Why Siddharth P. Malhotra’s Ikka Is the Calculated Risk Netflix Needed
- Vishal waghela
- Feb 4
- 3 min read
The Border reunion hype is a great headline, but the real story is the man pulling the strings from the director’s chair. Netflix just confirmed Ikka for its 2026 slate, and while the internet is busy obsessing over Sunny Deol and Akshaye Khanna facing off after 29 years, industry insiders are looking at Siddharth P. Malhotra.
This isn't just another legal drama; it's a "deal with the devil" that positions Malhotra as the primary architect of Netflix India’s prestige-thriller era
The Hook: Why This Isn't Damini 2.0
Everyone’s making the Damini connection because Sunny Deol is in a black robe, but the math isn't mathing for a standard hero story.
The Conflict: Deol plays Sikandar Mehra, an incorruptible lawyer arm-twisted into defending the one man whose career he personally destroyed—played by a menacingly quiet Akshaye Khanna.
The Stakes: If he loses, he loses his family. To win, he has to burn his own moral compass. This is a psychological war, not just a "tareekh pe tareekh" shouting match.
Why Siddharth P. Malhotra Is the Secret "Ikka"
Malhotra is coming off the massive success of Maharaj, and Ikka is his second major original with Netflix. He’s not a director who chases box-office numbers with empty "masala" scenes. He’s a specialist in moral peril.
The Sincerity Quotient: Malhotra famously called this his "toughest film yet." During a high-tension scene, a fly actually landed on Sunny Deol’s eye. Sunny didn't flinch because Malhotra’s sets are built on such raw, "in-the-moment" discipline.
Character-First Logic: Look at Hichki. Malhotra takes a specific human flaw and turns it into a victory. In Ikka, he’s doing the opposite: taking a "perfect" man and forcing him into a villain era to survive.
The Casting Genius: Most directors would have put these two in an action film to chase the Gadar 2 or Dhurandhar hype. Malhotra chose a courtroom. Why? Because he knows the real fireworks happen in the subtext, not the explosions.
The Insider Take: Why Netflix?
There’s a reason this isn't going to theaters. A Sunny-Akshaye reunion is theatrical gold, but Ikka is being positioned as a prestige streaming event. By keeping it on Netflix, Malhotra can lean into the darkness and the "R-rated" ethical complexity that might get diluted in a U/A theatrical cut. It's a calculated move to dominate the digital space
QUICK FACTS
Director: Siddharth P. Malhotra (Alchemy Films)
Release Year: 2026 (Netflix Original)
Lead Duel: Sunny Deol vs. Akshaye Khanna
Supporting Heavyweights: Tillotama Shome, Dia Mirza, Sanjeeda Shaikh
Core Theme: Survival vs. Principles
Fans Also Asked
Q: Who is the director of the Netflix movie Ikka?
A: Siddharth P. Malhotra is the director of Ikka. He is best known for Hichki and the Netflix hit Maharaj, specializing in character-driven, ethically complex dramas.
Q: Why are Sunny Deol and Akshaye Khanna reuniting for Ikka?
A: This marks their first screen collaboration since Border (1997). Director Siddharth P. Malhotra reportedly nurtured this "deeply personal" script for years specifically with these two powerhouse actors in mind.
Q: Is Ikka based on a true story? A: No, Ikka is an original script written by Althea Kaushal and Mayank Tewari. It focuses on an "ideological clash" between a lawyer and his nemesis rather than a specific real-world case.
Q: What is Akshaye Khanna's role in Ikka? A: Akshaye Khanna plays a man accused of murder. Fans are already comparing his "drooping shoulders" and intense gaze in the teaser to his iconic "Rehman Dakait" avatar from Dhurandhar.
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