Border 2 opens big: Sunny Deol-led war epic romps to strong start
Border 2 opens big: Sunny Deol-led war epic romps to strong start
Sunny Deol-led Border 2 bursts onto screens with a roaring Republic Day opening, fueling a high-stakes box office battle.
Sunny Deol’s Border 2 opened with a thundering response at the domestic box office, with makers claiming a ₹32.10 crore net on its first day and calling it one of the biggest openings in recent times. From early morning shows, cinemas witnessed massive footfalls as audiences turned up in large numbers to mark a monumental Republic Day opening.
The sequel to the iconic 1997 film revisits the 1971 India-Pakistan war, reuniting Sunny Deol with Varun Dhawan, Diljit Dosanjh and Ahan Shetty under the direction of Anurag Singh. It’s produced by Bhushan Kumar, Krishan Kumar, Dutta and Nidhi Dutta, and features Mona Singh, Sonam Bajwa, Anya Singh and Medha Rana in pivotal roles.
However, Border 2 did not receive clearance in six Gulf nations — Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the UAE — due to an alleged anti-Pakistan narrative, complicating overseas distribution for the war drama.
Even as Border 2 roars at home, other titles in the same space are feeling the pressure of competition. Dhurandhar, which has run for 50 days, has seen its earnings slip to a low Rs 55 lakh in its eighth week, underscoring the crowded marketplace as Border 2 stakes its Republic Day claim.
Industry observers say the Republic Day surge could help Border 2 sustain momentum into the weekend, but long-term performance will depend on word of mouth and overseas reception, particularly in markets with fewer releases.
