Director Sriram Raghavan replaced Varun Dhawan with Agastya Nanda in his upcoming film 'Ikkis' due to age requirements for portraying a 19-year-old Arun Khetarpal. Raghavan stated that while Dhawan was initially keen, the COVID-19 pandemic altered plans. He emphasized the need for a younger actor with a fresh face and the commitment to dedicate two to three years to the project, qualities he found in Nanda. The film, set for a January 1, 2026 release, also marks Dharmendra's potential final appearance and Nanda's theatrical debut.