The Indian box office is currently witnessing a clash between two major sequels. On one side, Sunny Deol’s patriotic powerhouse ‘Border 2’ continues its historic run, while on the other, Rani Mukerji’s gritty thriller ‘Mardaani 3’ is fighting to stay steady. However, as expected with a Working Monday (February 9), both films saw a significant dip in their collections.
Border 2: The 300-Crore Juggernaut
Sunny Deol has once again proven his dominance at the box office. Following the massive success of ‘Gadar 2’, ‘Border 2’ has become his second film to cross the prestigious ₹300 crore mark in the domestic market.
- Third Weekend Performance: The film showed great legs during its third weekend, earning ₹2.85 crore on Friday, ₹5.25 crore on Saturday, and ₹6.90 crore on Sunday.
- Monday Blues: On its 18th day (Monday), the film experienced a natural drop. Early estimates suggest it collected approximately ₹1.03 crore.
- Total Standing: The film’s net collection in India now stands at a massive ₹310.78 crore, solidifying its “Blockbuster” status.
Mardaani 3: Steady but Limited
While ‘Mardaani 3’ has received critical acclaim for Rani Mukerji’s powerhouse performance, it has faced stiff competition from the ‘Border 2’ wave. The film is currently finding its audience primarily in urban centers and multiplexes.
- Second Weekend Growth: The film saw a decent jump over its second weekend, collecting around ₹4.25 crore on Sunday.
- Monday Performance: On its 11th day, the film’s earnings dropped to double digits. Early trends indicate a collection of roughly ₹66 lakh for Monday.
- Total Standing: The total domestic collection for ‘Mardaani 3’ now reaches approximately ₹36.56 crore.
Box Office Comparison (Monday Estimates)
| Movie Name | Day | Monday Collection (Est.) | Total India Net Collection |
| Border 2 | Day 18 | ₹1.03 Crore | ₹310.78 Crore |
| Mardaani 3 | Day 11 | ₹0.66 Crore | ₹36.56 Crore |
The Verdict
The numbers clearly show that ‘Border 2’ remains the preferred choice for the masses, outearning ‘Mardaani 3’ even in its third week. While ‘Border 2’ is eyeing a lifetime finish near the ₹325 crore mark, ‘Mardaani 3’ will look to capitalize on the upcoming Valentine’s Day weekend to boost its final tally.
With new releases scheduled for the coming Friday, the window for both films to add significant numbers is slowly closing.