Gadar 2’s first-day box office collection surpassed expectations as it stormed theaters and achieved the second-highest opening of 2023 in Bollywood.
This film marks a major milestone in Sunny Deol’s career, exactly 40 years after his debut in “Betaab.” According to Sacnilk, Gadar 2 garnered Rs 40 crore on its opening day, exhibiting an overall occupancy rate of over 60%. Night shows, in particular, boasted an impressive 86% occupancy.
Although Gadar 2 exceeded the occupancy rate of Shah Rukh Khan’s “Pathaan” on its opening day, “Pathaan” still retains the record for the highest Bollywood debut, earning Rs 55 crore.
Nevertheless, Gadar 2 outperformed Prabhas’ high-budget mythological epic “Adipurush,” which debuted with Rs 32 crore.
Interestingly, “Adipurush” premiered on Netflix and Prime Video on Friday, unexpectedly challenging Gadar 2’s popularity. Gadar 2 also faced competition from Akshay Kumar’s “OMG 2” and Rajinikanth’s “Jailer.”
However, “Jailer” primarily targeted the South Indian audience, while Gadar 2 focused on the northern regions. Moreover, “Rocky Aur Rani Kii Prem Kahaani,” which has already enjoyed two successful weeks in theaters, is also a contributing factor.
According to a report by Bollywood Hungama, Gadar 2 has the potential to earn around Rs 120 crore during its opening weekend and Rs 175 crore over the extended Independence Day holiday.
Box Office India reported unprecedented numbers at various single screens in Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, Bihar, and Gujarat, although Punjab and West Bengal could have performed better.
The film’s success now relies on word of mouth. Shubhra Gupta of The Indian Express gave the film a two-star rating in her review, stating that it brings “nothing new” to the table.
Directed by Anil Sharma, Gadar 2 features Utkarsh Sharma and Ameesha Patel alongside Sunny Deol. In 2001, its predecessor, “Gadar,” garnered massive popularity at the box office, grossing over Rs 130 crore worldwide.