Behind The Scenes of Ikka: Why Akshaye Khanna Wanted To Be On Set Before Sunny Deol

Director Siddharth P. Malhotra reveals the professional discipline behind the highly anticipated reunion of 90s icons Sunny Deol and Akshaye Khanna.

The courtroom drama Ikka has been nearly a decade in the making, but for director Siddharth P. Malhotra, the final stretch of production felt like a masterclass in old-school Bollywood professionalism. Bringing together two powerhouses—Sunny Deol and Akshaye Khanna—nearly 30 years after their last collaboration in Border, required more than just a strong script. It demanded a specific kind of on-set synergy, defined by a mutual, almost generational respect between two stars who have both seen massive career resurgences in recent years.

The Professional Protocol

The most striking detail from the Ikka sets involves a strict ritual observed by Akshaye Khanna. According to Malhotra, Khanna insisted on a clear protocol regarding call times. "First let me walk in, then call Sunny," Khanna would tell the production team. He was adamant that the director should not summon Deol until he himself was ready, driven by a desire to ensure that a senior colleague he deeply respects never had to wait for him. Malhotra notes that this level of hierarchy and professional courtesy is a trait he often associates with the stars of the 90s—a generation that prioritizes punctuality and protocol over the casual nature of modern sets.

A Record-Breaking Production

The project itself is a testament to perseverance. Malhotra, who nurtured the script for over ten years, finally saw it greenlit for Netflix. Despite the decade-long journey to get the film off the ground, the actual filming was a sprint. The team managed to wrap the entire production in a record-breaking 30 shifts. This efficiency was largely credited to the complete trust between the director and his leads. Deol, who portrays an upright lawyer, and Khanna, who steps into the shoes of a murder accused, were the director's first and only choices. While Deol signed on after reading the script, Khanna famously committed to the role after a single sitting, despite the uncertainty surrounding the project's long-term development.

Why It Matters: The Resurgence of the 90s Icons

The significance of Ikka extends beyond its genre-bending plot. We are currently witnessing a unique cultural moment where the stars of the 90s are not just making "comebacks" but are actively commanding the box office and streaming platforms with renewed authority. Deol’s massive success with Gadar 2 and Khanna’s recent critical acclaim have turned them into hot properties again. By casting them as rivals, Malhotra is tapping into the audience's nostalgia while leveraging their current professional peaks. The film’s success will likely depend on whether this off-screen chemistry—marked by Khanna’s deference and Deol’s reputation as a grounded "family man" on set—translates into the high-stakes intensity required for a courtroom thriller.

Behind the Persona

While the headlines focus on the intensity of the legal drama, Malhotra offers a glimpse into the lighter side of the production. He describes Deol as a "father figure" on set, someone who keeps the atmosphere lively and is surprisingly shy when interacting with the female cast members. This stark contrast—the fierce, intense screen presence versus the private, modest off-screen personality—is exactly what the director hopes to capture in the final edit. As the film nears its July 10 release, the industry is watching closely to see if this blend of disciplined professionalism and veteran star power can deliver a defining hit for the streaming giant.