War 2 (2025): Release Date, Cast & Where to Watch

War 2 is the sixth film in the YRF Spy Universe. Hrithik Roshan returns as Kabir, and N. T. Rama Rao Jr. makes his Hindi debut as his adversary.

Release date and status

War 2 released on 14 August 2025. Release markets: India (theatrical), worldwide. Language: Hindi (dubbed in Telugu and Tamil).

Release strategy

War 2 opened on 14 August 2025, the Independence Day weekend, in standard, IMAX, D-Box, ICE, 4DX, EPIQ and Dolby Cinema formats, with Telugu and Tamil dubs. It clashed with Rajinikanth's Coolie. According to Wikipedia, it was the first Indian film to be graded for and shown in Dolby Cinema. Sithara Entertainments bought the Telugu-state rights for a reported ₹90 crore, and Think Studios took Tamil Nadu.

OTT release

The film began streaming on Netflix on 9 October 2025 and had its TV premiere on Star Gold on 26 January 2026.

Cast and crew

• Director: Ayan Mukerji
• Music: Pritam, Sanchit Balhara and Ankit Balhara
• Cast: Hrithik Roshan, N. T. Rama Rao Jr, Kiara Advani, Anil Kapoor, Ashutosh Rana

Production history

After War (2019), Siddharth Anand said he planned to turn it into a franchise. In April 2023, Yash Raj Films confirmed War 2 as the sixth film in the YRF Spy Universe, with Ayan Mukerji replacing Anand as director in his first film outside Dharma Productions. N. T. Rama Rao Jr. was cast in April 2023 for his Hindi debut, Kiara Advani in July 2023 and Anil Kapoor in July 2024, while Ashutosh Rana returned from War and Pathaan.

Filming began in October 2023 in Salamanca, Spain, with a car chase shot using stunt doubles while the leads were busy with Fighter and Devara: Part 1. A boat chase was filmed in Abu Dhabi in December 2023, along with sequences at the Yas Marina Circuit. A Shaolin-monastery set was built in Mumbai for a katana fight, and a 15-day schedule was shot in Italy, including Venice, in September 2024. Bobby Deol appears in a post-credits cameo that leads into the next universe film, Alpha.

Trailer and music

The teaser, released on 20 May 2025 (Rama Rao Jr.'s 42nd birthday), was widely criticised for its visual effects and action. It also drew backlash for promoting the release as "This Independence Day – 14 August", the date of Pakistan's Independence Day. The trailer followed on 25 July 2025. Pritam composed the songs with Sanchit and Ankit Balhara, who also composed the background score, with lyrics by Amitabh Bhattacharya. "Aavan Jaavan" was released on 31 July 2025, "Janaab-e-Aali" premiered in cinemas with the film, and the full album followed on 16 August 2025.

Certification and runtime

The runtime is 173 minutes.

Box office

The film grossed about ₹82 crore worldwide on its opening day, crossed ₹150 crore in two days and passed ₹200 crore in its first week. Final estimates on Wikipedia range from about ₹303 crore to ₹351 crore worldwide.

Critical reception

Reviews from critics and audiences were mixed to negative. Dhaval Roy of The Times of India (3/5) found it watchable only for the action and spectacle, and Kusumika Das of Times Now (3/5) praised the performances and action but felt the second half dragged. Vinamra Mathur of Firstpost (2.5/5) criticised its many pointless conversations and fights. Rishabh Suri of the Hindustan Times and Radhika Sharma of NDTV each gave it 2/5, with Suri criticising the screenplay and songs while praising the action.