Bollywood War Drama ‘Ikkis’ Paces Toward Rs. 10 Crore Amid Critiques of Industry ‘Family Fiefdoms’ and Nationalist Trends
Filmmakers are increasingly turning to “cheap formula films” centered on military conflicts and animosity with Pakistan, such as ‘Ikkis,’ ‘Dhurandhar,’ and Salman Khan’s upcoming ‘Battle of Galwan’.
By Rakesh Raman
New Delhi | January 2, 2026
The Hindi film industry Bollywood began 2026 with the release of the war drama ‘Ikkis,’ a film that has garnered significant attention for its high-profile debuts and its status as the final screen appearance of the late veteran actor Dharmendra. On its second day of release, the film collected Rs. 1.52 crore, bringing its total domestic net in India to Rs. 8.52 crore. While the film opened with single digits on Thursday (Rs. 7 crore), it is currently pacing toward the Rs. 10 crore mark and has successfully outshined its immediate competition, the romantic comedy ‘Tu Meri Main Tera Main Tera Tu Meri’.
Box Office Dynamics and Competition
Despite the steady growth of ‘Ikkis,’ the box office remains dominated by the blockbuster ‘Dhurandhar,’ which has entered its fifth week with an India net total of Rs. 743.3 crore. On the same Friday that ‘Ikkis’ earned its keep, ‘Dhurandhar’ collected Rs. 4.3 crore, while reports suggest the rom-com ‘Tu Meri Main Tera Main Tera Tu Meri’ struggled with figures falling below Rs. 50 lakh. The latter film is slowly moving past the Rs. 30 crore mark. In an effort to boost its reach, the film ‘Dhurandhar’ was notably made tax-free in Ladakh.
The ‘Family Fiefdom’ and New Debuts
‘Ikkis’ serves as the debut vehicle for Agastya Nanda (grandson of Amitabh Bachchan) and Simar Bhatia (niece of Akshay Kumar). This casting highlights a broader critique of “Modern Bollywood” as a “family fiefdom,” where relatives of established stars are often cast to keep production costs low, sometimes working for “peanuts” to maintain financial control. This trend is part of a larger industry reliance on familiarity, with other upcoming projects including ‘Border 2,’ ‘Drishyam 3,’ and ‘Oh My God 3’.
Economic Stature and Global Comparison
While the term “Bollywood” is often used to raise the stature of Hindi films, the industry faces a significant gap when compared to global markets.
- Production Volume: India is the largest producer of films globally, releasing approximately 2,500 films annually across nearly 35 languages like Tamil, Telugu, and Punjabi; Bollywood accounts for about 250 of these.
- Market Share: Bollywood holds a mere 1% share of the estimated $40 billion global film market. In contrast, Hollywood rakes in over $25 billion, with individual films like ‘Zootopia 2’ ($1.4 billion) and ‘Avatar: Fire and Ash’ ($760 million) dwarfing entire industry totals.
- Profit Margins: Upmarket Bollywood films typically cost $5 million to produce and earn roughly $8 million, though sources suggest that film companies may inflate box office figures to deceive moviegoers.
Nationalist Themes and Cultural Impact
Filmmakers are increasingly turning to “cheap formula films” centered on military conflicts and animosity with Pakistan, such as ‘Ikkis,’ ‘Dhurandhar,’ and Salman Khan’s upcoming ‘Battle of Galwan’. Critics argue these themes are designed to align with the nationalist agenda of the current PM Narendra Modi regime to appeal to the majority Hindu community.
In fact, Bollywood operates much like a prolific but insular family estate; it produces a massive volume of work to keep the household running, yet it often relies on the inheritance of its heirs and the retelling of ancestral battles to maintain its standing against the high-tech empires of the global market.
By Rakesh Raman, who is a national award-winning journalist and social activist. He is the founder of a humanitarian organization RMN Foundation which is working in diverse areas to help the disadvantaged and distressed people in the society.
