Sriram Raghavan Reveals Why Agastya Nanda Replaced Varun Dhawan in 'Ikkis'

• National Award-winning filmmaker Sriram Raghavan explained the casting change in his upcoming war drama 'Ikkis'.
• Varun Dhawan was initially attached to the project, but COVID-19 and script evolution led to a re-evaluation.
• Raghavan emphasized the need for authenticity, stating that the role of Arun Khetarpal, who was 19, required a fresh, younger face.
• Agastya Nanda, 21, was chosen for his youthful energy, innocence, and commitment to dedicate 2-3 years to the project.
• The film, releasing January 1, 2026, chronicles Arun Khetarpal's life as the youngest Param Vir Chakra recipient, and also stars Dharmendra.

Why It Matters: Authenticity and age-appropriateness led Sriram Raghavan to cast Agastya Nanda over Varun Dhawan in 'Ikkis'.