Sunny Deol is preparing for the release of his upcoming film Ikka, which marks his debut on the OTT platform. Directed by Siddharth Malhotra, the courtroom drama also stars Akshaye Khanna, Tillotama Shome and Dia Mirza in key roles. The film holds added significance as it brings Sunny and Akshaye together on screen nearly 30 years after their appearance in Border.
Ahead of the film’s release, Sunny attended a special screening of Ikka in Mumbai on July 9, accompanied by his sons. The event also became a talking point because of the actor’s new clean-shaven appearance, which has attracted considerable attention online. Many fans noticed that the look reminded them of his late father, legendary actor Dharmendra.
At the screening, Sunny’s appearance became one of the major highlights alongside the film itself. Dressed casually in a checked shirt, jeans and a cap, the actor surprised attendees with his changed look. The transformation soon led to speculation that it might be connected to Nitesh Tiwari’s Ramayana. However, Sunny laughed off the rumours and said people often place too much importance on an actor’s appearance.
He joked in Punjabi, “Aaj kal te looks de pichhe paye jaande ne. Acting khatam ho gayi hai. (People today are more behind the looks. It is all about the looks and acting has completely finished)."
Several people at the event also highlighted the resemblance between Sunny’s new appearance and Dharmendra’s iconic look. Reacting to the compliment, the actor placed his hand over his heart and smiled, acknowledging the sentiment without saying anything.
The connection with Dharmendra was also reflected during the launch of Ikka’s trailer, where the makers introduced Sunny not simply by his name but as “Dharmendra’s son Sunny Deol." The tribute caught widespread attention.
When asked about the introduction, Sunny said, “Papa ke bete hai, aur kya hai? Accha kaam karte hai toh accha lagta hai ki papa khush honge ki unke bete accha kaam kar rahe hai (We are Dad’s sons, after all. It feels good to do good work, knowing Dad would be happy that his sons are doing well)."
Ikka is scheduled to premiere on Netflix today, July 10.
Beyond Ikka, Sunny Deol will also be seen in Nitesh Tiwari’s Ramayana, where he will portray Hanuman. The film features Ranbir Kapoor as Lord Rama, Sai Pallavi as Sita and Yash as Ravana. The first instalment is scheduled to arrive on Diwali 2026, with the second part following on Diwali 2027.
Sunny also has Batwara 1947 lined up this year, in which he will share screen space with Preity Zinta.
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