War 2 Box Office Collection Day 1: Hrithik Roshan, Jr NTR's Film Opens Strong Despite Clashing With Rajinikanth's Coolie, Earns ₹52.50 Crore

War 2, starring Hrithik Roshan, Kiara Advani, and Jr NTR, has kicked off its theatrical run with an impressive opening, earning around Rs 52.50 crore across all languages in India on its first day, Thursday (August 14). Despite strong collections, the film faces tough competition from Rajinikanth's Coolie, which raked in approximately Rs 65 crore on the same day.

War 2 box office collection Day 1

The action entertainer, directed by Ayan Mukerji, registered an overall 29.24 per cent Hindi occupancy on opening day, with a steady rise from morning to night:

Morning Shows – 16.37 per cent

Afternoon Shows – 23.67 per cent

Evening Shows – 29.03 per cent

Night Shows – 47.90 per cent

In regional circuits, War 2 performed particularly well in the South. The Tamil version clocked 42.41 per cent occupancy, while the Telugu version saw a massive 74.97 per cent. Interestingly, the Hindi occupancy for Thursday was also reported at 56.50 per cent in certain tracked circuits, reflecting a strong urban turnout.

Expected to perform well

Trade analysts believe War 2 has growth potential, thanks to the advantageous release window. Its second day coincides with Independence Day, traditionally one of the most lucrative days for Bollywood.

The momentum is further expected to carry into the weekend, with Saturday marking Janmashtami, creating a long holiday stretch for audiences to flock to theatres.

While Coolie's dominance in the South could affect War 2's regional earnings, the Hrithik–Jr NTR combo and high-octane action promise strong footfalls in Hindi belts and pan-India multiplex chains. The coming days will be crucial in determining whether War 2 can bridge the opening gap with Coolie and emerge as one of the biggest hits of 2025.

All eyes are now on Independence Day collections to see if War 2 can stage a powerful surge and challenge Rajinikanth's reign at the box office.

About the film

War 2 is the latest chapter in YRF's ambitious Spy Universe. Following the 2019 blockbuster War, which pitted Hrithik against Tiger Shroff, this sequel brings back Hrithik's dashing but lethal RAW agent Kabir for another high-stakes mission. The film also stars Anil Kapoor and Ashutosh Rana in pivotal roles.