WAR 2 Bookings: YRF’s Pan-India Plan Cracking?

Advance bookings for War 2 have revealed cracks in what was meant to be a smooth pan India release for Yash Raj Films. Despite releasing on 5,000 screens and featuring Hrithik Roshan and Jr. NTR, ticket sales at national multiplex chains have been ordinary.

As of Wednesday afternoon, top multiplexes like PVR, Inox and Cinepolis sold around 96,000 tickets. Industry estimates predict that total pre-sales could reach 1,60,000 to 1,80,000, securing the film the third-highest advance for 2025 so far.

However, War 2 still lags behind films such as Chhaava and Saiyaara in pre-sale numbers. For a franchise with substantial resources and star power, this lukewarm response raises concern for Yash Raj Films.

Ticket sales are higher than smaller releases like Sikandar and Housefull 5, but these numbers are not enough to meet industry expectations. The original War (2019) had set a much higher benchmark for advance bookings and audience anticipation.

A key challenge for War 2 is that in the Telugu states, Rajinikanth’s Coolie is outpacing it at the advance booking stage. Even Jr. NTR’s core fanbase appears divided, affecting the film’s South India pull.

Efforts to turn War 2 into a pan India blockbuster are being hindered by unremarkable promotional campaigns and a soundtrack that has not resonated widely. Casting Jr. NTR to attract South audiences to a Bollywood franchise has not translated into strong bookings so far.

Unless word of mouth creates a strong turnaround, War 2 could become an example of the difficulties South stars face in Bollywood’s so-called pan India releases, despite high-profile casting and expansive releases.