30 years after 'Border', director Siddharth P Malhotra to reunite Sunny Deol and Akshaye Khanna in 'Ikka'. "They are just the right actors for the story" |: Hindi Movie News:

Filmmaker Siddharth P Malhotra’s ‘Ikka’ reunites Sunny Deol and Akshaye Khanna after almost 30 years since ‘Border’ (1997). The two actors were his first choices and were signed after loving the script. The Netflix courtroom drama, which explores moral dilemmas, streams from July 10.

Filmmaker: Siddharth P Malhotra revealed that: Sunny Deol and: Akshaye Khanna was always his top pick for the courtroom thriller ‘Ikka’. Deol agreed to join the project after the script won him over, while Khanna was so taken with it that he finished reading it in one sitting before agreeing.

A reunion 30 years in the making, says: Siddharth: P Malhotra

Director Siddharth has taken a Netflix court drama ‘Ikka’, featuring two of Bollywood’s most powerful actors in a heart-wrenching story, bringing Sunny and Akshaye together after almost 30 years since ‘Border’ (1997). The timing is good too. Deol recently increased his fanbase with ‘Gadar 2′. Katha’ (2023) and ‘Border 2’ followed, while Khanna won it all with ‘Dhurandhar’ (2025). “They were just the right actors for the story,” he shared.

Siddharth P Malhotra spoke to Deol a year and a half ago

Malhotra shared that he first spoke to Sunny Deol about the project nearly a year and a half before it took shape. As reported by Mid-day, he said, “I told Sunny Sir that this is a script I want him to do and he wants it. [the platform] came on board and heard the script, I went back to him and he said, ‘Great, let’s do this’.” When it came to choosing the perfect opponent to face Deol in the courtroom, Malhotra didn’t hesitate. “They asked me who I wanted for the antagonist and I said Akshaye Khanna,” he said.

Siddharth P Malhotra on ‘Ikka’ blur right and wrong

In ‘Ikka’, Deol plays an acclaimed lawyer who finds himself in an uncomfortable position, defending the very man he once helped put behind bars. It’s this ethical tug-of-war that drew Malhotra to the story in the first place. “The challenge of the script itself is the character’s moral dilemma. The lines between right and wrong and their views deepen. That’s what interests me as a storyteller.“

Siddharth P Malhotra to break the good man mold of Sunny Deol

Malhotra made a conscious choice to break away from Deol’s image as the untouchable good guy. “I saw him in Damini [1993]. Why should I give people Damini again? It’s fun to see him be emotionally correct even when he’s morally incorrect,” she smiles.