Sunny Deol has opened up about reuniting with Akshaye Khanna for the upcoming courtroom drama 'Ikka', calling the experience a heartfelt return to their early days together — and expressing genuine joy at Khanna's recent resurgence following the success of 'Dhurandhar'. Deol made the remarks at the trailer launch event of 'Ikka' in Mumbai on 29 June.

Sunny Deol on Akshaye Khanna's Comeback

Deol was effusive in his praise for his co-star, crediting Khanna's persistence for his renewed moment in the spotlight. “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,” Deol said at the event.

The remarks carry particular weight given Khanna's critical and commercial breakthrough with 'Dhurandhar', which had positioned him as one of Hindi cinema's most compelling character actors working today.

Their Bond: Rooted in 'Border'

Deol also recalled how the two actors first forged their on-screen chemistry in the 1997 war epic 'Border', which marked Khanna's debut collaboration with him. “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,” Deol shared.

The reference to 'Vinodji' — late veteran actor Vinod Khanna, Akshaye's father — added an emotional layer to the reunion, underscoring the generational ties that connect the two actors beyond the screen.

What 'Ikka' Is About

Deol described 'Ikka' as a film that transcends its courtroom setting. In a statement, he said: “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 film marks a notable shift for Deol — his first direct-to-streaming release. “I’m happy that through Netflix, audiences across India and the world will be able to experience IKKA,” he added.

Release and What to Expect

'Ikka' is expected to premiere on Netflix on 10 July 2025. The film arrives at an interesting moment for both its leads: Deol, who saw a massive box-office revival with 'Gadar 2', now ventures into the streaming space, while Khanna rides high on critical acclaim. Together, they bring considerable star power and a shared screen history to what promises to be one of the more anticipated streaming releases of the month.