The latest entry in the YRF Spy Universe, War 2, directed by Ayan Mukerji, hit theatres on August 14—just in time for the long Independence Day weekend. Starring Hrithik Roshan and Jr NTR, the high-octane spy thriller was one of the most anticipated releases of the year. However, it clashed at the box office with Rajinikanth’s mass entertainer Coolie, which has overshadowed War 2 in early numbers.

The film had a strong opening, collecting ₹52.50 crore net in India on Day 1. While this is a solid start, it’s still considered underwhelming compared to earlier YRF blockbusters like War and Pathaan. Given Jr NTR’s huge fan base in the Telugu-speaking states, expectations were even higher for its pan-India performance. Including taxes, the film’s gross Indian collection is estimated to be in the ₹60 crore range.

Internationally, War 2 brought in a little over $3 million (around ₹25 crore), bringing its tentative worldwide total for day one to approximately ₹90–95 crore. That puts it ahead of other recent spy thrillers like Tiger 3 (₹94 crore) and the original War (₹78 crore), but still short of the coveted ₹100-crore opening that’s become the benchmark for big-budget Indian action films. For context, Pathaan debuted at ₹104 crore worldwide.

Meanwhile, Coolie has taken the box office by storm. Thanks to Rajinikanth's massive fan following, the film is expected to comfortably cross ₹120 crore on its opening day, with projections hinting it might even reach ₹150 crore.

War 2 features Hrithik Roshan and Jr NTR as rival Indian spies, with Kiara Advani and Ashutosh Rana in key supporting roles. Despite its decent performance, mixed reviews and stiff competition from Coolie seem to be limiting its box office potential.

The film is currently playing in theatres across India.