsee Pannu, Nithya Menen, Kirti Kulhari and Sharman Joshi in pivotal roles. According to the director, it was a photograph of men and women giving the thumbs up to mark the success of the Mars Orbiter Mission (MoM) that planted the seed of the story in his mind. “The simplicity of the scientists in that iconic image made me realise that the story had the potential for a great human drama,” Jagan smiles.His elder sister, Sujatha Krishna, who is a scientist at ISRO, arranged for interactions with her colleagues as part of the detailed research. “She followed protocol to get me in and while she didn’t contribute to the screenplay, I did take some technical help from her while filming,” he reveals.
Nikkhil Advani, in an interview to Mirror (July 29), had revealed that he plans to bring the memoirs of Dr K Radhakrishnan, the former chairman of ISRO and the man behind Mangalyaan, to the big screen. Quiz Jagan on this, and he says, “Our story may be based on a true event, but the characters are fictional. I went into the project thinking I would model the lead characters on one or two people who would have been responsible for the mission, but I discovered that the team was made up of a lot more scientists. We didn’t want to glorify only one set of people, so the personal story of each of the central character is fictionalised,” he explains, further clarifying, “Akshay sir plays the mission director and not the (ISRO) chairman. His character is unique and at the center of the mission. That said, the success of the mission cannot be credited to one person alone,” Jagan signs off.
Akshay Kumar delays Namastey England shoot again to work on Ikka?
7:36 AM
Gaurav Dubey (MID-DAY; March 31, 2016)
Last December, hitlist had reported about the shoot of Vipul Shah’s Namastey England being pushed back by nearly four months since lead actor Akshay Kumar wanted to take up Rajinikanth’s Robot 2 first. The film, which was earlier slated to roll in April, was put on hold till July. Our sources, however, tell us that it may get delayed further with Akshay keen to work on AR Murugadoss’ Ikka after wrapping up Robot 2.
Says a source, “Akshay has already given his dates for Ikka, so it is unlikely that Namastey England will go on floors as per schedule.” The actor is currently shooting for Robot 2 in New Delhi which will go on for another two-three weeks after which he will take a break and begin shooting for Ikka around May. The film, a remake of Murugadoss’ Tamil superhit Kaththi, will be directed by his associate, Jagan Shakti. “This June, Akshay will take off on his annual month-long family vacation. So, Ikka will take time to be completed. That may delay Vipul’s project eventually,” adds the source.
Murugadoss and Akshay remained unavailable for comment. Vipul, however, denies the buzz, saying, “All I can say is that I am starting the film as planned and I am not aware of any such delay.”
Akshay Kumar to have a double role in Ikka?
7:50 AM
Sanyukta Iyer (MUMBAI MIRROR; March 22, 2016)
Akshay Kumar will reunite
with his Holiday director A R Murugadoss for the remake of the
filmmaker's 2014 Tamil action-drama Kaththi. Their first collaboration had also been the official remake of the filmmaker's Tamil hit
Thuppakki. Both the original films had featured South actor Vijay in the
lead.Kaththi featured Vijay in a double role - as a petty thief and a postgraduate with staunch communist ideologies. “Murugadoss is presently re-scripting the film to fit a more North Indian set-up but Akshay will be seen in a double role,“ a source close to the development informed Mirror, adding that the original story revolved around the issue of farmers committing suicide due to corporate encroachment.
Re-titled Ikka, the official remake will roll in August 2016 with a start-to-finish two-month schedule. “The story will travel through Kolkata, Chennai, Mumbai and Bangkok, but will be filmed entirely in Chennai,“ adds the source.
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