Ikkis box office collection day 4: Dharmendra’s last film earns Rs 20 cr in extended opening weekend, makes 60% of Dhurandhar’s earnings on Sunday

The total box office collection of Ikkis in India after four days stands at Rs 20.15 crore, as per Sacnilk. That’s not too bad a figure for a film led by Agastya, who made his theatrical debut with this movie, in which he plays the martyred war hero Arun Kheterpal. Agastya, the maternal grandson of Amitabh Bachchan and Jaya Bachchan, had made his debut with Zoya Akhtar’s 2023 period coming-of-age musical The Archies, which dropped directly on Netflix India.

Ikkis is no Saiyaara

Ikkis also marks the debut of Simar Bhatia, Akshay Kumar’s niece. Of course, it’s no Saiyaara. Mohit Suri’s romantic drama scored the highest opening for an Indian film with newcomers. Starring Ahaan Panday and Aneet Padda, it went on to become the highest grossing Indian film with newcomers, amassing Rs 329.20 crore at the domestic box office. In comparison, Saiyaara earned more in its opening day back in July last year what Ikkis has minted in its extended opening weekend.

Ikkis vs previous Sriram Raghavan films

If compared to Sriram’s previous directorial Merry Christmas, Ikkis has done significantly better, also benefitting from the New Year’s extended weekend. The 2023 crime thriller, starring Katrina Kaif and Vijay Sethupathi, earned Rs 11.65 crore in its first four days at the domestic box office.

Ikkis has also scored higher than what Sriram’s last hit, Andhadhun, did back in 2018. The Ayushmann Khurrana-starrer thriller earned Rs 18 crore in its first four days at the domestic box office. But Ikkis’ extended opening weekend is lower than that of Sriram’s 2015 revenge saga Badlapur. The Varun Dhawan-starrer earned Rs 27.50 crore in its first four days at the domestic box office.

Ikkis vs Dhurandhar

Ikkis has held its own against Dhurandhar for multiple reasons. Firstly, even though it’s also a period movie exploring the Indo-Pak conflict, its politics is completely different from that of Dhar’s film. Secondly, it’s a befitting tribute to Dharmendra, who passed away a couple of months ago. Thirdly, its producer, Dinesh Vijan’s Maddock Films, ensured that its distributor, Jyoti Deshpande-led Jio Studios, gives up 50% of Dhurandhar’s screens for Ikkis.

But despite that screen distribution arrangement, Dhurandhar has still earned far more in its fifth weekend what Ikkis has in it its first. For instance, Ranveer’s movie earned Rs 12.75 crore on its fifth Sunday, which is more than double of what Ikkis did on the same day, despite it being its first Sunday at the domestic box office.

Also Read — Anurag Kashyap heaps praise on Dhurandhar while disagreeing with its politics: ‘Aditya Dhar is a Kashmiri Pandit who has suffered’

Ikkis’ true litmus test would take place today, whether or not it’s able to maintain the current trajectory at the domestic box office on its first Monday. It’ll continue facing competition from Dhurandhar, which still shows no signs of showing down, and will encounter fresh competition in Kapil Sharma-starrer comedy Kis Kis Ko Pyaar Karoon 2, which is slated to re-release in cinemas on January 9.