Mumbai, August 2: The Indian box office witnessed a high-profile clash on August 1, 2025, as two anticipated Bollywood sequels—Son of Sardaar 2 and Dhadak 2—hit theatres nationwide. While both films generated buzz ahead of release, early numbers reveal a clear frontrunner.
Ajay Devgn’s action-comedy Son of Sardaar 2, directed by Vijay Kumar Arora, opened with a robust ₹6.75 crore on Day 1, outperforming Dharma Productions’ romantic drama Dhadak 2, which earned ₹3.35 crore. Despite receiving positive reviews, Dhadak 2 struggled to match the momentum of its predecessor, which had debuted with ₹8.71 crore in 2018.
Occupancy data reflects the disparity in audience turnout:
- Son of Sardaar 2 recorded 22.56% Hindi occupancy, with night shows peaking at 40.27%.
- Dhadak 2 saw 22.85% Hindi occupancy, with its highest turnout during night shows at 32.07%.
Regional performance was strongest in Lucknow, Jaipur, and Delhi, with Lucknow leading for both films—39% for Son of Sardaar 2 and 35.75% for Dhadak 2.
Son of Sardaar 2 features Devgn reprising his role as Jassi, alongside Mrunal Thakur. The ensemble cast includes Ravi Kishan, Sanjay Mishra, Neeru Bajwa, and others. The film marks Arora’s Bollywood directorial debut and is Devgn’s tenth highest-grossing film to date.
Dhadak 2, directed by Shazia Iqbal, stars Siddhant Chaturvedi and Triptii Dimri in a socially charged love story inspired by the Tamil film Pariyerum Perumal. Set in Bhopal, the film explores caste dynamics through the lens of a cross-caste romance. Despite its emotional depth and critical acclaim, the film’s subdued opening suggests niche appeal rather than mass traction.
Industry analysts expect both films to benefit from weekend footfalls and word-of-mouth, with Son of Sardaar 2 currently leading the box office race.
