Sunny Deol Akshaye Khanna’s ‘Ikka’ may not stop at one film… director hints at a bigger franchise plan

The buzz around Ikka is growing stronger with every new update, and now fans have even more reason to be excited.

The upcoming film marks the long-awaited on-screen reunion of Sunny Deol and Akshaye Khanna, who are sharing screen space together for the first time since 1997. But what’s making headlines now is not just their comeback—it’s the possibility that Ikka could become a full-fledged film franchise.

Director Siddharth P. Malhotra has revealed that the team is already thinking beyond the first film, with plans for sequels if the audience responds positively.

A reunion nearly three decades in the making

For fans of both actors, Ikka carries a sense of nostalgia and anticipation. The film brings together two powerhouse performers whose paths haven’t crossed on the big screen in almost three decades.

According to Malhotra, the script was always built around Sunny and Akshaye.

He revealed that while writing the film, both actors were his first and only choices for the lead roles. However, aligning schedules and getting everything in place turned out to be one of the biggest hurdles.

Despite the delays, the makers stayed committed to their original vision.

A script that waited nine years

Interestingly, Ikka wasn’t a project that came together overnight.

Malhotra shared that the script spent nearly nine years in development before finally entering production. He described it as the first story he would pitch whenever producers or streaming platforms asked him if he had something strong.

After years of discussions and multiple rounds of pitching, the project eventually gained momentum when Netflix showed interest.

That support helped turn a long-pending dream into reality.

Akshaye Khanna said yes in just two days

One of the most surprising revelations from the filmmaker was how quickly Akshaye Khanna agreed to the role.

Malhotra recalled narrating the script to Sunny Deol on the sets of Bantwara around a year and a half ago. After hearing the story, Sunny reportedly asked who would play the crucial character of Shauryaman.

When Malhotra mentioned Akshaye Khanna, there was uncertainty over whether he would accept.

But the actor reportedly agreed within just two days of hearing the script.

Following that, things moved fast—contracts were signed, look tests began, and principal photography was wrapped within two months.

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Ikka 2, 3 and 4 already on the table?

What makes this even more interesting is the director’s vision for the future.

Malhotra says Ikka has been designed as more than just a standalone film. If the first installment works, the makers are prepared to expand the story into multiple chapters—including Ikka 2, Ikka 3, and even Ikka 4.

While no sequels have been officially greenlit yet, the intention to build a long-term franchise is clearly there.

Strong supporting cast adds more depth

Apart from Sunny and Akshaye, the film also stars:

• Sanjeeda Sheikh
• Shishir Sharma
• Akanksha Ranjan Kapoor

The screenplay has been penned by Althea Kaushal and Mayank Tiwari, while the film is being produced under the Alchemy Films banner.

Big expectations from a powerful duo

The return of Sunny Deol and Akshaye Khanna together is already one of the film’s biggest selling points.

Both actors carry strong fan bases and distinct screen presence, making Ikka one of the most anticipated projects on the horizon.

And if the makers’ franchise vision comes true, this reunion may just be the beginning of something much bigger.