Hrithik Roshan's War 2 picks up pace at box office, nears Rs 1 billion and Rajinikanth's Coolie

After a cautious start, Ayan Mukerji’s War 2 roared back at the box office on Friday, August 15, thanks in part to the Independence Day holiday. Following a first-day collection that raised eyebrows rather than celebrations, the film’s total earnings in India edged close to Rs 100 crore by the evening. According to Sacnilk, War 2 had raked in Rs 32 crore by 5 pm on its second day.

The film had opened to Rs 52.25 crore net on Thursday, with Rs 29 crore from Hindi and Rs 23.25 crore from Telugu versions. While such an opening would typically be cause for applause, comparisons with the Rs 53 crore debut of the first War and the star power of Hrithik Roshan and Jr NTR led analysts to expect a figure closer to Rs 75–100 crore.

Friday’s surge, however, has helped War 2 recover, with collections surpassing Rs 83 crore by late afternoon. At this pace, crossing Rs 100 crore by the end of the day seems well within reach. The strong second-day performance is particularly notable given lukewarm reviews.

Part of the YRF Spy Universe, War 2 is directed by Ayan Mukerji and features Hrithik Roshan, Jr NTR, Kiara Advani, and Ashutosh Rana. The post-credits scene teased the next chapter—Alpha—starring Bobby Deol, Alia Bhatt, and Sharvari. Mounted on a massive Rs 300 crore budget, the film now depends on sustained box office momentum to secure its status as a hit.

Meanwhile, Coolie has earned Rs 25.94 crore net in India, as per Sacnilk. This brings its two-day total to Rs 90.94 crore net. It is expected to surpass the Rs 100 crore milestone by the end of the day, today. As of now, Coolie has grossed approximately Rs 151 crore worldwide on its opening day, making it the highest-grossing Tamil film on its first day. By the end of its second day, the film's global gross is estimated to be between Rs 180–200 crore, with projections indicating it will surpass the Rs 200 crore mark over the weekend.