Now in its victorious first week at theaters, the roar of the lion is echoing around the Indian box office. The war epic, directed by Anurag Singh and starring Sunny Deol, Varun Dhawan and Diljit Dosanjh, officially crossed the ₹223 crore threshold in India and earned a certification as a blockbuster of 2026. Released on Jan 23 to coincide with the Republic Day weekend, the movie roused and fired. Though its usual weekday dip, it’s massive performance over the holiday period has positioned it ahead of major current releases.
| Day | Date | India Net Collection (Approx) |
| Day 1 | Jan 23 (Fri) | ₹30.00 Cr |
| Day 2 | Jan 24 (Sat) | ₹36.50 Cr |
| Day 3 | Jan 25 (Sun) | ₹54.50 Cr |
| Day 4 | Jan 26 (Mon) | ₹59.00 Cr (Republic Day) |
| Day 5 | Jan 27 (Tue) | ₹20.00 Cr |
| Day 6 | Jan 28 (Wed) | ₹13.00 Cr |
| Day 7 | Jan 29 (Thu) | ₹10.08 Cr |
| Total | Week 1 | ₹223.08 Crore |
Global Dominance and Milestones
Beyond the Indian borders, the film is witnessing a patriotic surge among the diaspora. The worldwide gross collection has already surged past the ₹300 crore mark, outperforming several 2025 hits in its opening week.
- Fastest ₹200 Cr: The film reached the ₹200 crore milestone in just 5 days, mirroring the trajectory of Sunny Deol’s previous monster hit, Gadar 2.
- Surpassing Rivals: Border 2’s first-week numbers have surpassed the opening week of Ranveer Singh’s Dhurandhar, which previously held the record for the biggest start in the early 2026 window.
Director’s Vision, Fan Response
The sequel to J.P. Dutta’s 1997 classic has resonated with audiences through its high-octane combat sequences and emotional storytelling. Director Anurag Singh is no exception as he is drawing an army of his own and his blend of the veteran nature of Sunny Deol’s voice, the youthful energy of Varun Dhawan and the mass appeal of Diljit Dosanjh has obviously paid off. Trade analysts expect another significant leap for the second weekend as the film, after a brutal drop Wednesday and Thursday, for the time being has no major releases, leaving it on a path to dominance in the mass circuits as of now.
