‘Much More Than a Courtroom Drama’

Sunny Deol returns as a lawyer in director Siddharth P Malhotra’s IKKA, which streams on Netflix from July 10.

For Sunny, playing a lawyer for a second time was a long-cherished dream. “I played a lawyer in Damini 33 years ago. It was meant to be a cameo. But my character made a big impact. Since then, I was hoping to be play a lawyer again. I finally got the chance in IKKA. I grabbed it,” says the actor.

“IKKA is not just a courtroom drama. It is a story about family, relationships, and the difficult choices life forces you to make,” he shares. “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. This film is also very special because it marks my first direct-to-streaming release.”

Arjun, incidentally, was Sunny Deol’s name in one of his finest film, Rahul Rawail’s Arjun, where he played a very angry man. “The Arjun in IKKA is also very angry, very hungry to use his lawyer’s profession to administer justice to the wronged,” Sunny reveals.

Significantly, Sunny Deol will be credited in IKKA as ‘Dharmendra’s Son Sunny Deol.’ “I will always be my father’s son, always my Papa’s pet. His going left a huge vacuum in all our hearts. This is my small gesture to show how close he is to my heart. I want people to think of him whenever they see me,” he explains.

MEANWHILE

Akshaye skips IKKA trailer launch

Akshaye Khanna appears to be taking the “out of sight, out of mind” approach to an extreme. After receiving widespread praise for Dhurandhar, he not only avoided the media but has doubled down on his reclusive stance.

On June 29, his absence from the trailer launch of his new film, shocked the film fraternity. Several industry insiders called his decision high-handed and irrational, especially as lead actor Sunny Deol was present and actively engaged at the event.

Khanna did not attend in person but sent a cryptic voice note to the media: “Kuch mulakatein stage par nahi ho sakti. Agar ho gayi, to zalzalaa aa sakta hai! Isiliye Ikka aur main ab sirf Netflix ki screen par milenge, 10 July ko. Taiyaar rehna.”

While director Siddharth P. Malhotra defended Khanna’s absence, others were less forgiving, calling it an act of arrogance!?