War 2 Roars: Jr NTR, Hrithik Smash Box Office Records

News Desk

Islamabad: Hrithik Roshan and Jr NTR’s high-octane spy-action thriller War 2 has delivered an impressive opening at the domestic box office, raking in an estimated ₹52.50 crore on its first day, according to early reports. The film is now closely competing with Rajinikanth’s Coolie for the top position.

Advance Booking Trends and Predictions

Prior to release, War 2 saw modest advance bookings, leading industry analysts to predict a relatively subdued start. Expectations were that the film might open around ₹43 crore net, comparable to Salman Khan’s Tiger 3, despite its scale, cast, and production value.

Day 1 Hindi Box Office Performance

Defying these projections, the film’s Hindi version alone contributed approximately ₹29 crore net on Day 1. While this marks a notable jump from pre-release ticket sales, it still ranks as the lowest Hindi-language opening within YRF’s Spy Universe. In comparison, Ek Tha Tiger earned ₹32.93 crore on its opening day in 2012, while Shah Rukh Khan’s Pathaan holds the record with ₹55 crore.

Regional Collections: Telugu Version Steals the Show

A significant chunk of the film’s earnings came from the Telugu dubbed version, which brought in a striking ₹23.25 crore net — largely fueled by Jr NTR’s devoted fan base. The Tamil version added a modest ₹25 lakh. These strong regional numbers were crucial in helping War 2 surpass the ₹50 crore mark.

Occupancy data further supports this split: while Hindi screenings saw 29.24% occupancy on Thursday, Tamil shows reported a higher rate of 42.41%.

Comparison with the Original ‘War’

Despite its solid start, War 2 narrowly missed breaking the opening day record set by its predecessor, War (2019), which collected ₹53 crore. Interestingly, while the original performed better in Hindi, War 2 benefitted heavily from its Telugu version and Jr NTR’s inclusion to reach similar figures, despite having a bigger budget and wider release.

Massive Support from Jr NTR’s Fans

Jr NTR’s performance has won widespread praise. Kavuri Krishna, president of the Vijayawada NTR Fans District Association, celebrated NTR’s role, highlighting his portrayal of a patriotic hero and lauding director Ayan Mukerji’s vision.

Another fan, Baji, said the film marks a turning point in NTR’s career, praising his fight scenes and dance moves, and thanked the director for casting him. Meanwhile, Sunil, also a fan, declared that NTR has now “dominated Bollywood” with this performance.

Early Gross and Future Outlook

Estimates suggest that War 2‘s total India gross on Day 1 could exceed ₹60 crore, with early figures pointing towards ₹65 crore. Combined with Coolie, the two films are estimated to have pulled in a total of ₹117.50 crore.

Competition and Momentum Ahead

While War 2 has opened strongly, its trajectory may face challenges from Coolie in southern regions and mixed feedback about the film’s pacing — though its action sequences have been widely appreciated. With the Independence Day holiday and the weekend approaching, the film has the opportunity to grow its numbers, particularly in the Hindi belt.