Despite facing a box office clash with the highly anticipated Rajinikanth starrer “Coolie,” Hrithik Roshan and Jr. NTR’s “War 2” is poised to make a significant impact on its opening day. While early buzz and advance bookings suggested a potential underdog scenario, the film is expected to deliver a powerful debut, possibly securing the biggest opening in the YRF Spy Universe.
Day 1 Box Office Prediction
“War 2” is predicted to open in the range of ₹60-64 crore net in India. This impressive figure, while falling short of initial hopes for a ₹100 crore opening, would still be a strong performance and is projected to surpass the previous record for a Spy Universe film. The breakdown of this collection is expected to be:
- Hindi Belt: ₹30-32 crores
- Telugu Market: ₹28-30 crores
- Other Regions: ₹2 crores
This prediction is fueled by the film’s wide release (over 5,000 screens for the Hindi version alone) and the immense star power of its lead actors.
The Clash with “Coolie”
The box office battle between “War 2” and “Coolie” has been a major topic of discussion. While “Coolie” has a clear lead in advance bookings, particularly in the international market and its home state of Tamil Nadu, “War 2” has shown strong momentum in the final days leading up to its release.
- “Coolie” has reportedly amassed a worldwide advance gross of around ₹75 crore, with ₹30 crore coming from India.
- “War 2,” on the other hand, has gained significant traction, especially after advance bookings opened in the Telugu-speaking states. The presence of Jr. NTR, a massive star in this region, has been a key factor, with tickets selling at a rate of 20,000 per hour.
Jr. NTR’s Impact and the YRF Spy Universe
The collaboration between Hrithik Roshan and Jr. NTR was initially considered a box office jackpot. Jr. NTR’s immense popularity in the Telugu market has proven to be a major asset, with the film securing robust advance bookings in states like Andhra Pradesh and Telangana. This strong regional performance is crucial to the film’s predicted high opening.
“War 2” is the latest installment in the successful YRF Spy Universe, which has a combined global gross of over ₹2900 crore. The film aims to continue this legacy, with its opening day collection expected to surpass “Pathaan’s” record of ₹57 crore. This performance, if achieved, would cement “War 2’s” place as the biggest opening of the franchise.
Awaiting the Final Verdict
While the promotional assets for “War 2” were considered by some to be average, the combination of a star-studded cast (including Kiara Advani, Anil Kapoor, and Ashutosh Rana), the franchise’s reputation, and the strong performance of its dubbed versions are expected to drive significant footfalls to theaters. The film’s final day 1 collection will ultimately depend on walk-ins and positive word-of-mouth.
