Akshay Kumar's latest historical drama, Kesari Chapter 2: The Untold Story of Jallianwala Bagh, opened in theatres on April 18, 2025, to positive reviews and strong word of mouth. However, despite the buzz and high expectations surrounding the sequel, the film registered a relatively modest opening at the box office.
According to early estimates from Sacnilk.com, the film earned approximately Rs 7.50 crore on its first day—a figure significantly below the projected Rs 15 crore mark. The anticipated opening was based on multiple favorable factors, including the sequel advantage and the extended Easter holiday weekend. A stronger debut would have placed the film in the same range as Akshay Kumar's earlier 2025 release Sky Force, which opened in January with higher numbers. Instead, the film’s initial performance aligns more closely with Sunny Deol’s Jaat, which reportedly garnered Rs 7.4 crore on its opening day. Should Kesari Chapter 2 follow a similar trajectory, trade analysts predict a first-week collection in the Rs 50–60 crore range. However, the ongoing holiday weekend could still boost its numbers in the coming days and help the film cross the Rs 100 crore mark.
Directed by Karan Singh Tyagi, Kesari Chapter 2 revisits a harrowing chapter in Indian history, focusing on the aftermath of the Jallianwala Bagh massacre. Akshay Kumar stars as C. Sankaran Nair, a fearless lawyer who challenges the British Empire in court. Opposite him, R. Madhavan plays Neville McKinley, a British lawyer defending the Crown, while Ananya Panday appears in a key supporting role. The film’s release coincides with the 106th anniversary of the Jallianwala Bagh massacre, adding a layer of historical resonance.
Speaking at the Delhi premiere, attended by dignitaries including Chief Minister Rekha Gupta and Union Minister Hardeep Singh Puri, Kumar reflected on the importance of the film’s message. "I only knew what the history books taught me about Jallianwala Bagh," he said. Ahead of the release, the actor shared a heartfelt message on social media, writing, "In the film Kesari Chapter 2, I am not acting merely as an artist, but as an Indian. This is not just a film… this is an unfinished account, this is a painful memory… and finally — this is justice."
The Bollywood fraternity has also showered praise on the entire team of Kesari 2. Vicky Kaushal is one of them. After watching the film at a special screening in Mumbai, Vicky took to Instagram to say, "An untold story told with so much grit, sincerity, and sensitivity! This is one hell of a directorial debut @karanstyagi. Kudos to @karanjohar, @bindraamritpal, @anandntiwari, @apoorva1972, @adarpoonawalla for bringing this important chapter from our history to celluloid.@akshaykumar @actormaddy @ananyapanday @amitsial Absolute class. Absolute magic! DON'T MISS." Filmmaker Raj Mehta called Kesari Chapter 2 a fabulous film and wrote, "The kind that induces gooseflesh on various occasions and leaves you in awe of one man's stand against an empire! And who better to portray the man than @akshaykumar sir himself! What a roaring, yet subdued performance! Brilliantly supported by the amazing @actormaddy and a brilliant @ananyapanday!!"
With critical acclaim on its side and a strong nationalistic theme, Kesari Chapter 2 still holds promise for the coming days. The film's true test, however, will be how it performs over the weekend and whether it can capitalize on the holiday momentum.
As the film opened to rave reviews, it saw a decent start at the box office. According to a report published in Sacnilk, Kesari Chapter 2 made an opening day collection of Rs 7.5 crores (day 1/ first Friday). While Kesari Chapter 2 has been witnessing a continuous comparison with Akshay Kumar's Sky Force, the Karan Singh Tyagi directorial failed to beat the latter by a huge gap. For the uninitiated, Sky Force made an opening day collection of Rs 12.25 crores. In fact, Kesari Chapter 2 has failed to beat Jaat as well, which had minted Rs 9.5 crores on the day of release. To note, Kesari Chapter 2 has recorded the 5th highest opener of 2025 after Chhaava, Sikandar, Sky Force, and Jaat respectively.
Interestingly, Akshay Kumar recalled shooting for Kesari Chapter 2 and stated, "Mostly actors use glycerin for their eyes to cry during film shoots. But during the (emotional) scene and there is also a song...It is one of the most emotional songs I have ever heard. The entire set was crying when we were picturing the whole scene." This emotional depth may resonate with audiences, potentially driving further interest in the film.
As the weekend progresses, the film's patriotic appeal could attract more audiences to theatres, especially in the northern market. Kesari Chapter 2 tells the story of Sir C. Sankaran Nair, who sued General Reginald Dyer and the Crown for killing thousands of people, including women and children, at an enclosed Jallianwala Bagh on April 13, 1919. He ordered an open fire on a gathering of innocent people celebrating Baisakhi and peacefully protesting against the Rowlatt Act, which allowed the police to arrest anyone without a specified reason. Nair, along with his co-counsel on the case, Dilreet Gill, exposed the British Empire in the media and also wrote a book later about his case that shook the nation.
India Today's review gave Kesari Chapter 2 a 3.5 rating, mentioning that even with all its over-the-top dialogues and technical issues, the film managed to stir the emotions in the audiences. A part of the review reads, "There's enough drama and winning monologues that never make you forget that you are watching a full-fledged commercial Bollywood film. But, you don't mind any of that. The intention is pure - the film first stirs your emotions and then ignites a fire that refuses to die down."
Overall, while Kesari Chapter 2 faces challenges in its box office performance, the film's strong narrative and the emotional resonance of its themes may yet lead to a successful run in cinemas.
