The team of Border 2 came together for a celebratory press meet following the film’s massive box office success, with Varun Dhawan, Sunny Deol, Ahan Shetty, and producer Bhushan Kumar among those in attendance. While the event marked a triumphant moment for the cast and crew, Varun used the platform to reflect on the intense backlash he faced before the film’s release—and the unexpected support he received from Salman Khan during that challenging phase.
Before Border 2 hit theatres, Varun Dhawan’s casting in the high-stakes war drama drew criticism from certain quarters, with skeptics questioning his suitability for the genre. Addressing the phase candidly, Varun shared, “I also want to say that when all of this was going on… when things aren’t going good for you, people who support you then, they are very important. So I got a call from Salman Bhai at night, and he was just laughing and he said, ‘Good things are about to come.’ That’s all he told me. His advice and belief meant a lot to me.”
The actor further revealed that Salman Khan reached out again after the film’s phenomenal performance at the box office. “When Border 2 released and it did so well, again Salman Bhai called me in the middle of the night, around 2 am, and he said, ‘I am so happy for you all.’ And something he said which sort of stayed with me—it is very close to my heart, something I will cherish always—he said, ‘I am proud of you, beta.’ That was a very defining moment for me, because he doesn’t praise people easily. His praises are hard earned and well meaning.” Varun added that Salman’s words gave him immense confidence during a pivotal phase of his career.
Released theatrically on January 23, 2026, coinciding with the Republic Day weekend, Border 2 opened to positive critical reception and thunderous audience response. The film has gone on to collect an impressive ₹464.22 crore, making it the highest-grossing Indian film of 2026 so far, as well as the top-grossing Hindi film of the year. Its strong patriotic theme and ensemble performances struck a chord with audiences nationwide.
Headlined by Sunny Deol, Border 2 features a powerful ensemble cast including Varun Dhawan, Diljit Dosanjh, and Ahan Shetty, with Mona Singh, Sonam Bajwa, Anya Singh, and Medha Rana playing pivotal roles. The film’s commercial triumph not only reinforces Sunny Deol’s mass appeal in the war drama genre but also marks a significant milestone for Varun Dhawan, who has successfully silenced critics with one of the biggest hits of his career—backed by encouragement from one of Bollywood’s biggest superstars.