Meet Arun Khetarpal, the hero of the 1971 Battle of Basantar and inspiration for movie ‘Ikkis’

On January 1, 2026, Bollywood actor Dharmendra, who passed away in late 2025, will grace the big screen in a movie titled Ikkis. The movie also featuring Amitabh Bachchan’s grandson — Agastya Nanda — relives the tale of valour displayed by Indian Army’s Second Lieutenant Arun Khetarpal, who played a pivotal role in the 1971 Indo-Pak War.

Such was Khetrapal’s bravery that he posthumously earned the Param Vir Chakra (PVC), India’s highest military honour, becoming the youngest recipient of the award.

Ahead of the release of the movie, which refers to the age he died, here is the story of the Battle of Basantar, and the bravery of 2nd Lt Khetarpal.

Meet Arun Khetarpal — born to serve

Arun Khetarpal, it seems, was destined to serve in the Indian Army. He was born on October 14, 1950, in Pune into a distinguished military family. His great-grandfather served in the Sikh army and fought against the British, while his grandfather had participated in World War I under the British Army. His father, Lt Col (later Brigadier) ML Khetarpal, was also a part of the Indian Army.

Arun spent his formative years at the prestigious Lawrence School, Sanawar, nestled in the Kasauli hills of Himachal Pradesh. He excelled both academically and in extracurricular activities, distinguishing himself in sports and leadership roles.

In June 1967, he joined the National Defence Academy and continued his rigorous training at the Indian Military Academy (IMA).

On June 13, 1971, Khetarpal passed out of the IMA and was commissioned into the 17 Poona Horse Battalion.

Arun Khetarpal and the Battle of Basantar in 1971 Indo-Pak war

Just months after being commissioned, the Indo-Pakistan War of 1971 began and this is where Arun Khetarpal’s bravery shone through.

Soon enough, Khetarpal and his battalion were called upon for the war against Pakistan. Khetarpal and his comrades of the 17 Poona Horse Battalion was given the task of establishing a bridgehead over the Basantar River. For the unaware, the Basantar is a tributary of the Ravi, flowing through Shakargarh in North Punjab, just a few miles from India’s main road link from Punjab to Jammu and onward to Kashmir. Taking control of this road was a key strategic objective for the Pakistan army, as it would force the Indian Army to divert troops from East Pakistan back to India’s western borders.

On December 15, 1971, the Indian Army captured the bridgehead but by next morning, they faced a Pakistani tank regiment, the 13 Lancers. The area ahead of the bridgehead was packed with Pakistani landmines. But Khetarpal’s regiment, led by Lt Col Hanut Singh, pushed through the minefields.

According to an Army statement that recounted the battle, “Khetarpal continued to attack fiercely until all resistance was vanquished and he broke through in the direction of our squadron. When enemy tanks started pulling back after their initial probing attacks, he chased the enemy tanks and destroyed one of them.”

Then Pakistan with a dozen tanks launched another attack during which Khetarpal once again destroyed four of the enemy tanks. However, his tank, named Famagusta, suffered a direct hit and caught fire.

When he was ordered to fall back by his superior, Khetarpal refused, saying, “No, Sir, I will not abandon my tank. My main gun is still working and I will get these b******s.”

It was Khetarpal’s bravery that denied Pakistan a breakthrough and on December 17, a ceasefire was called on all fronts. Many note that if it wasn’t for Khetarpal’s heroic act that cost him his life, Pakistan would have succeeded in cutting off Jammu and Kashmir from the rest of India.

Honouring a hero’s bravery

For his valiant acts in war, a young Second Lieutenant Arun Khetarpal — he was just 21 years of age — was awarded with the Param Vir Chakra. He now holds the honour of being the youngest recipient of India’s highest military medal.

His PVC citation states: “Second Lieutenant Arun Khetarpal was dead but he had, by his intrepid valour saved the day; the enemy was denied the breakthrough he was so desperately seeking. Not one enemy tank got through.”

Within days of laying down his life for the country, India’s then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi wrote a handwritten letter to Khetarpal’s family that read: “On behalf of the people of India and my own, I send a message of sympathy and condolences. The whole country shares your grief and sorrow. Your millions of brothers are deeply grateful for this sacrifice in defense of the country, and we pray that you find solace and peace.”

The Indian Army continues to honour Khetarpal — the National Defence Academy’s parade ground is named after him. Also, the auditorium and the main gates at the IMA feature his name. the Famagusta Jx 202, was restored by the Army and is presently preserved in the Armoured Corps Centre and School in Ahmednagar.

If you would like to witness Khetarpal’s bravery, head to the movie theatres and catch the drama directed by Sriram Raghavan, starring Agastya Nanda, late Dharmendra, Jaideep Ahlawat and others.

With inputs from agencies