The Hindi film box office is seeing two very different trends this month. War drama Border 2 continues its strong run and has crossed major milestones worldwide. At the same time, Rani Mukerji’s Mardaani 3 is showing steady growth and is moving toward the ₹50 crore mark, despite tough competition.
The performance of both films is important because it reflects the current box office mood. One is a large-scale patriotic spectacle with mass appeal, while the other is a content-driven thriller aimed at urban audiences.
Border 2 Crosses Major Global Milestone
Border 2, starring Sunny Deol and Varun Dhawan, has emerged as one of the biggest hits of the year so far.
The film has crossed ₹300 crore at the Indian box office and has gone past ₹400 crore worldwide during its theatrical run. Trade estimates suggest the movie has now moved closer to the ₹450–₹460 crore global range in its third week.
The film, which released on January 23, 2026, opened strongly with over ₹30 crore on day one and continued to build momentum over its first week. It crossed the ₹300 crore domestic mark within three weeks, cementing its status as a major commercial success.
Domestic Performance Shows Strong Hold
Even in its third week, Border 2 continues to collect steady numbers on weekdays.
Recent estimates show the film earning around ₹2–₹3 crore per day in its third week, pushing its India total close to ₹300 crore net.
The film also recorded strong collections during its second weekend, which helped it maintain its momentum despite weekday drops.
The patriotic theme, large-scale action, and star power have helped the film attract mass audiences across single screens and multiplexes.
Border 2 Nears the Next Big Benchmark
With its current pace, Border 2 is expected to push toward the ₹500 crore worldwide club if it holds well over the coming days.
However, trade analysts note that the film is now in the later stage of its theatrical run. Collections are expected to slow as new releases arrive.
Still, the film has already secured its position as one of the biggest box office successes of 2026.
Mardaani 3 Crosses ₹50 Crore Worldwide
In contrast, Mardaani 3, starring Rani Mukerji, is seeing a slower but steady run.
The film has crossed ₹50 crore worldwide within its first two weeks in theatres. Recent reports suggest the global total has moved closer to ₹55–₹57 crore after nearly two weeks.
The domestic collection is estimated at around ₹35–₹40 crore net so far.
The film opened with about ₹4 crore on day one and showed growth over its first weekend.
Steady Run Despite Tough Competition
Mardaani 3 released in the shadow of Border 2, which dominated screens and audience attention.
Despite this, the crime thriller has managed to find its own audience, especially in urban centres and multiplexes.
The film has benefited from positive word of mouth and a loyal fan base built by the earlier films in the franchise.
While the numbers are lower than the previous instalments, the film continues to add steady collections each day.
Week-Wise Performance of Mardaani 3
The film collected about ₹26 crore net in its first week in India.
In the second weekend, it saw a jump in collections, adding around ₹3–₹4 crore on weekend days.
By the end of the second week, the film had reached ₹50 crore globally, showing stable growth despite competition.
Box Office Comparison: Border 2 vs Mardaani 3
The two films are performing at very different scales.
Border 2 is a large-budget war film with strong mass appeal. It opened big, crossed the ₹300 crore domestic mark, and is heading toward ₹450 crore worldwide.
Mardaani 3, on the other hand, is a mid-budget crime thriller. It opened modestly but has shown stable collections, crossing ₹50 crore worldwide in its early weeks.
Trade experts say the two films target different audiences, which has helped them coexist at the box office.
Impact of New Releases on Collections
Recent smaller releases have not performed strongly at the box office. This has allowed both Border 2 and Mardaani 3 to continue their runs.
Industry reports suggest the weak performance of new films has indirectly benefited the two existing titles. This has helped maintain occupancy levels for both films, especially during weekends.
Audience Response and Trends
Border 2 has seen strong footfall in single-screen theatres and tier-2 and tier-3 cities, where patriotic themes and action spectacles perform well.
Mardaani 3 has found better traction in multiplexes and urban markets, where content-driven films attract steady audiences.
The contrast highlights the current box office trend: large-scale commercial films bring massive openings, while content-focused films depend on word of mouth for longer runs.
What to Expect in the Coming Weeks
For Border 2, the main challenge will be sustaining collections as it enters its fourth week. The film may see gradual drops but still has a chance to touch the ₹500 crore worldwide milestone if it holds well.
For Mardaani 3, the focus will be on crossing the ₹50 crore domestic mark and improving its global total through steady weekday collections.
The Valentine’s week period could also bring some boost to overall footfall, especially in multiplexes.
Why This Box Office Clash Matters
The performance of these two films offers a clear snapshot of the Hindi film market in early 2026.
It shows that big-budget spectacles still dominate the box office, while content-driven films can survive with steady growth. It also highlights how screen count and release timing play a major role, and how audience segments are clearly divided by genre and scale.
The contrast between the two films shows how different strategies can work in today’s theatrical market.
The Bottom Line
Border 2 has crossed major milestones, moving past ₹300 crore in India and over ₹400 crore worldwide, with the ₹500 crore mark in sight.
Meanwhile, Mardaani 3 has shown a steady run, crossing ₹50 crore globally and continuing to build its numbers despite strong competition.
The coming weeks will decide whether Border 2 can enter the ₹500 crore club and whether Mardaani 3 can convert its steady performance into a stronger final total.
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Last Updated on: Wednesday, February 11, 2026 1:30 pm by Digital Herald Team | Published by: Digital Herald Team on Wednesday, February 11, 2026 1:30 pm | News Categories: Entertainment