Bollywood Is Back on the Big Screen, Says Karan Johar After ‘Dhurandhar’ and ‘Border 2’ Triumph

New Delhi, Jan 26: Filmmaker Karan Johar has hailed the recent box office success of Hindi films Dhurandhar and Border 2 as a strong sign of Bollywood’s resurgence, asserting that Hindi cinema has firmly reclaimed its place on the big screen.

Taking to Instagram, Johar celebrated the back-to-back successes, writing that the performance of the two films proves “Bollywood is back,” adding that films succeed when they strike an emotional chord with audiences. He dismissed critics of Hindi cinema, stating that quality storytelling and audience connection remain the true drivers of success.

Johar’s remarks come in the wake of the impressive theatrical run of Border 2, which has registered one of the biggest openings in recent times. According to trade analyst Taran Adarsh, the war drama collected ₹32.10 crore net in India on its opening day. The film performed strongly in mass belts and single-screen theatres, while urban centres saw rising footfalls as the day progressed.

Despite heavy rainfall affecting collections in parts of North India, trade experts expect positive word of mouth and the Republic Day holiday to further boost the film’s box office numbers. Directed by Anurag Singh, Border 2 released on January 23 and features a star-studded cast including Sunny Deol, Varun Dhawan, Diljit Dosanjh, and Ahan Shetty.

Meanwhile, Ranveer Singh and Akshaye Khanna-starrer Dhurandhar has completed 50 days in theatres, cementing its status as a major commercial success. Directed by Aditya Dhar, the film has reportedly surpassed Pushpa 2: The Rule to become the highest-grossing Hindi film of all time, despite facing competition from new releases.

Buoyed by its success, Dhurandhar is being developed as a two-part franchise, with the sequel slated for release on March 19, 2026.

Together, the strong performances of Dhurandhar and Border 2 have reignited confidence in the theatrical potential of Hindi cinema, reinforcing industry belief in content-driven, big-screen experiences.