‘Sunny Sir Put Everyone at Ease’: Jyoti Mukerji Opens Up About Working with Sunny Deol in Netflix Hit Ikka, Says Every Day on Set Was a Learning Experience

The success of Netflix's legal thriller Ikka has brought widespread appreciation for its performances, and among those receiving immense love is actress Jyoti Mukerji, who played the emotionally powerful role of Soma's mother. Marking a comeback after a long gap, Jyoti has found herself overwhelmed by the response from audiences, with viewers praising the emotional depth she brought to the character. While reflecting on the film's success, the actress also spoke warmly about sharing screen space with Sunny Deol, calling the experience one of the biggest learning moments of her career.

Expressing her gratitude for the love pouring in from audiences, Jyoti said, “Oh my God, every day I just say, 'Thank you, God.' A huge thank you to everyone who called, messaged, sent voice notes, or DMed me. Even members of the general public—people who don't even know me personally—have reached out. I feel so blessed, fortunate, and overwhelmed. They didn't have to tag me or say anything, yet they wrote such heartfelt, lengthy messages describing those subtle emotions I conveyed—nuances I hadn't even realized I was projecting, but which they picked up on because they are the audience. I feel truly, deeply grateful to all the fans, the audience, and to God.”

One of the biggest highlights of Ikka for Jyoti was the opportunity to work alongside Sunny Deol. Recalling her experience on set, she admitted that she initially expected the superstar's larger-than-life aura to be intimidating. Instead, she discovered a warm, humble and encouraging co-star who made everyone around him feel comfortable. “As you know, when we meet at social events, the atmosphere is completely different. But when you encounter the same people in a professional workspace, it’s their approach to the work that shapes how you perceive them on a personal, one-on-one level. Sunny Sir, of course, carries this aura—this vibe where, you know, 'Sunny Paaji is here'—and everyone clears the way as he arrives; there’s that stir of excitement, that feeling of 'Oh, he’s coming.' Because of that, you start wondering what’s going to happen—what he’ll say, do, or how he’ll react. But he was so humble and lovely; he cracked jokes with almost everyone to lighten the mood and help people relax. Otherwise, actors can get a bit stiff—holding their breath and trying too hard—but he just put everyone at ease, encouraging us to simply be ourselves. He was wonderful. Every day of work involved watching him—observing how he approached a scene, handled rehearsals, delivered his lines, asked for retakes, and listened to the director. It was all a learning experience for me.”

Jyoti also revealed that despite years in the industry, she couldn't hide her nervousness before filming an important one-on-one scene with Sunny Deol. Having made a comeback with Ikka, the actress admitted she had butterflies in her stomach before stepping in front of the camera. It was director Siddharth P. Malhotra who reassured her that everything would fall into place the moment the cameras started rolling—and that's exactly what happened. “Well, the very first day was a courtroom scene with a lot of people around, so that was fine. But the day I had a one-on-one scene with him—honestly, I had butterflies in my stomach. I went up to the director and mentioned that I was feeling a bit nervous. Siddharth said, 'Yeah, you’re bound to feel that way, but the moment I call "Action," you’ll forget everything else.' I replied, 'I hope that’s exactly what happens, because right now, I’m feeling this strange nervousness—like, what if I forget my lines?' Exactly what Siddharth had told me is what happened. Up until the rehearsal, I was trying to analyze the script—just reading the lines. But the moment Siddharth said, 'Okay, let's go for the take—action,' I don't know, I just felt right. We actually pulled off that scene in a single take, and Siddharth was more excited than any other director I know; he was like, 'I got exactly what I wanted in just one take.' I was amazed—it was wonderful. To think I did the scene with Sunny Sir in one take... yeah, it felt really good. It really shows the caliber of the work.”

Directed and produced by Siddharth P. Malhotra, Ikka stars Sunny Deol, Akshaye Khanna, Dia Mirza, Tillotama Shome, and Jyoti Mukerji in key roles. The legal thriller follows a celebrated and incorruptible lawyer who is forced into a moral conflict when he must defend a man accused of homicide in order to save his daughter. Premiering on Netflix on July 10, 2026, the film received mixed-to-positive reviews from critics but emerged as a major success with audiences, earning praise for its gripping courtroom drama and powerful performances.

For Jyoti Mukerji, Ikka has become more than just a successful comeback—it has been a reminder of why she loves acting. From receiving heartfelt appreciation from viewers to sharing memorable scenes with one of Hindi cinema's biggest stars, the actress says the journey has been deeply rewarding. Her glowing words about Sunny Deol's humility, professionalism and generosity on set offer a glimpse into the person behind the superstar, proving that sometimes the biggest lessons come not just from great performances, but from the way great actors make everyone around them feel valued.

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