War 2 box office collection day 1: Hrithik Roshan, Jr NTR film crosses Rs 50 crores, falls short of Coolie’s lead

War 2 box office collection day 1

Ayan Mukerji’s much-anticipated War 2, featuring Hrithik Roshan and Jr NTR in the lead, hit cinema screens on 14 August, going head-to-head with Lokesh Kanagaraj’s Coolie, starring Rajinikanth. Despite the star power and the YRF Spy Universe backing, early figures suggest the action-thriller has been outperformed by its Tamil rival, according to trade tracker site.

The sequel, which pairs Bollywood heavyweight Hrithik Roshan with Telugu superstar Jr NTR, appears to have fallen short of pre-release trade expectations.

On its opening day, the film is estimated to have collected approximately ₹30 crore nett in Hindi, with a similar or slightly higher contribution from its Telugu version. Across all languages, War 2 reportedly brought in around ₹52.50 crore nett in India on day one.

Occupancy figures reveal a lukewarm start in Hindi-speaking regions, with an overall average of 29.24% on Thursday, 14 August. The Hindi (2D) breakdown shows:

Morning Shows: 16.37%

Afternoon Shows: 23.67%

Evening Shows: 29.03%

Night Shows: 47.90%

In Tamil Nadu, where War 2 also released in a dubbed format, the reception was somewhat stronger, registering an overall 42.41% occupancy. The Tamil (2D) distribution stood at:

Morning Shows: 27.85%

Afternoon Shows: 49.47%

Evening Shows: 34.44%

Night Shows: 57.86%

The film’s promotional campaign was notably restrained, with Hrithik, Jr NTR, and Kiara Advani engaging in selective media appearances, deliberately keeping plot details under wraps. Ahead of release, the lead actors made a special appeal to audiences.

Hrithik said in a press statement, “War 2 has been made with a lot of love, a lot of time and a lot of passion. The best way to experience this cinematic spectacle is in the theatres as the constant twists and turns of this dramatic story unfold in front of your eyes.”

Also Read: Did you know Aamir Khan and Rajinikanth worked together before Coolie in 1995? Watch viral scene 

War 2 serves as the direct follow-up to the 2019 blockbuster War, directed by Siddharth Anand. Hrithik returns as RAW agent Kabir, now pitted against Jr NTR’s formidable operative, Vikram.

The cast also includes Ashutosh Rana and Anil Kapoor in significant roles. Produced by Aditya Chopra under the Yash Raj Films banner, the movie continues the studio’s ambitious Spy Universe, aiming to expand its action-driven cinematic franchise.