Ekavali Khanna has been quietly but steadily building an impressive body of work since the start of her career. January 2026 has been especially rewarding for the actor. She was seen in Ikkis as Maryam, the wife of Brigadier Jaan Mohammad Nisar (Jaideep Ahlawat), a role that also gave her the opportunity to share screen space with the late Dharmendra. While a majority of the viewers loved the film and its message, a section of the netizens raised objections and complained that it tries to portray Pakistan in a positive light. What also provoked this narrative is the release of Dhurandhar just a few weeks before Ikkis. The Ranveer Singh-starrer’s depiction of Pakistan set a benchmark and it further added to the negativity surrounding Ikkis.
In an exclusive interview with Bollywood Hungama, Ekavali Khanna opened up on this aspect. She said, “It’s a very personal thing. So, I don’t think that I hold that place to criticize people who are uncomfortable with it. But I can speak for myself. It is an anti-war film. These days, we are so lost in this whole jargon of animosity, enemy camp etc. This particular film reflects a lot beyond it. It is a moving story of a father and son. Also, it is a moving story even from the perspective of the Pakistani counterpart. For him to acknowledge to the father (that he was the one who killed his son) is a great human story. But a certain segment has reduced it by saying, ‘This is a Pro-Pakistani film’. Ab inko aap samjha nahin sakte. This is a pro-humanity film. It is definitely not a pro-Pakistani film at any level. Arun Khetarpal sacrificed his life at the age of 21. Then how, on earth, can it be called a pro-Pakistani film? Hence, I found these accusations a bit absurd and I do not want to give them too much importance. For me, a good war film is an anti-war film. What makes me happy is that thanks to this film, more people are going to know the story of Arun Khetarpal.”
Ekavali also revealed, “Someone was having a chat with me at the airport. That person loved Dhurandhar and asked me, ‘If you got an opportunity, would you work in Dhurandhar or Ikkis?’. I replied that I have already worked in Ikkis. Moreover, Dhurandhar is a hugely mounted film. I am happy with the success it has achieved. Aditya Dhar is a very powerful and important filmmaker right now. He has all the attention on him and a huge fan following. He tells convincing stories one after another. As an actor, of course, I’d love to work with him. I don’t think there’s a single actor who would decline working with him.”
She added, “But creatively and in terms of sensitivity, I’ll always choose Ikkis over Dhurandhar. So, this was a very unfair question. Also, this is the question that perhaps a journalist might ask just to get a sensational headline and to put the person in a spot! But no, it is the audience asking such a question.”
More Pages: Ikkis Box Office Collection , Ikkis Movie Review
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