The Indian cinema universe has been buzzing with anticipation over War 2, directed by Ayan Mukerji and produced by Yash Raj Films. Serving as the sixth installment in the YRF Spy Universe, the film features Hrithik Roshan reprising his role as Major Kabir Dhaliwal, alongside Jr NTR making his Hindi debut as Major Vikram Chelapathi, with Kiara Advani in a pivotal role.

1. Production, Cast & Budget

Announced in April 2023, the film began principal photography in late 2023, spanning locations from Mumbai and Spain to Abu Dhabi and Italy. With editing by Aarif Sheikh, cinematography by Benjamin Jasper, music by Pritam, and dialogues by Abbas Tyrewala, the scale of the film is unmistakable.

Budget estimates vary: Wikipedia cites approximately ₹400 crore, calling it one of India’s most expensive spy thrillers. Another source, Koimoi, suggests around ₹325 crore, which is still significantly higher than the 2019 War.

2. Release Timing & Hype

The film premiered worldwide on 14 August 2025, aligning strategically with India’s Independence Day weekend. Promotional events were grand: one such pre-release spectacle in Hyderabad mobilized over 1,200 police officers, drones, and barricades as fans celebrated the “mass tiger” Jr NTR and “Greek god” Hrithik Roshan.

3. Early Box-Office & Advance Booking

Advance bookings have shown mixed results:

• ₹16 crore gross in advance ticket sales as reported by Times of India.
• Sacnilk figures suggest a ₹20.49 crore total including Hindi and Telugu bookings, with premium formats contributing an additional ₹11.59 crore.
• Some outlets predict a ₹60 crore net opening day across India.
• Yet, early day 1 net collection stands at ₹11.76 crore, while Economic Times places it much lower at ₹5.16 crore.

Clearly, box-office data remains fluid, but the Telugu market appears especially strong, thanks to Jr NTR’s fan base.

4. Audience Reception & Reviews

Social media responses to War 2 are decidedly mixed:

• Many praised the chemistry between Hrithik and Jr NTR and described their dynamic as breathtaking.
• Others criticized over-the-top VFX, calling a particular plane sequence “like a cartoon” and worse than a video game.
• Reviews on X ranged from “torture” to above-average, with appreciation for action sequences and style

The overall sentiment seems polarized: some hail the spectacle while others balk at the substance.

5. Final Take

War 2 is undeniably a high-profile, high-budget outing from YRF, riding on the star power of Hrithik Roshan and Jr NTR. With dazzling visuals and franchise pedigree, it is engineered for a pan-India success. However, inconsistent VFX, uneven reviews, and a box-office debut that’s promising but moderate suggest its true fate will hinge on sustained word-of-mouth and how it performs in the coming weekend.

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