The anticipation for Akshay Kumar‘s Kesari Chapter 2 is steadily building as the film inches closer to its theatrical release on April 18th. The historical courtroom drama, also starring R Madhavan and Ananya Panday, has already witnessed encouraging advance booking figures, with over 3,000 tickets sold for its opening day across a limited number of shows. This early momentum suggests a positive start for the spiritual sequel to the 2019 hit Kesari, despite its shift in genre.
According to early reports, the advance booking for Kesari Chapter 2 commenced recently, and the initial response has been decent. As of 10:00 AM IST today, approximately 1,800 shows have been listed for bookings nationwide. Within this limited showcasing, the film has already grossed around ₹8.53 lakhs, excluding blocked seats, with an average ticket price hovering below ₹250. This figure reflects the sale of over 2,860 tickets for the Hindi 2D format across 1,936 shows. Including blocked seats, the gross collection stands at a more substantial ₹89.36 lakhs.
The National Capital Region (NCR) is currently leading in terms of pre-sales among the metropolitan cities, closely followed by Mumbai. On a state-wise basis, Delhi and Maharashtra are exhibiting the strongest advance booking numbers.
This early trend is particularly noteworthy considering the film’s genre. Unlike its predecessor Kesari, which was an action-packed war epic based on the Battle of Saragarhi, Kesari Chapter 2 delves into the intense and nuanced world of a courtroom drama, centered around the historical Jallianwala Bagh massacre. This shift to a more niche genre might typically result in a slower initial uptake in advance bookings compared to a large-scale action entertainer. However, the current figures indicate a genuine interest and curiosity surrounding this untold story.
The makers of Kesari Chapter 2 had previously organized early screenings in key cities like Mumbai, Delhi, Chandigarh, Bengaluru, and Kolkata. The overwhelming response to these screenings, with tickets selling out rapidly, hinted at the strong underlying buzz for the film. The commencement of full-fledged advance bookings has seemingly carried forward this positive sentiment.
Industry analysts believe that Kesari Chapter 2 benefits from being a spiritual sequel to a successful and well-regarded film. The patriotic undertones and the casting of Akshay Kumar in a serious and intense role are also likely contributing factors to the early interest. Furthermore, the film’s release coinciding with the Good Friday holiday on April 18th is expected to provide a significant boost to its opening day and weekend collections.
While the initial advance booking numbers are encouraging, it is still early days. The true picture of the film’s opening day performance will become clearer as more shows are added and the pace of bookings picks up in the coming days. Trade experts suggest that a final day one advance booking in the range of ₹4-₹5 crore would be a respectable figure for a film of this genre and would set a solid foundation for its box office run, especially relying on positive word-of-mouth.
Kesari Chapter 2 is directed by Karan Singh Tyagi and features Akshay Kumar in the lead role of C Sankaran. R Madhavan and Ananya Panday play pivotal roles in this historical legal drama that aims to unravel the truth behind one of the most tragic events in India’s struggle for independence. The film is produced by Dharma Productions, Cape of Good Films, and Leo Media Collective.
As the release date draws nearer, all eyes will be on how the advance bookings progress and how the audience reacts to this gripping courtroom narrative. The initial signs are positive, suggesting that Kesari Chapter 2 has the potential to resonate with audiences seeking a powerful and historically significant story brought to life by a talented cast.
