Battle of the Sequels Border 2 vs. Mardaani 3 Who’s Winning the Box Office War?:

The Indian box office is currently witnessing a massive showdown between two power-packed sequels: Sunny Deol’s war epic Border 2 and Rani Mukerji’s gritty cop drama Mardaani 3. While both films are sequels to highly successful franchises, their journeys at the ticket windows have taken very different paths.

Border 2 has proven to be an unstoppable juggernaut. Riding high on nostalgia and patriotic fervor, the film has shattered records, storming into the ₹300 Crore Club in just 10 days. The Sunny Deol and Varun Dhawan starrer has benefited immensely from its Republic Day release, maintaining a solid grip on mass circuits even in its second week. As of early February 2026, the film's India net collection has comfortably crossed ₹308 crore, making it one of the biggest hits of the year.

On the other hand, Mardaani 3, which released on January 30, is fighting a tough battle. Despite getting positive reviews and a "thumbs up" from industry giants like Shah Rukh Khan and Akshay Kumar, the film faced the brunt of the Border 2 storm. Rani Mukerji's Shivani Shivaji Roy opened with a modest ₹4 crore, eventually wrapping up its first weekend with a total of ₹17.25 crore. While the film showed a healthy 50% growth on Saturday and Sunday, it remains a "multiplex favorite" and hasn't yet found the same footing in smaller towns.

The real test for Mardaani 3 lies in its weekday performance. While Border 2 continues to dominate the screens, Mardaani 3 needs to maintain a steady hold to recover its budget. One thing is certain—audiences are showing up for quality content, but the sheer scale of Border 2 has made it the undisputed king of the box office for now.