Ikkis vs. Dhurandhar: Can Agastya Nanda’s Debut Survive the Box Office Onslaught?

A New Contender Enters the Ring
The Ikkis Box Office Story So Far
The Undefeated Champion: Dhurandhar
The Cautionary Tale of ‘Tu Meri Main Tera’
Why This Triangle Matters for Bollywood
Conclusion
Sources

A New Contender Enters the Ring

Bollywood’s 2026 kicked off with a fascinating three-way showdown at the box office. In one corner, we have the undisputed heavyweight champion, Dhurandhar, in its fifth week of an astonishing run. In the other, a new contender steps into the spotlight: Ikkis, a war drama that marks both the final performance of legendary actor Dharmendra and the grand debut of his grandson, Agastya Nanda. And then there’s the unfortunate third player, Kartik Aaryan’s Tu Meri Main Tera Main Tera Tu Meri (TMMTMTTM), which is already looking like a cautionary tale. The central question for the industry is this: can the Ikkis box office collection build enough momentum to carve out its own legacy in a market dominated by a giant?

The Ikkis Box Office Story So Far

Ikkis opened on January 1st, 2026, to a respectable but not spectacular start. The film managed to pull in an impressive Rs 7 crore on its opening day, a solid number for any new release, let alone a debutante-led project . This opening was widely seen as a strong endorsement of the Nanda family legacy and the enduring appeal of the war drama genre.

However, its second-day performance told a more nuanced story. Early estimates suggest a collection of around Rs 1.52 crore . While a significant drop from the opening day is expected, especially on a Friday following a holiday opening, this figure indicates that Ikkis will need exceptional word-of-mouth to sustain its run. The current trajectory puts its total collection just shy of the Rs 10 crore mark after its first two days . For Agastya Nanda, this is a promising start, but it’s merely the first test in a long and grueling race.

The Undefeated Champion: Dhurandhar

While Ikkis is just beginning its journey, Dhurandhar is writing a new chapter in Bollywood history. Entering its fifth week, the film has shown no signs of slowing down. On its 29th day (its fifth Friday), it was still pulling in over Rs 3.2 crore by the afternoon .

This kind of longevity is a rare feat in modern cinema. To put it in perspective, Dhurandhar has already amassed a staggering Rs 784.5 crore net at the Indian box office in just 28 days . It has become the 5th most profitable Bollywood film of 2025 and continues to outperform even the biggest releases from other stars . For Ikkis, competing directly with such a juggernaut is a near-impossible task. Its success will be measured not by dethroning Dhurandhar, but by establishing its own niche and achieving a respectable final tally.

The Cautionary Tale of ‘Tu Meri Main Tera’

Then there’s the third film in this equation: Kartik Aaryan’s Tu Meri Main Tera Main Tera Tu Meri. This film serves as a stark reminder of how quickly a high-profile project can falter. It opened with Rs 7.75 crore, a number very close to Ikkis’s opening . However, it then suffered a sharp 32% drop on its second day and continued to decline rapidly .

The film has been widely labelled a flop, with industry trackers noting its failure to attract large crowds and its disappointing box office trajectory . While Ikkis is currently outperforming TMMTMTTM’s day-two collections, its path is a warning. A strong opening is just the beginning; sustained audience interest is the real key to success. Ikkis must avoid the sharp drop-off that plagued TMMTMTTM to have a fighting chance.

Why This Triangle Matters for Bollywood

This current box office scenario is more than just numbers; it’s a reflection of several critical industry dynamics.

The Power of Legacy vs. Star Power: Ikkis, backed by the legacy of Dharmendra, is pitted against Dhurandhar, the ultimate expression of modern, mass-appeal star power. The audience’s choice will signal what resonates more in 2026.
The Enduring Appeal of Genre: War dramas have a strong, patriotic core that connects deeply with Indian audiences. Ikkis is banking on this, and its performance will tell us if the genre can still launch new stars .
The New Normal of Box Office Longevity: Films like Dhurandhar have reset expectations. A film is no longer a hit just because it has a big opening; it must have legs to run for weeks. This is the new benchmark for success [INTERNAL_LINK:what-makes-a-bollywood-super-hit].

Conclusion

The Ikkis box office journey is just beginning, but it’s already a compelling story. Agastya Nanda has successfully passed the first test with a strong debut, and his film is already performing better than the ill-fated Tu Meri Main Tera. However, the shadow of the colossal Dhurandhar looms large. For Ikkis to be a true success, it must now rely on powerful audience word-of-mouth and the enduring emotional pull of its story to build a steady, long-term run. The coming weekend will be its first real test of stamina in this brutal but fascinating box office battle.