Veteran actor Sunny Deol had nothing but admiration for his Ikka co-star Akshaye Khanna during the trailer launch of the upcoming courtroom drama in Mumbai. Reflecting on Akshaye's recent career resurgence following the success of Dhurandhar, Sunny said the actor's perseverance has finally paid off and that he deserves all the appreciation coming his way.
Speaking at the event, Sunny praised Akshaye's dedication to his craft and spoke about how unpredictable the film industry can be. According to him, patience and consistency are what ultimately lead to success, and Akshaye is a perfect example of that.
“I think it was high time. Like I was saying, time is unpredictable, so just keep working, never give up, just keep doing it, and I think that’s what Akshaye was doing and when the time has come and he is now flying high, and he deserves it. And much, much more.”
Sunny also looked back fondly on their first collaboration in the iconic war drama Border, recalling how the two instantly connected on set. He revealed that despite not meeting Akshaye for years after the film, reuniting for Ikka felt as though no time had passed.
“I am so happy for him because we both did ‘Border’ together, and that’s the first time he was working with me, and we had a very great equation over there because he was Vinodji’s son. I met him after so many years, actually, I had not met him before that. Just imagine the gap, and it was so lovely, it was just like going back to the earlier days, and he is a lovely guy.”
Talking about Ikka, Sunny explained that the film offers much more than a conventional courtroom thriller. He described it as an emotional story centred on family, relationships and the difficult decisions people are forced to make when life tests their values.
“IKKA is not just a courtroom drama. It is a story about family, relationships, and the difficult choices life forces you to make. Arjun is a man who believes in doing what is right, but circumstances push him to question everything around him. His pain, his anger, his silence, and his fight for what he believes in are what drew me to this character.”
The actor also highlighted another milestone in his career, revealing that Ikka marks his first-ever direct-to-streaming release. Sunny expressed excitement about the film reaching audiences across the globe through Netflix.
“This film is also very special because it marks my first direct-to-streaming release. I’m happy that through Netflix, audiences across India and the world will be able to experience IKKA.”
Directed by Siddharth P. Malhotra, Ikka stars Sunny Deol, Akshaye Khanna, Dia Mirza and Tillotama Shome in pivotal roles. The legal thriller follows celebrated lawyer Arjun Mehra, who is forced to defend a murder suspect from his past, setting off an intense courtroom battle that challenges his morals, loyalties and beliefs. With its emotionally charged narrative and powerhouse performances, Ikka is one of the most awaited OTT releases of the season.
The film is set to premiere exclusively on Netflix on July 10, bringing audiences a gripping blend of courtroom drama, family conflict and emotional storytelling.