After dominating ticket counters through its first week, Border 2 has encountered fresh competition at the box office. The Sunny Deol, Varun Dhawan, Diljit Dosanjh and Ahan Shetty starrer is now sharing screens with Rani Mukerji’s action thriller Mardaani 3, which hit cinemas on Friday.
Early trends suggest a positive start for Mardaani 3. According to industry tracker Sacnilk, the film recorded a morning occupancy of 8.97 per cent on its opening day. Given its relatively limited screen count due to the ongoing run of Border 2 and Dhurandhar, the footfall is being viewed as encouraging. Trade analysts are now closely watching how the film performs during afternoon, evening and night shows.
In comparison, Border 2 registered a morning occupancy of 6.58 per cent on Day 8 of its theatrical run. The figure was largely in line with its Thursday performance, when morning shows saw an occupancy of 6.67 per cent. The film has wrapped up its first week on a strong note, and expectations are riding on sustained momentum through the weekend to set the tone for its second week.
A comparison of morning shows indicates that Mardaani 3 has outperformed Border 2 in early-day admissions on its opening day. However, trade circles note that the Rani Mukerji-led film is heavily dependent on word-of-mouth, and its true box office standing will become clearer by the end of the day.
Adding to the competition is Ranveer Singh’s spy action thriller Dhurandhar, which entered its ninth week in cinemas on Friday. Despite its long run, the film continues to draw audiences, making the current box office battle a three-way contest. With all three films offering strong content, the coming days are expected to be crucial in determining audience preference at the ticket windows.