Look, Sunny Deol is basically the king of sequels right now. First Gadar 2 broke the internet in 2023, and now Border 2 is about to drop (releasing tomorrow, Jan 23, 2026). Everyone is asking if he can pull off that same "Handpump" energy at the box office.
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| Border 2 vs Gadar 2 Advance Booking: Can Sunny Deol Break His Own Records? |
I did a bit of digging, and here is how the two heavyweights are looking against each other. (Note: I might have some typos here because I'm typing this fast!)
The Advance Booking Numbers
It's a weird mix. Gadar 2 was a complete freak of nature when it came to ticket volume, but Border 2 has some different advantages.
| Feature | Gadar 2 (2023) | Border 2 (2026) |
|---|---|---|
| Tickets Sold (Day 1) | ~7.22 Lakh (Final) | ~1.86 Lakh (with 1 day to go) |
| BMS Pre-sales | 548K | ~195K (and climbing) |
| Advance Gross | ₹17.6 Crore | ~₹6–10 Crore (est. total) |
| Opening Day Net | ₹40.1 Crore | Projected ₹32–₹40 Crore |
Key Takeaways: How they stack up
Ticket Volume vs. Value: Gadar 2 sold way more actual tickets (it was a mass-market madness). However, Border 2 has "Blockbuster Pricing"—meaning tickets are more expensive—so even with fewer people, the total money (gross) might end up surprisingly close.
The "Solo" Factor: Remember Gadar 2 had to fight Akshay Kumar's OMG 2 on the same day? Border 2 basically has the whole playground to itself. Its only "competition" is Dhurandhar, which has been out for weeks already.
The Cast Boost: While Gadar 2 was mostly the Sunny show, Border 2 has Varun Dhawan and Diljit Dosanjh. Diljit is apparently bringing in huge numbers from North India (Punjab/Delhi), which is helping the film outpace Gadar 2 in those specific regions.
National Chains: In places like PVR Inox, Border 2 is currently a bit slower than Gadar 2. It's looking to hit maybe 150k sales in the big chains, whereas Gadar 2 was much higher.
Is it a "Gadar" level storm?
Not exactly. If we're talking about pure "euphoria" and sheer number of people standing in line, Gadar 2 still holds the crown. Border 2 is lagging by about 60% in terms of raw ticket sales compared to where Gadar 2 was at this point.
But—and this is a big but— Border 2 is expected to have a massive "walk-in" crowd because of the Republic Day weekend. The trade experts are saying it could still land a ₹35-40 crore opening, which would make it Sunny's biggest or second-biggest start ever.
Honestly, even if it doesn't beat Gadar 2's record, it's still going to be a massive hit. The nostalgia for the 1997 original is just too strong.
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