The patriotic wave led by Sunny Deol’s ‘Border 2’ is finally witnessing a slowdown. After a triumphant third weekend where the film showed a significant jump, it has succumbed to the typical ‘Monday dip.’ On its 18th day (February 9, 2026), the war drama faced a sharp decline in occupancy and earnings, making the journey toward the ₹315 crore milestone a challenging one.
Monday Occupancy Trends
The film’s performance on its third Monday reflected a clear struggle to maintain momentum. According to early reports, the overall occupancy across India stood at a modest 6.83%.
- Morning Shows: Recorded the lowest turnout with just 4.49% occupancy.
- Afternoon Shows: Saw a slight improvement, reaching 8.12%.
- Evening Shows: Maintained a steady pace at 7.89%.
These figures indicate that while the film still has a loyal audience, the “working day” factor has heavily impacted footfalls compared to the bumper Sunday.
Box Office Milestone: Beating ‘Padmaavat’
Despite the Monday slump, ‘Border 2’ has already secured its place in history. By the end of its 17th day, the film’s total collection stood at approximately ₹309.75 crore, successfully surpassing the lifetime domestic earnings of Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s ‘Padmaavat’ (₹303 crore).
It is now chasing the lifetime records of other blockbusters like ‘War’ (₹318 crore) and ‘Bajrangi Bhaijaan’ (₹320 crore).
Comparison: Day 18 vs Day 17
The contrast between the third weekend and the third Monday is stark. On Sunday (Day 17), the film earned around ₹7.25 crore, showing a 38% growth. However, on Monday (Day 18), early estimates suggest the collection has plummeted, with the film struggling to even touch the ₹1.5 – ₹2 crore mark for the day.
Detailed Collection Breakdown:
| Timeline | Box Office Collection (Net) |
| Week 1 Total | ₹224.25 Crore |
| Week 2 Total | ₹70.15 Crore |
| Day 17 (3rd Sunday) | ₹7.25 Crore |
| Day 18 (3rd Monday – Est.) | ~₹1.00 – ₹1.50 Crore |
| Total Collection (18 Days) | ₹310.50 Crore (Approx.) |
What’s Next for Border 2?
Directed by Anurag Singh and starring an ensemble cast including Varun Dhawan, Diljit Dosanjh, and Ahan Shetty, ‘Border 2’ has been the first major hit of 2026. While it has crossed the ₹300 crore mark, the current trend suggests it may find it difficult to reach the ₹350 crore club domestically.
The film now faces fresh competition from new releases like ‘Mardaani 3’ and ‘Vadh 2’, which are eating into its screen share. Whether the film can regain its footing during the upcoming Valentine’s Day weekend remains to be seen.