Border2 Forecast: Opening Day Prediction, Screen Count, Censor Certificate, Runtime & Advances Details. 

Border 2 has officially entered the advance booking phase in India, and the early trends clearly indicate that the film is setting itself up for a powerful theatrical launch. Although bookings formally opened this morning, several centres activated ticket sales late last night, triggering an immediate and visible surge in activity across platforms.

At the time of writing, the Sunny Deol–led war epic has already sold around 10,000 tickets at top national chains (PVR INOX and Cinepolis) for Day 1. On Book My Show, ticket sales are closing in on the 25,000 mark, a strong signal of urgency among audiences despite the film still being nearly three and a half days away from release. This early traction is particularly encouraging because Border 2 is not a hype-heavy, spoiler-driven release- it is the kind of film that traditionally gathers momentum as release day approaches.

Star Cast: Experience, Youth & Mass Appeal Combined

Border 2 brings together a carefully curated ensemble that widens its reach across demographics. Sunny Deol remains the emotional and ideological core of the film, a figure synonymous with patriotic cinema and mass-driven storytelling. Varun Dhawan adds strong urban and youth connect, while Diljit Dosanjh contributes pan-India appeal and immense popularity across North India and overseas Punjabi belts. Ahaan Shetty further strengthens the younger audience pull, making the cast a well-balanced mix of experience, star power, and fresh energy—an important factor in the film’s broad theatrical appeal.

Release Strategy: A Big, Bold Release Strategy

Border 2 is releasing on a massive 5,200+ screen footprint across India, making it one of the widest releases for a Sunny Deol film to date. This alone underlines the confidence exhibitors and distributors have in its box office potential. This the widest release strategy of Sunny Deol’s career, combining scale, timing and genre perfectly.

The film has received a U/A 13+ censor certificate, positioning it as a family-friendly theatrical experience while still retaining the intensity expected from a war drama. With a runtime of 3 hours 19 minutes, Border 2 joins the league of recent long-format blockbusters like Animal and Dhurandhar, reinforcing its ambition as a large-scale, immersive cinema event rather than a trimmed-down commercial outing.

Advance Booking Trajectory & National Chain Target

From its current starting point, Border 2 is expected to witness a sharp rise in bookings over the final 48 hours. According to CineInfinity’s forecast, the film should close its national chain advances in the range of 230K–260K tickets for opening day. This figure could go higher if momentum accelerates closer to release, which is very much on the cards given how quickly the film began trending once advances opened.

For context, Gadar 2 had sold approximately 275K tickets at national chains for its opening day. While matching or surpassing that exact number remains to be seen, it is important to note that Border 2 is expected to outperform heavily in non-national chains and single screens, where Sunny Deol’s pull is historically strongest.

Opening Day Box Office Prediction

Taking into account the wide release, early advance trends, patriotic appeal, and the Republic Day holiday advantage, Border 2 is currently tracking towards an India net opening day collection of ₹30–35 crore. This would be a strong start for a war drama that relies on nostalgia, emotional connection and audience trust rather than aggressive pre-release marketing.

The presence of Varun Dhawan and Diljit Dosanjh alongside Sunny Deol further broadens the film’s appeal, bringing in urban audiences and younger viewers while retaining its core mass and family base. This balanced demographic pull is expected to translate into steady occupancy throughout the day, from morning shows to late-night screenings.

Big Picture: Where Hindi Cinema Stands Today

The Hindi film industry witnessed a mixed box office performance last year, but confidence was restored toward the end with the record-breaking theatrical run of Dhurandhar. That success reaffirmed the audience’s appetite for big-screen spectacles rooted in emotion and scale. With Border 2, 2026 looks poised to build on that momentum. Early indicators suggest renewed faith in theatrical cinema, especially for films that promise a complete, immersive experience.

CineInfinity Insights: All Eyes on Border 2

With strong early advances, a massive release strategy, and a favourable holiday window, Border 2 is shaping up as one of the most important Hindi film releases of the season. The franchise factor, nostalgia and strong music, including a well-recreated version of the original Border album are already fueling buzz among audiences. The Republic Day weekend is expected to further boost collections, with family and patriotic audiences driving high occupancy throughout the day. With the film opening on such a wide screen count and generating positive word-of-mouth from the first shows, Border 2 is poised for steady growth over the weekend, signaling a promising start to its box office journey. The real test will begin once word-of-mouth kicks in, but for now, all signs point toward a robust opening and a steady upward trajectory as the film marches toward release day.

Disclaimer: The box office figures are compiled from various sources and internal research. The figures are approximate and indicative in nature. CineInfinity does not make any claims about the absolute authenticity of the data but believes they adequately reflect the box office performance of the film(s).