The War 2 teaser, starring Hrithik Roshan and Jr. NTR, has made a splash on YouTube. That splash is 25.49 million views strong—within the first 24 hours.
That’s a pretty impressive number, and one that puts War 2 among the biggest Bollywood teaser launches ever.
But scratch beneath the surface and you’ll find something rather unexpected. Especially when it comes to the Telugu-speaking audience.
War 2 now sits pretty as the fifth most viewed Bollywood teaser in that 24-hour window.
It’s behind only those massive titles like Adipurush, Sikandar, Dunki and Maidaan. It even outran Fighter, Animal and Sanju. That’s no small feat. But here’s the thing: all that buzz is coming from one side of the country.
The Hindi version alone raked in over 20 million views. The Telugu version, in comparison, struggled to get to 4.51 million. The Tamil version stayed under a million.
For a film starring Jr. NTR—that’s one of the biggest names in Telugu cinema—that gap is a red flag for many in the trade.
The reason, say experts, is simple: the teaser just doesn’t give Jr. NTR much to work with. It looks sleek and stylish, but it leans heavily on Hrithik Roshan’s character.
You don’t get much of a glimpse of NTR in action. No big, rousing dialogues. No heroic shots. Just a fast-paced, high-gloss action vibe that feels very North-India centric.
That’s not just a minor issue. With Rajinikanth’s Coolie on the way—also targeting that Pan-India space—War 2 will have direct competition at the box office.
If the South doesn’t feel involved early on, it could really hurt War 2 when it matters most: release day.
Insiders think YRF might need to drop another teaser or trailer soon. This time, giving NTR a lot more of the spotlight.
The Telugu market is too important to take lightly. Especially when you’re calling a film “Pan-India.” That means you need to appeal to every region, not just one.
While War 2 has done well on YouTube overall, the early signs from the South—especially the Telugu belt—are mixed.
The film needs a stronger connection with NTR’s home crowd. Or it risks falling short in one of the country’s most crucial markets. The ball is now in the makers’ court.
