Agastya Nanda Biography: Age, Family, Movies, Ikkis & Latest News
Agastya Nanda (born 23 November 2000) is an Indian actor who works in Hindi films. The grandson of Amitabh Bachchan and Jaya Bachchan, and the son of businessman Nikhil Nanda and author Shweta Bachchan Nanda, he made his debut as Archie Andrews in Zoya Akhtar’s Netflix musical The Archies (2023). On 1 January 2026, he led Sriram Raghavan’s war biopic Ikkis, playing Param Vir Chakra recipient Second Lieutenant Arun Khetarpal opposite Dharmendra in the veteran actor’s final film.
Agastya Nanda Latest News (2026)
- Ikkis (1 January 2026): Sriram Raghavan’s war biopic opened as the first major Hindi release of 2026, after moving from its planned 25 December 2025 date. Critics largely praised the film and Agastya’s performance, with The Hindu calling it a breakout role. At the box office, it earned an estimated ₹36.9 crore against a reported ₹60 crore budget.
- Streaming: Ikkis began streaming on Amazon Prime Video on 26 February 2026.
- Project Hum: In September 2026, Agastya voiced a video for Project Hum, the Mumbai restaurant he is a partner in.
Agastya Nanda Profile, Age and Wiki
| Bio | |
|---|---|
| Full name | Agastya Nanda |
| Profession | Actor |
| Known for | The Archies, Ikkis |
| Career | |
| Debut | The Archies (Netflix, December 2023) |
| Theatrical debut | Ikkis (1 January 2026) |
| Notable role | 2nd Lt. Arun Khetarpal, PVC |
| Business | Partner, Project Hum restaurant, Mumbai |
| Personal Life | |
| Date of birth | 23 November 2000 |
| Age (as of 2026) | 25 years |
| Birthplace | Mumbai, Maharashtra, India |
| Zodiac sign | Sagittarius |
| Nationality | Indian |
| School | Sevenoaks School, United Kingdom |
| Relationships and Family | |
| Marital status | Unmarried |
| Father | Nikhil Nanda, businessman |
| Mother | Shweta Bachchan Nanda, author and columnist |
| Sister | Navya Naveli Nanda, entrepreneur |
| Grandparents | Amitabh Bachchan and Jaya Bachchan (maternal); Rajan Nanda and Ritu Nanda (paternal) |
| Uncle and aunt | Abhishek Bachchan and Aishwarya Rai Bachchan |
Agastya Nanda Early Life, Family and Education
Agastya was born in Mumbai to Nikhil Nanda, chairman of the Escorts group, and Shweta Bachchan Nanda, the daughter of Amitabh and Jaya Bachchan. He has an elder sister, entrepreneur Navya Naveli Nanda. His maternal uncle is actor Abhishek Bachchan, and his aunt is Aishwarya Rai Bachchan.
His family connections run through two of Hindi cinema’s best-known film families. On his father’s side, his grandmother Ritu Nanda was a daughter of Raj Kapoor, which makes actors Ranbir Kapoor, Karisma Kapoor and Kareena Kapoor his father’s cousins.
Agastya studied at Sevenoaks School in the United Kingdom. He did not attend a formal acting school before his debut, something he has spoken about in interviews.
Agastya Nanda Career
The Archies (2023)
Agastya made his acting debut in Zoya Akhtar’s The Archies, a Netflix musical adaptation of the Archie Comics set in a fictional Anglo-Indian hill town in the 1960s. He played Archie Andrews, a guitarist and singer, alongside fellow newcomers Suhana Khan and Khushi Kapoor. The film premiered on Netflix in December 2023.
Reviews of his performance were mixed. Some critics found him likeable but hesitant, and Agastya later said openly that the film “didn’t really work” and that he did not receive the best reviews for it. He has described Ikkis as the film where he wanted to prove himself.
Ikkis (2026)
In his second film, Agastya took on a real-life war hero. Ikkis, directed by Sriram Raghavan and produced by Dinesh Vijan’s Maddock Films, tells the story of Second Lieutenant Arun Khetarpal, the youngest recipient of the Param Vir Chakra, India’s highest military honour. Khetarpal was killed at the age of 21 during the Battle of Basantar in the 1971 India–Pakistan war, and the title refers to that age.
Dharmendra played Arun’s father, Brigadier M. L. Khetarpal, in what became his final screen appearance. Jaideep Ahlawat played a Pakistan Army brigadier, and Simar Bhatia played Arun’s love interest, Kiran. The film moves between the 1971 battle and a storyline in which the elderly father visits Pakistan decades later.
The film released in theatres on 1 January 2026. Critics were largely positive about the film and about Agastya’s performance, with several reviewers noting how well he slipped into the role of the young officer. Commercially, it did not recover its budget, earning an estimated ₹36.9 crore in theatres. It found a wider audience after its Amazon Prime Video release in February 2026.
About Arun Khetarpal, the Hero of Ikkis
Arun Khetarpal was a young officer of the Poona Horse regiment. During the Battle of Basantar in December 1971, he led his tanks against an enemy counter-attack and refused to abandon his damaged tank, destroying several enemy tanks before he was killed. He was awarded the Param Vir Chakra posthumously and remains the youngest person to receive it. Playing him gave Agastya his first serious dramatic lead role.
Working with Dharmendra
Ikkis was Dharmendra’s last film. The veteran actor died in November 2025, a few weeks before the release. At the film’s music launch on 6 December 2025, Agastya became emotional while remembering him and called working with him an “honour and privilege”. The film’s father–son storyline gave the release added emotional weight for audiences.
Agastya Nanda and the Bachchan Family Legacy
As a grandson of Amitabh Bachchan, Agastya entered films with intense public attention. In a January 2026 interview, he said that the Bachchan and Kapoor legacy was not his to carry, and that he wanted to be judged on his own work. His choice of a grounded war biopic for his first theatrical release was widely seen as a move away from a glamorous star-kid launch.
Agastya Nanda Filmography
| Year | Title | Role / Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 2023 | The Archies | Archie Andrews; Netflix film, debut |
| 2026 | Ikkis | 2nd Lt. Arun Khetarpal; theatrical debut |
Agastya Nanda Personal Life
Agastya is unmarried and keeps his personal life largely private. He is close to his sister Navya and to his grandparents, and often appears with the Bachchan family at events and premieres.
Away from films, he is a partner in Project Hum, a restaurant in Mumbai, and has been involved with it for several years.
Why Agastya Nanda Stands Out
Agastya has been unusually candid about his debut, admitting it did not work as he had hoped. Instead of following it with a safe commercial film, he took on the real-life story of a 21-year-old war hero under a director known for thrillers. Even though Ikkis struggled at the box office, the critical praise for his performance changed how many viewers saw him.
Lesser-Known Facts About Agastya Nanda
- He is a great-grandson of Raj Kapoor through his father’s side.
- He did not attend acting school before The Archies.
- His film Ikkis was Dharmendra’s final film.
- Ikkis was produced by Maddock Films, the banner behind Stree.
- He is a partner in a Mumbai restaurant, Project Hum.
The Archies: Cast and Story
The Archies was directed by Zoya Akhtar and set in Riverdale, a fictional Anglo-Indian town in the hills of 1960s India. The story follows a group of teenagers who fight to save the town’s central park from being turned into a hotel. Alongside Agastya as Archie, the cast included Suhana Khan as Veronica, Khushi Kapoor as Betty, Vedang Raina as Reggie and Mihir Ahuja as Jughead. The film was the screen debut for Agastya, Suhana and Khushi, and its songs and retro styling drew attention even when reviews of the performances were mixed.
Related Biographies
- Navya Naveli Nanda Biography – his sister
- Aishwarya Rai Bachchan Biography – his aunt
- Ibrahim Ali Khan Biography
- Shanaya Kapoor Biography
- Sara Ali Khan Biography
- More stars: Bollywood biographies
Agastya Nanda FAQs
How old is Agastya Nanda?
Agastya Nanda was born on 23 November 2000, so he is 25 years old (as of 2026).
Who are Agastya Nanda’s parents?
His parents are businessman Nikhil Nanda and author Shweta Bachchan Nanda.
Is Agastya Nanda Amitabh Bachchan’s grandson?
Yes. His mother, Shweta Bachchan Nanda, is the daughter of Amitabh Bachchan and Jaya Bachchan.
What was Agastya Nanda’s debut film?
His debut was Zoya Akhtar’s Netflix musical The Archies (2023), in which he played Archie Andrews.
What role does Agastya Nanda play in Ikkis?
He plays Second Lieutenant Arun Khetarpal, the youngest recipient of the Param Vir Chakra, who was killed in the 1971 war.
When did Ikkis release?
Ikkis released in theatres on 1 January 2026 and began streaming on Amazon Prime Video on 26 February 2026.
Was Ikkis a hit or flop?
Ikkis received largely positive reviews but was a box-office flop, earning an estimated ₹36.9 crore against a reported ₹60 crore budget.
Who directed Ikkis?
Ikkis was directed by Sriram Raghavan and produced by Maddock Films.
Was Ikkis Dharmendra’s last film?
Yes. Dharmendra played Arun Khetarpal’s father in Ikkis, his final film appearance.
Who is Agastya Nanda’s sister?
His elder sister is entrepreneur Navya Naveli Nanda, founder of Project Naveli and co-founder of Aara Health.
Is Agastya Nanda related to the Kapoor family?
Yes. His paternal grandmother, Ritu Nanda, was Raj Kapoor’s daughter, so Ranbir, Karisma and Kareena Kapoor are his father’s cousins.
Where did Agastya Nanda study?
He studied at Sevenoaks School in the United Kingdom.