Vivaan Shah’s casting as Captain Vijendra Malhotra in Sriram Raghavan’s war drama Ikkis, which released today, came about through a curious mix-up that began with a brief, chance meeting. Admitting that such roles rarely come his way, Vivaan says, “Because of the way I look, I have a very boyish appearance, and I am usually not considered for characters like military officers, police inspectors or other authoritative roles. So, in a sense, this felt like a stroke of luck.” The story goes back to 2022, when he met Sriram at a theatre event. “We spoke for about five minutes about American filmmaker Don Siegel, whose work we both admire. I had read an article he had written on Siegel, so we connected over that and then went our separate ways. We didn’t exchange numbers or talk about films.” Sriram later realised he had been corresponding with another actor who shared Vivaan’s name. “Eventually, he realised it wasn’t me and told his team to call the real Vivaan,” the actor shares.
Acknowledging the duality of his appearance, Vivaan says, “It can be restricting at times, but I understand why that hesitation exists. I really hope Ikkis helps change that perception.” The film pushed him physically and emotionally. “One of the most enjoyable parts of this film was the action. It involved full-scale combat and was extremely demanding, but also very satisfying,” he says. He also drew inspiration from his uncle. “My uncle, General Zameeruddin Shah, fought in the Battle of Longewala during the 1971 war. He never really talks about his experiences, but his demeanour, personality, and mannerisms stayed with me. I consciously tried to channel him while playing this role,” he shares. Ikkis also stars Agastya Nanda, whose approach impressed Vivaan. “Agastya is doing everything I wish I had done at his age. He is far more evolved and mature than I was. Watching Agastya’s discipline and focus made me realise how much more grounded he is,” he says.
