Son of Sardaar 2 vs Dhadak 2: Which Bollywood sequel wins this packed box office weekend?

Two major, but vastly different Bollywood films hit theatres today: Ajay Devgn and Mrunal Thakur’s Son of Sardaar 2, and Siddhant Chaturvedi and Triptii Dimri’s Dhadak 2. While one rides on comedy and mass appeal, the other banks on emotion and social commentary. The box office, however, isn’t taking sides and it’s jam-packed.

Son of Sardaar 2 is positioned as a full-blown family entertainer, capitalising on the sequel tag and Ajay Devgn’s strong fan base in mass circuits. Dhadak 2, meanwhile, aims to attract urban, multiplex-going viewers with its romantic-social drama angle, hoping to recreate the emotional impact of its predecessor, as noted by Bollywood Hungama.

Despite Son of Sardaar 2 receiving a lukewarm response to its trailer, the sequel factor and an aggressive promotional push are driving footfall. In fact, tickets are 50 per cent  off for opening day, and fans of both Devgn and Thakur are grabbing the offer, helping boost its visibility and turnout.

The countdown for Son of Sardaar 2 is gaining momentum. As of now, it's on track to surpass Sunny Deol’s Jaat (Rs 2.59 crore in final advance booking sales) and is chasing Akshay Kumar’s Sky Force (Rs 3.82 crore). To break into the top 5 Bollywood pre-sales of 2025, it will need to cross ₹6.52 crore, which would ironically pit Devgn against himself — Raid 2 currently holds that spot.

Here’s how the Top 5 advance bookings for 2025 stack up:

Raid 2 – ₹6.52 crore

While Son of Sardaar 2 may fall short of this list, its final pre-sales figure will still be among the strongest for a comedy this year. Meanwhile, Dhadak 2 is also witnessing strong pre-sales activity, especially in metro cities, and is expected to grow with positive word-of-mouth over the weekend.

Son of Sardaar 2 is expected to open with Rs 5–6 crore on day one, as quoted by several Indian outlets, including Hindustan Times. Under different circumstances, a double-digit debut would’ve been likely, but it now faces stiff competition from both new and holdover films.

Dhadak 2 is likely to start with Rs 4–5 crore, focusing on quality over quantity and gradually expanding its reach into Tier-2 and Tier-3 markets.

While Son of Sardaar 2 and Dhadak 2 aren’t targeting the same audience, they’re jostling for attention in a release calendar that’s busier than expected. Discounts, star power, and genre diversity will help both films find their footing, but sustained success will depend on reviews, word-of-mouth, and how well each film holds up beyond opening weekend.