‘Border 2’ box office collection day 1: Sunny Deol starrer opens at Rs 30 crore, joins top openers

‘Border 2’ opened to a commanding start at the Indian box office, registering an estimated Rs 30 crore net on its first day. The war drama, released on 23 January 2026 and led by Sunny Deol, features an ensemble cast including Varun Dhawan, Diljit Dosanjh and Ahan Shetty. The movie benefitted from strong advance sales and the extended Republic Day weekend, placing it firmly among Bollywood’s top opening-day performers.

According to Sacnilk, early estimates suggest the film grossed around Rs 35 crore, comfortably surpassing industry predictions that had placed its debut in the Rs 20 crore range. The strong turnout marks a promising beginning for the long-awaited sequel to JP Dutta’s 1997 classic ‘Border’.

Strong advance bookings and opening momentum

Trade trackers report that ‘Border 2’ entered cinemas with significant pre-release buzz. The film recorded advance bookings worth around Rs 17 crore, selling approximately 4 lakh tickets ahead of opening day. This early traction translated to impressive footfalls, particularly across single screens and theatres in North India.

Overall Hindi occupancy stood at 32.10%, with morning shows starting modestly at 19.46%. The pace accelerated through the day, culminating in a robust 48.06% occupancy during night shows – an indicator of encouraging word of mouth and strong walk-in audiences.

Also read: Border 2 review on X: Sunny Deol, Varun Dhawan shine in war epic

Lands among top opening-day earners

With its Rs 30 crore debut, ‘Border 2’ has entered the list of Bollywood’s highest Day 1 collections, securing the 28th spot on the all-time chart. The film has also emerged as the biggest opener in the careers of Varun Dhawan, Diljit Dosanjh and Ahan Shetty.

For Sunny Deol, however, ‘Gadar 2’ maintains its dominance with a massive Rs 40.1 crore Day 1 and a Rs 686 crore global lifetime haul. ‘Border 2’ also surpassed the recent action release ‘Dhurandhar’, which opened at Rs 27-28 crore.

Cast, production and budget

Directed by Anurag Singh, known for hits such as ‘Kesari’, the film aims to recreate the scale and patriotic fervour of its predecessor. Produced by JP Dutta, Nidhi Dutta, Bhushan Kumar and Krishan Kumar, the sequel is set during the 1971 India-Pakistan war and features Sonam Bajwa, Mona Singh and Anya Singh in key roles.

Industry reports place the film’s budget between Rs 150 crore and Rs 200 crore, positioning it as one of the most expensive war dramas in recent years.

Targeting a Rs 100-crore weekend

With a solo release slot and the advantage of a national holiday weekend, ‘Border 2’ is expected to maintain strong momentum. Trade analysts anticipate a Rs 100 crore-plus opening weekend, provided the film continues benefitting from positive audience reactions.

Early viewers have described the film as a “mass entertainer” blending emotional storytelling with patriotic themes – factors that could help sustain its box-office trajectory in the days ahead.