Mumbai: Director Siddharth P. Malhotra has shared an insight into the off-screen bond between Akshaye Khanna and Sunny Deol, who reunite after 29 years in Netflix’s courtroom drama Ikka. The duo last shared screen space in the 1997 film Border.
Speaking in an interview, Malhotra said Khanna deeply respects Deol and would insist on reaching the set before his senior co-star. “Akshaye would tell the team, ‘Let me come to the set first, then call Sunny Sir. I don’t want him waiting for me.’ That shows character,” the director said, adding that such professionalism reflects the values of many actors from the 1990s.
Malhotra also revealed a different side of Deol, describing him as lively and humorous on set despite being naturally reserved. “The set becomes his family. He jokes with everyone and keeps the atmosphere engaging. But he is still very shy with women and people around,” he said.
The director added that watching Deol overcome difficult phases in life taught him valuable lessons about resilience and character.
Ikka follows Arjun Mehra (Sunny Deol), an incorruptible defence lawyer forced to represent murder suspect and former professional rival Shauryamann Gaur (Akshaye Khanna), leading to a battle between ethics and personal history. The film premieres on Netflix on July 10.
