War 2 (2025) unleashes a high-stakes spy battle as Hrithik Roshan’s rogue Kabir clashes with Jr NTR’s elite agent across Spain, Italy, Japan, and more. Directed by Ayan Mukerji, this ₹200–400 crore YRF Spy Universe blockbuster promises IMAX-scale action, emotional depth, and pan-India star power this Independence Day weekend.
Bigger Spy Universe Story
- Release Date: Released on 14 August 2025, aligning with India’s Independence Day weekend .
- Franchise: Sixth installment in the YRF Spy Universe, following Ek Tha Tiger, Tiger Zinda Hai, War, Pathaan, and Tiger 3 .
Cast & Crew
- Director: Ayan Mukerji (known for Brahmastra, Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani) .
- Producer: Aditya Chopra under Yash Raj Films.
Stars:
- Hrithik Roshan as Major Kabir Dhaliwal «Kaboo»
- Jr NTR as Major Vikram Chelapathi «Raghu» — marking his Bollywood debut
- Kiara Advani as Wing Commander Kavya Luthra
- Supporting appearances: Ashutosh Rana, Anil Kapoor, Soni Razdan, Bobby Deol (cameo), Tiger Shroff (photo appearance) .
Plot Premise
- Former RAW agent Kabir Dhaliwal goes rogue and becomes a national threat. The government dispatches elite agent Vikram to neutralize him—resulting in an intense, morally layered face-off .
Production & Action
- Budget: Estimated between ₹200 crore to ₹400 crore—making it one of India’s most expensive spy films .
- Filming: Took place across six countries—Spain, Italy, Abu Dhabi, Japan, Russia, and India, with elaborate action sequences like sword combat, car and boat chases, and more .
- Formats: Designed for IMAX, D-Box, 4DX, Dolby Cinema, ICE platforms, focusing on immersive visuals and sound .
Music & Technical Highlights
- Music Composer: Pritam (songs), with background scoring by Sanchit & Ankit Balhara .
- Teaser & Trailers: Teaser dropped on Jr NTR’s birthday (20 May 2025), racking up massive viewership; official trailer released (24 July 2025) via YRF’s YouTube channel .
Marketing Buzz & Controversies
- Promotional Posters: New posters featuring the main trio have had mixed reactions online—some fans mocked their design, while others embraced the intense vibe .
- Release Date Debate: The choice of 14 August—Pakistan’s Independence Day—sparked discourse and controversy on social media, with hashtags like #BoycottWar2 and #ChangeTheDate trending .
- Creative Differences: News reported of creative disagreements between Hrithik Roshan and director Ayan Mukerji—primarily over the film’s length .
Early Reception & Box Office
Advance Bookings:
- Grossed ₹16 crore in India before release—Hinged largely by strong Telugu market numbers .
- Overseas (USA & Canada) advance sales crossed $85,000, a significant milestone for an Indian release .
Pre-Release Buzz: Stars and colleagues like Alia Bhatt, Ranbir Kapoor, Tiger Shroff attended special screenings, amplifying hype .
South India Excitement: A massive pre-release celebration in Hyderabad saw drones, barricades, and 1,200 police officers—highlighting the fan frenzy for Jr NTR and Hrithik duo .
Regional Trends: While Telugu regions show strong enthusiasm, advance Hindi bookings lag compared to previous Spy Universe entries like Pathaan and Tiger 3 .
Early Receipt: Initial Twitter reactions, especially praising Jr NTR’s performance, suggest positive word-of-mouth beginning to form .
OTT & Streaming
Post-theatrical, War 2 is expected to stream on Amazon Prime Video around November 2025 (3 months post release), though the platform and date remain unconfirmed officially .
War vs War 2: Bigger Battles, Bolder Moves
- War (2019), directed by Siddharth Anand, was a sleek mentor-vs-protégé action thriller starring Hrithik Roshan as Kabir and Tiger Shroff as Khalid. Set across multiple countries, it featured high-octane chases, stylish combat, and hit songs like Ghungroo. It was the 3rd entry in YRF’s Spy Universe and grossed over ₹475 crore worldwide.
- War 2 (2025), directed by Ayan Mukerji, is bigger in scale, budget, and ambition. Hrithik returns as a now-rogue Kabir, facing off against Jr NTR’s elite agent Vikram, with Kiara Advani in a combat role. Shot across Spain, Italy, Abu Dhabi, Japan, Russia, and India, it’s designed for IMAX, 4DX, and other premium formats. With a ₹200–400 crore budget, pan-India casting, and a release timed for Independence Day weekend 14th August , War 2 aims to expand the Spy Universe with more emotional depth and massive action set pieces.
With War 1’s massive ₹475 crore success setting the stage, War 2 raises the stakes with a ₹200–400 crore budget, IMAX-scale action, and Jr NTR’s South star power joining Hrithik Roshan. Pan-India casting has proven to boost Bollywood box office, and this Independence Day showdown could redefine the YRF Spy Universe’s success story.
To watch the public reaction please click on the link: https://youtube.com/shorts/yadEBYDZAZQ?si=pn5OEpznNka8UWDH
To watch the reviewer reaction please click on the link: https://youtu.be/ezu6m3xr-aY?si=B90iCDr1OZimqg9B
To watch the trailer click on the link:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vlZ_rfMDshI