2025 has already been an action-packed year for Bollywood, with big-ticket releases one after another. From period dramas to high-octane thrillers, the competition at the box office has been intense. Among the most awaited films of the year was War 2, headlined by Hrithik Roshan, Jr NTR, and Kiara Advani. With the kind of hype surrounding it, expectations for the film’s advance bookings were sky-high. But when the final numbers rolled in, the reality told a slightly different story.
War 2 Advance Booking Falls Short Of Chhaava And Saiyaara
When it comes to the highest advance booking in 2025 for Bollywood Hindi films in national chains (PVR, INOX, Cinepolis), the crown still sits comfortably on Chhaava’s head. The period action drama created a massive buzz and pulled in an impressive 2,23,000 tickets in advance sales. That’s a tough number to beat, and no film so far this year has managed to topple it from the top spot.
Following closely behind is Saiyaara, an underdog that surprised everyone at the box office and pulled 1,94,000 tickets in advance. Both films set the bar for early ticket sales and proved just how strong audience anticipation can be when content and marketing hit the sweet spot. Read our War 2 Review.
War 2: Strong But Not Record-Breaking
War 2 Hindi opened with 1,54,200 tickets sold in advance across national chains — a figure that many films would envy. But given the expectations, especially considering the franchise’s past success and the star power of Hrithik Roshan and Jr NTR, trade analysts were betting on numbers closer to or above Saiyaara’s mark.
While 1.54 lakh tickets is no small feat, it places War 2 at the third spot in the 2025 advance booking leaderboard, behind Chhaava and Saiyaara. It did, however, comfortably outpace other big releases like Sikandar (1,43,000) and Housefull 5 (94,750).
Why War 2 Couldn’t Top The List
Several factors may have played a role in War 2 not crossing Chhaava or Saiyaara. For starters, the mixed response to the trailer, with poor VFX, might have slightly dented the frenzy that was expected. Additionally, competition from other strong release, Rajinikanth’s Coolie, may have split the audience’s attention.
Another point worth noting is that advance booking is often driven by emotional connect and the freshness factor. Chhaava and Saiyaara had unique selling points — one being a period spectacle and the other offering a fresh pairing with a solid musical hook — that perhaps resonated more strongly with pre-release audiences.
Top 10 Advance Booking For Bollywood Hindi Films In National Chains (2025):
- Chhaava – 2,23,000
- Saiyaara – 1,94,000
- War 2 – 1,54,200
- Sikandar – 1,43,000
- Housefull 5 – 94,750
- Raid 2 – 93,000
- Sky Force – 52,000
- Sitaare Zameen Par – 49,750
- Badass Ravikumar – 47,500
- Kesari 2 – 33,000
The Bigger Picture
While War 2 didn’t break advance booking records, the film is far from a disappointment. 1.54 lakh advance tickets are still a huge opening. However, the reviews are horrible, and the chances are that no one can save this sinking ship.
War 2 may have missed the top spot in advance bookings, but it’s still a heavyweight contender at the box office. The real test now lies in how it sustains over its opening weekend and beyond. But with such reviews, the film will see a major drop after Independence Day weekend, and the chances are the shows of Mahavataar Narsimha and Saiyaara will be increased.
For now, the 2025 advance booking throne remains untouched — and Chhaava is still the king.
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