Border 2 release date revealed with Sunny Deol’s poster – can it match the original’s legacy?

What better way to celebrate India’s Independence Day than with the promise of an epic war saga hitting the big screen? The makers of the spiritual sequel to the 1997 blockbuster Border have finally unveiled the release date for Border 2.

Dropping an interactive poster today, the team confirmed that Border 2 will storm cinemas on January 22, 2026, just four days before Republic Day. Earlier reports had suggested a January 23 release, but the filmmakers have fast-tracked it to coincide with the long weekend.

Much like the original, which captured the spirit of the Indo-Pakistani War of 1971, Border 2 is set to be a patriotic spectacle. That said, the filmmakers stress it’s not a direct sequel—some story elements have been reimagined. Sunny Deol appears on poster, paying homage to the previous film, though he won’t be reprising his original role.

Directed by Anurag Singh, Border 2 also stars Varun Dhawan, Diljit Dosanjh, Ahan Shetty, Medha Rana, Mona Singh, and Sonam Bajwa. Production is handled by Bhushan Kumar and JP Dutta, with Gulshan Kumar and T-Series collaborating alongside JP Films.

“Border is more than a film – it’s an emotion for every Indian,” said Kumar. “With Border 2, we aim to carry forward that legacy and bring it to a new generation. The new release date gives audiences more time to come together and experience the film in theatres during an extended Republic Day weekend.”

“Announcing the date on Independence Day is symbolic,” added director Singh. “This day reminds us of the sacrifices made by our soldiers for India’s freedom and so does our film. It’s an honour and a privilege to honour their undying spirit through this story.”

The film dominated the domestic box office in 1997, earning the title of the highest-grossing Hindi film of the year in India. Worldwide, it played second fiddle only to Dil To Pagal Hai. And if we’re talking the ’90s overall: Border was the fourth biggest blockbuster of the decade when it came to footfalls.

The film bagged three National Film Awards, including the prestigious Best Film on National Integration. At the 43rd Filmfare Awards, Border raked in 11 nominations—Best Film, Best Director for J.P. Dutta, Best Actor for Sunny Deol, plus nods for Suniel Shetty, Akshaye Khanna, and Raakhee in supporting roles. The wins didn’t disappoint either: J.P. Dutta took home Best Director, Akshaye Khanna clinched Best Male Debut, Javed Akhtar scored Best Lyricist, and Hariharan nailed Best Male Playback Singer.

It remains to be seen if the sequel lives up to the original legacy.