Nearly three decades after the original, Border 2 arrived in theatres today, bringing the popular war franchise back into focus. Expectations were high going in. So was the curiosity around how the follow-up would measure up.

Sunny Deol leads the film, with Anurag Singh at the helm. Early in the day, a few morning shows across India were cancelled due to delays in content delivery. The hiccup didn’t last long. Shows resumed soon after.

Reactions from last night’s premiere screenings leaned positive, with early viewers talking it up as a big crowd-pleaser. That tone softened by morning. Audiences who caught the first shows today felt the sequel doesn’t quite hit the same emotional high as the 1997 original, and that gap is being noticed. As a result, the word of mouth has turned mixed within hours.

The patriotic flavour still works. Sunny Deol’s screen presence, in particular, has drawn praise. Around him, however, the film slows down at places. Uneven pacing, a predictable narrative curve, and the placement of songs have come up as sticking points for a section of viewers.

On the business front, the film is holding firm. Advance bookings are solid, and early trends point towards opening-day collections in the range of Rs. 30–35 crore gross. The Republic Day weekend now becomes crucial. How the film sustains through the holiday stretch will decide the scale of its run.

Alongside Sunny Deol, Border 2 stars Varun Dhawan, Diljit Dosanjh, and Ahan Shetty in key roles. Sonam Bajwa, Mona Singh, Medha Rana, and Anya Singh appear in supporting parts, while Suniel Shetty and Akshaye Khanna feature in cameo roles.