War 2 director Ayan Mukerji opens up about NTR and Hrithik Roshan's face-off sequence in the film: "Maximum time spent was on the action set pieces"

Ayan Mukerji describes War 2 as a celebration of the power and scale of Indian cinema.

Yash Raj Films’ War 2, directed by Ayan Mukerji, is shaping up to be one of the most highly anticipated films of 2025. Backed by Aditya Chopra, the film marks the sixth installment in the hugely successful YRF Spy Universe—a franchise known for consistently delivering blockbusters.

Ayan Mukerji recently provided insights into the film's development, stating that he gave his entire focus to developing a plot that would be compelling enough to support an epic confrontation between NTR and Hrithik Roshan, two of the biggest stars in Indian cinema. In order to produce a cinematic spectacle unlike any other, he set out to craft a conflict that was strong and intense enough to match the scope of this famous face-off.

He said, “It is a huge responsibility to take forward a hugely loved franchise like War and leave your own mark on it. I saw directing War 2 as a relishing opportunity to give a hat-tip to the first film. You can’t have fun otherwise while coming on board such a huge blockbuster franchise. One has to take what has been set and then make the fans of the film and the fans of these gigantic superstars of our country go on a journey that is new, that hopefully leaves them hungry for more. As a director, I have to be honest, I immersed myself into delivering this feeling.”

The Brahmāstra director further added, “Everything about War 2 has been crafted with a lot of planning to elevate the theatrical experience of the audience. The maximum time spent was on the action set pieces and crafting the storyline and the conflict which was needed to mount the face off between Hrithik Roshan and NTR."

Ayan Mukerji describes War 2 as a celebration of the power and scale of Indian cinema, uniting Hrithik Roshan and NTR for a breathtaking, adrenaline-fueled spectacle designed to deliver an unforgettable big-screen experience.

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The director said, “War 2 is truly the coming together of Indian cinema with these two huge actors joining forces. We were aware of the expectations this pairing would set in the minds of their fans and the audience and every second was spent thinking of how to give them an experience of a lifetime when they sit in the theatres.”

War 2 is set to hit the theatres worldwide on August 14, 2025.