PremiumMerry Christmas director Sriram Raghavan breaks silence on casting Agastya Nanda in Ikkis, saying he reminded him of Amitabh Bachchan from Anand
It was confirmed last year that Agastya Nanda would replace Varun Dhawan in Sriram Raghavan’s Ikkis.
Last Updated: 01.14 PM, Jan 13, 2024
Agastya Nanda, who made his big Bollywood debut with Zoya Akhtar and Reema Kagti's The Archies, is all set to star opposite veteran actor Dharmendra in National award-winning filmmaker Sriram Raghavan's next Ikkis, based on Second Lieutenant Arun Khetarpal PVC.
Sriram, currently basking in glory for his recently released film Merry Christmas starring Katrina Kaif and Vijay Sethupati, discussed his decision to cast Agastya as a lead. Sriram recalled that Agastya reminded him of Amitabh Bachchan.
Here’s what Sriram Raghavan Said:
In an interview with Film Companion, the director shared, “When I first met him he reminded me of Amitabh (Bachchan) in Saat Hindustani and Anand. He’s got a certain charm and he looks the part also, and I am looking forward to working with him. He’s a guy who is refreshingly normal and there are no bells and whistles. I have seen his 'The Archies,' and I loved the film, I loved his character and many other characters in the film. So I know he knows the process of the film, and now I am looking at diving with him into more subjects.”
How Agastya Nanda Bagged Ikkis:
After receiving appreciation from the director himself, Agastya recalled his journey of landing the role. The actor shared in the same interview that before 'The Archies,' when he was looking for work, he went to Dinesh Vijan's office to ask if he had anything for him, to which Dinesh replied that he would be in touch. Agastya further explained that the next day he received a call from Dinesh who asked him to come to his office and didn't answer any of the questions Agastya asked.
Further, the 'The Archies' actor shared, "When I arrived, I was sitting at the office, really nervous because it was just me fresh into this industry. I was sitting alone in the conference hall… 20-30 minutes passed, and then Sriram Raghavan walked in. Then I figured out what the story was, and it was with him."
The Archies actor further gave insights about his training in Pune. He said, “Army men’s lifestyle, their discipline, their integrity, I am a fan because I have gone to boarding school so I have had like five percent of what that life is like but going to the regiment and the respect I have for my country and the army now is on another level. So the passion and the drive to do justice to them are through the roof. I really don’t want to let them down because it is beautiful what they do for us and so selfless.”
About Ikkis:
For the uninitiated, Arun Khetarpal was a brave Indian officer who received the highest military honor, the Param Vir Chakra, posthumously for his courage in the 1971 India-Pakistan war. Ikkis will mark the first biopic Sriram Raghavan ever directed. The filmmaker is known for directing Andhadhun, Johnny Gaddaar, Badlapur, Ek Hasina Thi, Agent Vinod, and Merry Christmas. the film was first in Varun Dhawan's kitty who had to let it go for some reasons.
Why You Must Watch Merry Christmas
As for Merry Christmas, the movie is now receiving some very good reviews. The movie that stars Katrina Kaif and Sriram Raghavan in the lead is a thriller that starts as a love story. What looks like a perfect holiday film soon turns into a dark comedy that leads to a very moving climax, one of the best proposal sequences you will ever see in the history of cinema. Merry Christmas is a masterclass in the power of screenwriting and directing. Katrina Kaif gives her career-best performance.
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