Defence Minister Rajnath Singh attended a special screening of the upcoming war film Ikkis at the national capital. He met the film’s actors Agastya Nanda and Jaideep Ahlawat and also honoured the family of Second Lieutenant Arun Khetarpal.

He took to his social media, "Felicitated the family members of Second Lieutenant Arun Khetarpal, PVC, and the next of kin of his tank crew at the special screening of the film 'Ikkis' in New Delhi. Arun Khetarpal fought valiantly in the 1971 war and made the supreme sacrifice for the nation. The film Ikkis showcases his bravery and celebrates the courage of our Armed Forces. Also had a wonderful interaction with the actors of Ikkis. I wish them success in their future endeavours." 

Second Lieutenant Arun Khetarpal lost his life during the 1971 India-Pakistan war at the age of 21. 

The film stars late Dharmendra Ji, Agastya Nanda, Simar Bhatia & Jaideep Ahlawat. The final trailer of Ikkis was released recently and has received a lot of appreciation. A key moment in the trailer is a line spoken by Dharmendra’s character, who says that Arun will “always be 21,” highlighting his lasting legacy. Produced by Dinesh Vijan and directed by Sriram Raghavan, Ikkis is set to release in theatres on January 1, 2026.