Key Points:
- Border 2 collects ₹8.43 crore net by 3 PM on opening day
- Film registers 20% overall occupancy, 42% in Chandigarh
- Strong performance in Punjab, UP, Bihar mass centres
- Advance bookings grossed ₹12.5 crore with 4 lakh tickets sold
- On track to beat Dhurandhar (₹29 crore) and Chhaava (₹32 crore)
- Could challenge Gadar 2’s all-time day 1 record of ₹40.10 crore
Sunny Deol’s much-awaited war epic Border 2 has stormed theatres across India on its opening day, delivering a box office performance that industry trackers are calling “historic” for a Bollywood release in 2026. The spiritual sequel to the 1997 classic has not only lived up to its pre-release hype but is now poised to rewrite opening day records, according to early trade estimates.
The film, which boasts an ensemble cast including Varun Dhawan, Diljit Dosanjh, and Ahan Shetty alongside Deol, began its theatrical run with unprecedented bookings. Industry data shows that Border 2 grossed ₹12.5 crore from pre-sales alone, selling over 4 lakh tickets nationwide before the first show began. This figure surpasses the advance booking performance of Dhurandhar, which held the record for 2025’s biggest opener just over a month ago.
Morning Shows Draw Crowds in Mass Centres
By Friday morning, Border 2 had registered nearly 20% occupancy across its morning shows, a strong start for a non-holiday release. The film’s performance in mass centres has been particularly robust. In Punjab, Uttar Pradesh, and Bihar, theatres reported packed houses, with Chandigarh leading the pack at 42% occupancy for morning screenings. The film’s patriotic theme and connection to the original Border have resonated deeply in these markets, where war dramas traditionally find a loyal audience.
According to real-time tracking by Sacnilk, a leading box office monitoring portal, Border 2 had already netted ₹8.43 crore in India by 3 PM on Friday. This rapid accumulation puts the film on a trajectory to surpass several of last year’s biggest hits by the end of its opening day.
Record-Breaking Projections
Trade analysts are now projecting that Border 2 will comfortably beat the opening day figures of Dhurandhar (₹29 crore) and Chhaava (₹32 crore). If the momentum continues through the evening and night shows, the film could challenge Sunny Deol’s personal best, the all-time day 1 record of ₹40.10 crore set by Gadar 2 in 2023. Achieving this milestone would make Border 2 the biggest opener of Diljit Dosanjh, Varun Dhawan, and Ahan Shetty’s careers, and the second-largest for Deol after Gadar 2.
Film exhibitor Akshaye Rathi commented, “The booking trend indicated a strong opening, but the real-time occupancy in tier-2 and tier-3 cities is exceeding expectations. Border 2 is performing like a festival release in states like Punjab and Haryana.”
Strategic Release and Competition
Border 2’s release strategy appears to have paid off. The film faced minimal competition, with no major Bollywood or Hollywood releases scheduled for the same weekend. The Republic Day weekend has historically proven lucrative for patriotic films, and Border 2 is capitalising on the nationalistic sentiment ahead of the January 26 holiday.
The film’s director, JP Dutta, who helmed the original Border, has returned to the franchise, lending authenticity and nostalgia value. The combination of veteran star power and younger actors has helped the film appeal to a broad demographic, from older audiences who remember the 1997 classic to younger viewers drawn by Varun Dhawan and Diljit Dosanjh’s popularity.
Industry Implications
A strong opening for Border 2 would provide a much-needed boost to the Hindi film industry, which has faced a mixed year at the box office. The success of a war drama could also encourage more producers to greenlight patriotic and historical films, a genre that has shown consistent performance in recent years.
As evening shows begin across multiplexes and single screens, all eyes are on whether Border 2 can sustain its momentum and cross the ₹40 crore mark. Early reviews and audience word-of-mouth will be crucial in determining if the film can convert its strong opening into a record-breaking day one total.
