Bollywood superstar Akshay Kumar is celebrating a personal milestone as his niece, Simar Bhatia, prepares for her silver screen debut in the much-anticipated film, Ikkis. Simar, the daughter of Akshay’s sister Alka Bhatia, stars opposite Amitabh Bachchan’s grandson, Agastya Nanda.
Akshay took to Instagram to share his pride and offer heartfelt words of encouragement to Simar as the film’s promotional tour officially kicked off with the release of the new song, Sitare, sung by Arijit Singh.
A Journey from Shy Girl to Star
The actor’s post reflected on watching his niece grow up, emphasizing her transformation and inherent family traits:
“Holding you as a tiny baby to now watching you step into the world of films… life really has come full circle. Simar, I’ve seen you turn from a shy little girl who would hide behind her mom into this confident young woman ready to face the camera like she was born for it.”
Rooting his advice in their family’s values, Akshay wrote, “Hum Bhatias ka funda simple hai: kaam karo, dil se karo, aur phir universe ka magic dekho.” He concluded his emotional message with, “I’m so proud of you beta… The world is about to meet Simar Bhatia … but to me you’ve always been a star. Go shine! Jai Mahadev.”
The Film: Ikkis
Ikkis is directed by National Award-winning filmmaker Sriram Raghavan. The war drama tells the true story of Second Lieutenant Arun Khetarpal, India’s youngest Param Vir Chakra recipient, who fought valiantly during the 1971 Indo-Pak war.
- Lead Cast: Agastya Nanda plays Arun Khetarpal, and Simar Bhatia makes her debut in an undisclosed role.
- Special Appearance: The film also features late veteran actor Dharmendra in his final screen appearance as Arun’s father.
- Release Date: The movie is scheduled to release in theatres on December 25.
The film has already generated significant buzz, with Bollywood veterans, including Amitabh Bachchan, Navya Nanda, and Suhana Khan, extending congratulatory notes to the young cast.