Arun Khetarpal's Alleged Girlfriend Kiran: Truth About Simar Bhatia's Role In Ikkis Opposite Agastya

Ikkis is gearing up for a December 2025 theatrical release, and as each day passes, anticipation for the film continues to rise. The film is directed by one of the finest filmmakers of this generation, Sriram Raghavan, the genius behind iconic movies like Johnny Gaddaar, Badlapur, and Andhadhun. The National Award-winning director is best known for his mastery of the neo-noir action and psychological thriller genres. Thus, back in 2019, when it was revealed that he had been working on a biographical war drama, it excited critics and cinephiles.

Ikkis movie: Inside Andhadhun director, Sriram Raghavan's biographical war drama on Second Lieutenant Arun Khetarpal's life

After a long wait, it was finally on October 29, 2025, when Maddock Films released the trailer for Sriram Raghavan's Ikkis, which set the internet on fire. The film is based on the life of Second Lieutenant Arun Khetarpal and will revolve around the Battle of Basantar (1971 India–Pakistan War). The film's title 'Ikkis' is a reference to the age of Arun Khetarpal, who attained martyrdom at the age of 21. For the uninitiated, Khetarpal single-handedly destroyed seven tanks of the enemy during the 1971 Indo-Pak war.

The young Lieutenant, Arun Khetarpal, was killed by the enemy while he was destroying their tanks. For his bravery and utmost sacrifice, he was posthumously awarded India's highest military honor, Param Vir Chakra. For his exceptional contribution in the war, he was given the title of "Tank Ace" by fellow soldiers as he refused to retreat despite being mortally wounded. Talking about the biographical drama, Ikkis, based on Khetarpal's valor, it is Amitabh Bachchan's grandson, Agastya Nanda, who is playing the role of the brave Lieutenant.

Critics are watching as Agastya Nanda is gearing up for the release of Ikkis after a not-so-convincing Bollywood debut with The Archies

Apart from Agastya Nanda, Sriram Raghavan has assembled an impressive star cast featuring Dharmendra as Brigadier ML Khetarpal, Jaideep Ahlawat as Brigadier Khwaja Mohammed Naseer, Sikander Kher as Risaldar Sagat Singh, Rahul Dev as Lieutenant Colonel, and many more. However, apart from these actors, most headlines belong to a young and dynamic actress, Simar Bhatia, who is set to make her Bollywood debut. The young actress will be seen opposite Agastya, as she is playing the love interest of his real-life character, Arun Khetarpal.

Who is Simar Bhatia? Connection with Akshay Kumar and know about her role in Ikkis opposite Agastya Nanda

Before we explore Simar Bhatia's family background, there's a lot of talk about Arun Khetarpal's alleged love interest shown in the film's trailer. According to multiple reports, he was not in a relationship with anyone, and there's no credible source online to prove he had a girlfriend. However, some unverified sources and public forums have speculated that Khetarpal had an alleged girlfriend named Kiran. It is still unclear whether Sriram Raghavan has taken creative license with this part of the story, or whether the young Lieutenant was really in love with a girl named Kiran.

Moving on to Simar Bhatia's family background, she is the niece of Bollywood star, Akshay Kumar. Yes! You read it right. Simar is the daughter of Akshay's sister, Alka Bhatia, and her first husband, Vaibhav Kapoor. We have already seen him and his wife, Twinkle Khanna, cheering for her since her involvement in the project was announced. Talking about her presence on social media, Simar has 38.3K followers on Instagram and never fails to draw attention for her fashion quotient.

Akshay Kumar is super-supportive of his niece, Simar Bhatia; however, not everyone knows the fact that there was a time when he was furious with her mother and his sister, Alka Bhatia. For the uninitiated, Alka and Surendra Hiranandani married in 2012, despite a 15-year age difference. Alka was previously married to Vaibhav Kapoor, and Simar is their daughter, while many confuse her with Surendra Hiranandani's biological daughter. The anticipation for Simar's Bollywood debut is huge, and we hope she continues to carry on her mama, Akshay Kumar's, legacy.

Are you excited to witness the story of Second Lieutenant Arun Khetarpal in Ikkis through the lens of Sriram Raghavan?

Also Read: 'The Family Man 3', Meet Jaideep Ahlawat's 24-Year-Old Love Interest, Andrea Kevichusa In The Series

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