Explore how Siddhant Chaturvedi & Triptii Dimri’s Dhadak 2 fared against Ajay Devgn’s Son of Sardaar 2 at the box office on opening day.
The August 1, 2025, Indian box office was one for the record books. What started as one Bollywood film, Dabangg 2, facing competition from a much-anticipated sequel, Son of Sardaar 2, quickly turned into a huge face-off as the two films were released. Starring the new and promising pair of Siddhant Chaturvedi and Triptii Dimri, Dhadak 2 was expected to carry a heavy emotional load along with the romance factor, while Son of Sardaar 2, with Ajay Devgn and Mrunal Thakur, was bringing the high-octane action-comedy element that it is known for.
The box office was already settling in on day 1. We will briefly look at the results and see how they broke down, what worked (or didn’t), and what the clash means for Bollywood going forward.
Opening Day Box Office Numbers: Who Won?
With box office numbers, opening day collections are typically the first litmus test for acceptance, and based on the results of Day 1, there’s no clouding the findings.
Son of Sardaar 2: ₹6.75 crore (India net)
Dhadak 2: ₹3.35 crore (India net)
Son of Sardaar 2 nearly doubled the number of Dhadak 2, but this clash is much deeper than numbers alone.
Things That Worked For Son Of Sardaar 2
Star Power: Ajay Devgn Is An Ageless Star
Ajay Devgn’s status as a star in massy action-comedy remains intact. Devgn’s core fans in Tier 2 and Tier 3 cities of India followed a cast strong enough for the geography, everywhere in northern India. “Sardaar” branding worked for our market.
Genre and timing
An action-based slapstick masala film with a patriotic appeal generally does well with all demographics of audiences. The decision to release it around the Raksha Bandhan long weekend was strategic and added footfalls.
A New Pairing, Mrunal Thakur
Mrunal Thakur provided freshness to the film pairing, along with engaging the urban audience. She had shown critically accepted performances in Sita Ramam and Jersey, and audience acceptance that should have helped transfer her audience to this film as well.
Case Study: Trade analysts Box Office India reported that UP, Punjab, and Rajasthan had occupancy within single screens greater than 40% compared to Dhadak 2 at best from 22-25% in occupancy.
Why Dhadak 2 Slowed Down
A Romantic Sequel in a Changed World
Dhadak 2 had baggage, as it was riding on the legacy of Dhadak (2018), which launched Janhvi Kapoor and Ishaan Khatter. Romantic drama had faded in popularity post-pandemic, especially without star power or a hit soundtrack.
Siddhant Chaturvedi & Triptii Dimri – Talented but Niche
Both of the actors have successfully won critical acclaim (Siddhant in Gully Boy, Triptii in Qala), but they’re still continuing to build mainstream recognition. Therefore, this limited their initial box office appeal.
Music Didn’t Pick Up As Expected
The original Dhadak music was a runaway hit. Unfortunately, the Dhadak 2 music flopped in the weeks leading up to the film’s premiere, and thus, there really wasn’t buzz around it with younger audiences, who are the target audience for a romantic film.
Real World Learnings: The Benefits of a Franchise
Franchises tend to have a built-in audience in Indian films, not that far removed from Hollywood. Son of Sardaar had a life as a film (even if it was critically bashed), but over time developed a cult following for its patriotic humor and Punjabi-inspired fun.
Whereas Dhadak has always felt like more of a standalone romantic drama than a franchise. It certainly didn’t help that Dhadak 2 did not have the main stars or the original music talent on board, making it a lot harder to reclaim any nostalgia value.
Urban vs Rural Divide: Changing Audience Behavior
The film also did moderately well in multiplexes in Delhi, Mumbai, and Bengaluru, showing audiences in metro cities are embracing and willing to support new storytelling.
However, in comparison, Son of Sardaar 2 appealed to audiences in rural belts and single screens, where it positively impacted potential audiences.
This urban-rural gap is a theme growing in Indian box office behaviours.
Speedy Comparison: Opening Day Numbers
Film Title Lead Cast Genre Day 1 Box Office Collection
Son of Sardaar 2 Ajay Devgn, Mrunal Thakur Action-Comedy ₹6.75 Cr
Dhadak 2 Siddhant Chaturvedi, Triptii Dimri Romantic Drama ₹3.35 Cr
Summary: Clash of Generations?
The Dhadak 2 vs Son of Sardaar 2 clash is more than a box office war – it represents a clash of generations, genres, and storytelling modes.
FAQs
1. Which film wins the opening day box office war?
Son of Sardaar 2 wins the opening day box office, with collections of ₹6.75 crore, versus Dhadak 2’s ₹3.35 crore on Day 1.
2. How come Dhadak 2 did so poorly on day one?
There was no buzz before the film’s release, the music was average in terms of responses, and it was competing with a bigger star cast in Son of Sardaar 2.
3. Is Dhadak 2 a sequel to Dhadak?
Sort of. While it’s titled Dhadak 2, Dhadak 2 has a totally different story with a totally different cast. A new romantic story with new protagonists in Siddhant and Triptii.
4. Will Dhadak 2 have box office recovery?
Yes, depending on word-of-mouth over the weekend. If the performances are strong and urban youth back it, then it could get some momentum.
5. What are critics saying about both films?
Early reviews indicate that Son of Sardaar 2 is fun for fans of action-comedy, while Dhadak 2 offers emotional depth and strong performances but has a slower pace.