Border 2 After Dhurandhar, Ikkis: India-Pakistan War Films Dominate Bollywood

Bollywood is once again leaning heavily into the India-Pakistan war narrative, with Border 2 emerging as the third major film centred on the conflict within a span of just a few weeks. Following the commercial success of Dhurandhar and the January release of Ikkis, the Sunny Deol-led sequel reinforces the industry’s renewed fascination with the 1971 India-Pakistan war.

Directed as a continuation of Border, the upcoming film revisits the same historical backdrop that made the original a cult classic. The first Border portrayed the iconic Battle of Longewala, with Sunny Deol as Major Kuldeep Singh Chandpuri, a role that remains etched in popular memory. Border 2 builds on that legacy, shifting focus to India’s military response to Pakistan’s Operation Changez Khan.

The timing of Border 2 is notable. Dhurandhar, which released earlier, approached the same era through covert intelligence operations. Featuring Ranveer Singh, the film explored espionage deep inside Pakistan, presenting a quieter but equally lethal form of warfare rooted in strategy and intelligence rather than battlefield bravado.

Soon after, Ikkis arrived with a more reflective take on the 1971 war. Headlined by Agastya Nanda and marking one of the final theatrical appearances of Dharmendra, the film chronicled the life of Param Vir Chakra awardee Arun Khetrapal. Unlike Dhurandhar’s high-stakes espionage, Ikkis focused on sacrifice, memory, and the emotional cost of war.

Together, these films illustrate how Bollywood is revisiting the same historical conflict through sharply different lenses. Dhurandhar highlights intelligence warfare and psychological dominance. Ikkis leans into honour, legacy, and human loss. Border 2, by contrast, returns to large-scale military confrontation, patriotic fervour, and frontline heroism.

The renewed interest comes after a mixed box-office response to earlier Indo-Pak conflict films such as Fighter and Sky Force, which failed to leave a lasting cultural impact. Dhurandhar’s strong performance, however, appears to have reignited audience appetite for war-centric narratives, especially those rooted in historical victories.

Border 2 also boasts a sizeable ensemble cast including Varun Dhawan, Diljit Dosanjh, Sonam Bajwa, Ahan Shetty, Mona Singh, and others, indicating a blend of star power aimed at both mass and multiplex audiences.

Set for theatrical release on January 23, 2026, Border 2 arrives amid ongoing debates around nationalism, cinematic representation of Pakistan, and the fine line between historical storytelling and political messaging. Whether the film reinforces the genre’s resurgence or pushes audiences toward fatigue remains to be seen, but its arrival firmly establishes one trend: the 1971 war has once again become Bollywood’s most revisited battlefield.