Border 2 is a 2026 Indian Hindi language epic action war film that expands one of the most iconic patriotic stories in Indian cinema. Co written and directed by Anurag Singh, the film serves as a large scale sequel to Border, originally directed by J. P. Dutta.
Produced by Bhushan Kumar, Krishan Kumar, J. P. Dutta, and Nidhi Dutta under T-Series Films and J.P. Films, the film released theatrically on 23 January 2026, coinciding with the Republic Day weekend.
Movie Overview
| Field | Details |
|---|---|
| Title | Border 2 |
| Language | Hindi |
| Genre | War, Action, Drama |
| Director | Anurag Singh |
| Release Date | 23 January 2026 |
| Runtime | Approx. 199 minutes |
| Certification | UA |
| Budget | Estimated ₹250 to ₹300 crore |
| Production Houses | T-Series Films, J.P. Films |
Border 2 Story and Scope
Set against the backdrop of the India Pakistan war of 1971, Border 2 transforms the intimate battlefield narrative of the original into a multi front war drama. The film depicts coordinated operations of the Indian Army, Air Force, and Navy, moving across land, air, and sea.
Rather than retelling Longewala alone, the film draws inspiration from multiple real life heroes and operations, including air combat, naval sacrifice, and ground warfare. The intent is clear. This is not just a sequel, but a broader canvas of the same war, told with modern scale and technology.
Main Cast and Character Details
| Actor | Character | Force | Approx. Screen Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sunny Deol | Lt Col Fateh Singh Kaler | Indian Army | 65 to 70 minutes |
| Varun Dhawan | Major Hoshiar Singh Dahiya, PVC | Indian Army | 45 to 50 minutes |
| Diljit Dosanjh | Fg Offr Nirmal Jit Singh Sekhon, PVC | Indian Air Force | 35 to 40 minutes |
| Ahan Shetty | Lt Cdr M. S. Rawat | Indian Navy | 30 to 35 minutes |
Key Supporting Roles
- Mona Singh as Fateh’s wife
- Sonam Bajwa as Manjit Kaur Sekhon
- Medha Rana as Dhano Devi Dahiya
- Anya Singh as Rawat’s wife
- Anurag Arora and Paramvir Cheema as JCOs
This is clearly an ensemble driven war film, but Sunny Deol remains the emotional anchor.
Casting and Development Insights
The project was officially announced on 13 June 2024, marking the 27th anniversary of the original Border. While J. P. Dutta had considered a sequel as early as 2015, it was only after Sunny Deol’s resurgence with Gadar 2 that the project gained momentum.
Sunny Deol reportedly agreed to return only after ensuring that the character arc justified revisiting the legacy. Varun Dhawan replaced early casting rumours around Ayushmann Khurrana, while Diljit Dosanjh’s involvement went through speculation before being officially confirmed.
Ahan Shetty joined as a fresh addition, portraying a naval officer inspired by Captain Mahendra Nath Mulla.
Filming Locations and Authenticity
Filming began in early 2025 and spanned real military installations across India:
- Jhansi and Babina Cantonments in Uttar Pradesh
- National Defence Academy in Khadakwasla
- Uttarakhand terrain for mountain warfare
- Punjab villages and military camps
- Rajasthan deserts for western front sequences
- Jammu and Kashmir locations including Srinagar
The production also utilised INS Vikrant and undisclosed air and naval bases to maintain technical authenticity.
Music and Soundtrack
The soundtrack blends nostalgia with new compositions.
- Background score by John Stewart Eduri
- Songs composed by Anu Malik, Mithoon, Sachet Parampara, Vishal Mishra, and Gurmoh
- Lyrics by Javed Akhtar, Manoj Muntashir, Kausar Munir, Kumaar, and Anurag Singh
Several iconic songs from Border 1997 have been reimagined, including “Ghar Kab Aaoge” and “Jaate Hue Lamhon”. Reception has been emotionally positive but creatively debated.
Trailer and Public Response
The trailer, released on 15 January 2026, presents large scale action, patriotic dialogues, and intense war visuals. While audiences praised Sunny Deol’s commanding presence and emotional scenes, criticism emerged around inconsistent VFX quality and loud execution.
Audience sentiment is divided. Some view it as a true big screen patriotic spectacle, while others feel it relies too heavily on nostalgia rather than innovation.
Box Office and Reception
Advance bookings crossed ₹11 crore before release, with opening day projections ranging from ₹32 to ₹37 crore nett. The film released on over 4,800 screens in India, supported by a long Republic Day weekend.
Early reviews highlight emotional moments and scale, while also pointing out pacing issues and dated visual treatment.
Controversies and Limitations
- Banned in multiple Gulf countries due to perceived anti Pakistan content
- Debate over recreated songs versus original compositions
- Heavy use of VFX compared to the practical realism of the 1997 film
Border vs Border 2
| Aspect | Border 1997 | Border 2 2026 |
|---|---|---|
| Scope | Single battlefield | Multi front war |
| Style | Grounded realism | Epic spectacle |
| Effects | Practical | VFX heavy |
| Music | Fully original | Nostalgia driven |
Final Maverick Take
Border 2 is not a subtle film and it does not aim to be one. It is designed as a large scale patriotic experience, meant to be felt in theatres rather than analysed frame by frame.
It may not replace the emotional purity of the original Border, but it succeeds in expanding the story of 1971 for a new generation. Whether it becomes timeless or temporary will depend on how strongly audiences connect with emotion over execution.
For fans of patriotic cinema, this film delivers scale, sentiment, and spectacle in equal measure.
Follow Being Maverick for the Border 2 Movie Review and its box office collection of the Day 1.
