By the time theatres opened on Republic Day morning, the direction of the run was already clear. The film had held firm through the weekend, absorbed the Monday slowdown better than expected, and then found fresh energy on the national holiday. According to early trade tracking cited by Box Office India, collections on Day 4 showed an upward movement instead of the usual plateau. By the end of the day, estimates suggested Border 2 was no longer just holding ground it was expanding it.

The film’s box-office journey has been less about big opening fireworks and more about steady momentum. Built on emotion, scale, and a strong sense of legacy, it has followed a familiar path seen with many patriotic films - growing gradually rather than peaking early. That slow and consistent run has pushed the film closer to the ₹180 crore mark, a milestone that now appears attainable if collections stay stable through the week.

Why Day 4 Changed the Narrative

Holiday Mondays often flatten momentum after a big Sunday. This time, the opposite happened. As reported by Sacnilk, footfalls rose across single screens and remained consistent in multiplexes, helped by the patriotic mood and repeat audiences.

The Republic Day break worked in the film’s favour, especially across North India where the connect has been most visible. Exhibitors in key markets like Delhi and Mumbai observed stronger turnouts for afternoon and evening shows, while mornings remained relatively quiet. The trend points to planned family visits rather than impulse viewing, reinforcing the film’s gradual but steady box-office run.

Sunny Deol and the pull of memory

A large part of the film’s emotional hold comes from Sunny Deol, whose presence gives the story its sense of gravity. For many viewers, memories of Border play a role but not in a fleeting, opening-weekend way. That familiarity has translated into continued interest rather than one-time curiosity.

What stands out is that this isn’t nostalgia for nostalgia’s sake. Sunny Deol isn’t positioned as a passing reference or crowd-pleasing cameo. His character carries real weight within the story, and audiences appear to respond to that sincerity. Seen as the film’s moral compass rather than a reminder of the past, his role has helped the film feel grounded even after the initial buzz fades.

New Faces and the Ensemble Balance

The film doesn’t rely on legacy alone. It also places its younger actors in demanding roles, and Ahan Shetty has emerged as one of the standouts for holding his own alongside seasoned performers. His performance has been frequently mentioned in trade discussions tracking the film’s run.

Just as important is how the film handles its ensemble. Instead of crowding the screen, it gives characters enough space for their stories to register without losing sight of the main narrative. According to trade feedback from Mumbai, this balance has helped bring audiences back, especially in urban centres where viewers are more selective about repeat watches.

Republic Day and Audience Behaviour

Holiday releases often benefit from timing, but not all convert that advantage into sustained revenue. Industry commentary from Box Office India suggests this film succeeded because it aligned its theme closely with the occasion.

The Republic Day box office trend showed stronger occupancy during afternoon and evening shows, a pattern echoed in exhibitor feedback shared with Bollywood Hungama. Families and groups appeared to plan theatre visits rather than treating them as impulse decisions.

Steady numbers, growing confidence

By the end of Day 4, estimates shared across multiple trade trackers suggest that the film is steadily inching toward Rs 180 crore. While official figures are awaited, early reporting by Koimoi indicates that the Border 2 total collection has comfortably outperformed initial projections set before release.

The consistency across regions-metros, Tier-2 cities, and single screens has been a key strength.

The Role of Varun Dhawan in Expanding Reach

While Sunny Deol anchors the legacy appeal, Varun Dhawan contributes to widening the audience base, particularly among younger demographics. Trade notes from Bollywood Hungama suggest his presence has helped the film perform better in metro multiplexes than originally projected.

This dual-track appeal - nostalgia for older viewers and familiarity for younger audiences is one of the reasons collections have remained steady rather than polarised.

How the Film Is Being Read by the Trade

From a trade perspective, the film’s performance is being described as disciplined rather than explosive. According to commentary published by Box Office India, there are no wild swings, only incremental gains - a pattern often associated with long theatrical runs.

Exhibitors spoken to by trade circles in Delhi and Mumbai confirmed that screen counts are being held steady instead of rushed rotations, a sign of confidence in continued footfall.

What Happens Next

The coming days will test the film’s resilience. Midweek drops are inevitable, but the scale of that drop will determine whether the Rs 200 crore mark becomes realistic. Analysts cited by Sacnilk believe the next weekend will be decisive.

For now, the film has achieved something many releases struggle with maintaining relevance after opening-weekend noise fades.

The United Indian

The United Indian tracks cinema through context and consequence, focusing on how audience behaviour and cultural timing shape box office outcomes.