With just three days remaining until its Independence Day release, War 2—the high-octane sequel starring Hrithik Roshan and Jr. NTR—has burst into the pre-sales scene with explosive momentum.
Advance Booking Skyrockets
According to industry tracker Sacnilk, War 2 has seen an extraordinary 480% jump in advance booking revenue within a single day. By 10 AM today, the film had already raked in ₹2.09 crore in gross ticket sales (excluding blocked seats), with over 57,000 tickets sold across India.
Breaking down the sales further:
- Hindi 2D: ₹1.73 crore
- Hindi IMAX 2D: ₹15.5 lakh
- Telugu 2D: ₹11.6 lakh
- Tamil regions: Not far behind with around ₹5.48 lakh in pre-sales
This surge has enabled War 2 to surpass the advance booking performance of Kesari Chapter 2, which had registered around ₹1.84 crore in gross pre-sales. As it stands, War 2 is on track to join the top three Bollywood pre-sales blockbusters of 2025, likely to surpass Jaat (₹2.59 crore) and Sitaare Zameen Par (₹3.31 crore), and inch closer to Sky Force (₹3.82 crore).
Early Sales Start on a High Note
Multiple outlets corroborate these strong early indicators. The Times of India reported that War 2 pulled in ₹1.2 crore in early ticket sales on Day 1 alone, despite a relatively late start to its advance booking window.
The Stakes are Massive
The film, directed by Ayan Mukerji and produced under Yash Raj Films, is being released across 5,000 screens in India—marking it as potentially the biggest Hindi release ever. With these aggressive deployment and pre-release sales trends, War 2 is signaling an ambitious and possibly record-breaking box-office debut.
Fan Anticipation Reaches Fever Pitch
The pre-release excitement around War 2 hit new peaks in Hyderabad on August 10. A grand event featuring Hrithik Roshan, Jr. NTR, and Kiara Advani charged up the crowd. The production deployed over 1,200 police personnel, drones, barricades, and stringent checks to manage safety amid mass fan fervor. This level of staging and security underscores the franchise’s popularity and the stakes of this release.
Comparison with Kesari Chapter 2
While War 2’s booking numbers have shot up dramatically, it’s insightful to compare them with Kesari Chapter 2. That film sold about 56,969 tickets, generating ₹1.84 crore in gross advance bookings (or ₹3 crore including block seats) ahead of its April 2025 release.
Though both films sparked pre-release buzz, War 2’s momentum clearly outpaces its predecessor, buoyed by massive star power, high expectations, and the August holiday release window.
Final Takeaway
As War 2 barrels toward its release, it appears poised to dominate the Independence Day box office. The explosive advance booking surge, massive screen allocation, and fan excitement suggest a major commercial event in the making—one that could eclipse several pre-sales records of 2025. With comparisons already being drawn to top performers like Kesari Chapter 2, all eyes are now on whether War 2 will fulfill its pre-release promise.