War 2 advance booking smashes records with ₹17.29 crore on Day 1 and over 1.26 lakh tickets sold! Hrithik Roshan & Jr NTR’s action spectacle gears up for a massive Independence Day clash with Coolie.
Over at the box office, the continued buzz is not without cause – War 2 is positively blazing ahead with a staggering ₹17.29 crore in Day 1 advance bookings, not including blocked seats (which would be around ₹5.09 crore more on top of that). The excitement is palpable, the stakes are high, and the Independence Day weekend is well on its way to becoming a perfect cinematic storm.
The Advance Booking Surge By Numbers
As of August 13, 2025, the latest data is conclusive about where the heavy discussions with the paper trail got us:
- Total Advance bookings: ₹9.04 crore (total across India)
- Including Blocked Seats: ₹17.29 crore
- Predicted Opening Day Collection: ₹20+ crore
- Total tickets sold: 1.26 lakh (and counting)
This is not just big numbers – but it is a statement. War 2 initially has a crowded field of adversaries at the box office, including Coolie, but War 2 is very hot in several other markets.
One of the clearest trends from the booking data is the clear trend of Hindi is the most dominant, though the regional ones are creeping up there too:
Format-Wise Breakdown: Hindi Still Rules
Version / Format Advance Booking (₹)
Hindi 2D 5.56 crore
Hindi (including premium) 6.18 crore
Telugu 3 crore
Tamil 9.34 lakh
Again, there should be little surprise with the strong Hindi pre-sale as War (2019) was a Hindi blockbuster. However, the interesting wrinkle is that the Telugu version has the swaying power of Jr. NTR’s fan base behind him.
State-wise Performance: Telugu States Dominate!
The regional numbers are looking like this:
- Andhra Pradesh: ₹2.57 crore
- Telangana: ₹2.34 crore
- Maharashtra: ₹2.34 crore
- Delhi NCR: ₹2.03 crore
- Karnataka: ₹1.04 crore
Between the Telugu states, they’ve already managed to pull in nearly ₹5 crore in advance sales, even with the extra recently approved ticket price hike by the police – a well-timed strategy that’s giving a boost to War 2.
The Big Fight: War 2 vs Coolie
War 2 is not up against another big movie alone. Coolie, also releasing on August 14, just a day later, has already totalled ₹24.59 crore in advance sales (₹32.64 crore including blocked seats).
Coolie’s Strengths: Tamil Nadu, Kerala, southern belt.
War 2’s Strengths: Hindi-speaking markets, Delhi, Maharashtra, and Telugu states.
The combined potential for the weekend is ₹50+ crore in advance sales alone.
This isn’t likely to be a bad outcome, as historically, clashes over festive weekends have always driven up overall footfall.
Will War 2 Touch War (2019) Opening Day Records?
The original War (2019) was a box office phenomenon:
Day 1: ₹53.35 crore
Lifetime: ₹318.01 crore
It’s safe to say that, for all the reasons mentioned, War 2 is extremely unlikely to touch that Day 1 total. And with the added factor of extra competition and slightly more limited Hindi dominance, War 2 has my expectations in check. But this is where the wild card comes in – the YRF Spy Universe factor.
With Hrithik Roshan playing Kabir again, and Jr NTR being introduced as the baddie, the subject lines right into Pathaan and Tiger 3, War 2 could benefit from strong word-of-mouth legs that extend audiences beyond the opening weekend.
The Hype is Real: Expert Analysis
As someone who has followed the Indian box office for the past decade plus, this ‘War 2’ buzz is not contrived marketing. Instead, it’s based on four factors:
Star Power × 2: Hrithik Roshan is one of the most bankable action stars in Bollywood. Jr NTR, being off this worldwide success of RRR, gives him another pan-India pull.
Continuity of Spy Universe: Audiences love worlds that are interconnected (Marvel, anybody?). YRF’s Spy Universe is pouncing off of that notion.
An Established Window: The Independence Day long weekend is traditionally a jackpot period for action thrillers (Ek Tha Tiger, as well as Mission Mangal and Gadar 2, had a strong 5-day run).
Capture South Market: War (2019) did not have an actual push in the South, but War 2 is a legit South push with Jr NTR being promoted already and the advance numbers are starting to pay off.
Putting it All Together: Predictions
With the current momentum, here is my estimate for War 2:
Day 1: ₹20–22 crore
Opening Weekend: ₹65–75 crore (depending on word of mouth)
Lifetime: ₹250+ crore (only if the reviews are in their favor)
Much obviously will depend on Coolie’s performance — both films having strong debuts may split the market share, but it should still generate record volumes of total footfalls.
Final Take:
War 2 has already carved out a space for itself as one of the most awaited movies of 2025 — and we aren’t even a week into its public showings. Regardless of whether or not it beats War (2019), the fact that it has already crossed ₹17.29 crore in advance ticket sales may suggest one thing: the audience is ready for another action-packed ride.
FAQs
1. How many tickets has War 2 sold to date?
More than 1.26 lakh tickets for Day 1, based on August 13, 2025, stats.
2. What version of War 2 has the most advanced sales?
Hindi 2D is outpacing with ₹5.56 crore worth of sales, although the Telugu version is seeing healthy sales.
3. Will War 2 beat Coolie at the box office?
Yes, in Hindi markets, Coolie will likely be strongest in Tamil Nadu and Kerala.
4. Is War 2 related to Pathaan and Tiger 3?
Yes, it’s part of the YRF spy universe – expect crossovers and references in upcoming movies.
5. Why are ticket prices higher in Andhra Pradesh and Telangana?
Local authorities also approved extemporaneous price hikes of local fees to capitalize on the festive season for additional revenue.
6. What are your lifetime collection predictions for War 2?
If the reviews and word of mouth are good, then it has a chance to surpass ₹250 crore.