Ikkis Trailer: Who Was Second Lt Arun Khetarpal, PVC, Played by Agastya Nanda?

Born on October 14, 1950, in Pune, Second Lt Arun Khetarpal hailed from a family deeply rooted in military tradition. His father, Lt Col (later Brigadier) ML Khetarpal, served in the Indian Army’s Corps of Engineers, while generations before him had proudly worn the uniform — his grandfather fought in World War I, and his great-grandfather served in the Sikh Khalsa Army.

A Lawrence School, Sanawar alumnus, and a graduate of the National Defence Academy, he was commissioned into the 17 Poona Horse regiment in June 1971, just months before the Indo-Pak War broke out.

During the Battle of Basantar in the 1971 Indo-Pak War, one of the most decisive tank battles of the war, Second Lt Khetarpal’s bravery shone through. When his squadron was heavily attacked by Pakistani Patton tanks, he refused to retreat despite orders, famously declaring, “No, Sir, I will not abandon my tank. My gun is still working and I will get them.”

He destroyed several enemy tanks before his own Centurion tank ‘Famagusta’ was hit, injuring him fatally. Second Lt Khetarpal made the supreme sacrifice on December 16, 1971, the same day India won the war.

For his unmatched courage, he was posthumously awarded the Param Vir Chakra, India’s highest gallantry honour. As Ikkis — starring Agastya Nanda in the lead, Dharmendra, Jaideep Ahlawat and others — readies to bring his story to a new generation, it reminds us that true heroism isn’t about age or rank, it’s about heart, honour, and the will to stand firm when it matters most. The trailer is out now, and the film is slated for release in December 2025.