Hrithik Roshan and Jr NTR’s spy-action thriller ‘War 2’ has surpassed expectations at the domestic box office, delivering an opening day collection of Rs 52.50 crore (early estimates) and catching up to Rajinikanth’s ‘Coolie’ in the race for top spot.
Advance Bookings
Before release, advance booking trends suggested a modest start, with trade analysts predicting the film could record the lowest opening in YRF’s Spy Universe. Many expected it to debut around Rs 43 crore net, similar to Salman Khan’s ‘Tiger 3’, despite its large-scale production and star power.
Hindi Box Office Collections
However, the film surprised at the ticket counters, with the Hindi version contributing an estimated Rs 29 crore net on Day 1. While this figure is a marked improvement over advance ticket sales, it still falls short of several franchise entries, including ‘Ek Tha Tiger’ which earned an estimated Rs 32.93 crore way back in 2012. Currently, Shah Rukh Khan’s ‘Pathaan’ occupies the top spot with a collection of Rs 55 crore.
Tamil and Telugu Collections
Significantly, it was the Telugu dubbed version that boosted overall earnings, amassing an impressive Rs 23.25 crore net, driven largely by Jr NTR’s massive fan base. The Tamil version added a modest Rs 25 lakh. This strong regional performance helped War 2 comfortably cross the Rs 50 crore mark on opening day.Occupancy figures reflected this divide, Hindi shows recorded 29.24% occupancy on Thursday, while Tamil shows achieved a stronger 42.41%.
Early Predictions
Industry estimates suggest the film’s total India gross for Day 1 could exceed Rs 60 crore once all language versions are included, with early gross estimates already touching Rs 65 crore.On the whole, the two films have amassed an estimated combined total of Rs 117.50 crore.
Coolie Box Office Collections
Despite its success, competition from ‘Coolie’ in the southern markets and mixed audience reception, praising action but critiquing pacing, may affect momentum. With the Independence Day holiday and weekend ahead, ‘War 2’ still has the potential to build on its strong start and improve its Hindi market performance.DISCLAIMER: The box office numbers in this article are compiled from our proprietary sources and diverse public data. While we strive for accuracy, all figures are approximate unless explicitly mentioned, offering a fair representation of the project’s box office performance. We are open to feedback and suggestions on toientertainment@timesinternet.in.
