Ahead of Ikkis release, take a look at 5 young heroes who shaped India’s military legacy 5 : Bollywood News

In the Indian Military Academy, there is a saying: “The safety, honour, and welfare of your country come first, always and every time.” For some, this philosophy is put to the ultimate test before they even reach their 22nd birthday. As Ikkis prepares to tell the story of Arun Khetarpal—the youngest Param Vir Chakra recipient—we look at five other legends who defined the spirit of “Twenty-One.”

Ahead of Ikkis release, take a look at 5 young heroes who shaped India’s military legacy

1. Rifleman Jaswant Singh Rawat (The Lone Warrior of 1962)

Before the 1971 tanks of Basantar, there was the frozen terrain of Arunachal Pradesh in 1962. Rifleman Jaswant Singh Rawat was just 21 years old when he held off the Chinese army for 72 hours. Legend has it that he set up firing points at different locations to trick the enemy into thinking they were facing an entire battalion. Today, he is the only soldier in Indian history who continues to receive “promotions” posthumously; his boots are still polished, and his bed is made every day by the army at Jaswant Garh.

2. Bhagat Singh (The Spark of the Revolution)

While most of us associate Bhagat Singh with his execution at 23, his most world-shaking act—the bombing of the Central Legislative Assembly to “make the deaf hear”—occurred when he was just 21. At an age when most are beginning their careers, Bhagat Singh was already the intellectual and militant heart of the Indian independence movement, proving that the fire of “Ikkis” has ignited both our wars and our freedom.

3. Sahibzada Zorawar Singh & Fateh Singh (The Foundation of Sacrifice)

Every year on December 26, India observes Veer Bal Diwas. While younger than 21, the martyrdom of Guru Gobind Singh’s sons serves as the spiritual blueprint for the “Ikkis” legacy. Their refusal to bow to the Mughal court at the ages of 9 and 7 established the “Never Give In” creed that Arun Khetarpal famously followed at Sanawar School and later at the Battle of Basantar.

4. Second Lieutenant Arun Khetarpal (The ‘Ace of Aces’)

The centerpiece of our current cinematic moment, Khetarpal was commissioned into the 17 Poona Horse just six months before the 1971 war. At 21, he became a “man possessed,” destroying 10 enemy tanks. When ordered to abandon his burning tank, his reply became immortal: “No Sir, I will not abandon my tank. My gun is still working and I will get these guys.” He died minutes after destroying the last enemy tank, ensuring the bridgehead at Basantar never fell.

5. The “Ikkis” of Kargil: Capt. Vikram Batra & Yogendra Singh Yadav

While Captain Vikram Batra was 24 during his “Yeh Dil Maange More” moment, the Kargil War was fought largely by soldiers in their very early twenties. Subedar Yogendra Singh Yadav was just 19 when he climbed a vertical cliff under fire at Tiger Hill, surviving 15 bullets to win the Param Vir Chakra. These “Ikkis-adjacent” heroes prove that the age of 21 is not just a number in the Indian Army—it is the peak of fearless idealism.

Why the Film ‘Ikkis’ Matters Now

Sriram Raghavan’s film arrives at a time when we need to be reminded that India’s borders weren’t drawn with ink, but with the resolve of 21-year-olds. By casting a debutant like Agastya Nanda, the film captures the “youthful innocence” that makes the ultimate sacrifice so much more poignant.

When you sit in the theater this New Year’s Day, remember that the “He-Man” legacy of Dharmendra is being passed to a character who represents every young Indian who decided that their 22nd birthday was less important than their country’s tomorrow.

Also Read: Anil Sharma, Mukesh Chhabra laud Dharmendra’s grace and Agastya Nanda after Ikkis screening: “He leaves us with dignity”

More Pages: Ikkis Box Office Collection

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