Varun Dhawan’s intense soldier avatar has been unveiled as he prepares to portray Major Hoshiar Singh Dahiya, PVC, in the sequel to the 1997 war epic, set for a Republic Day weekend release.
November 5, 2025: The highly anticipated promotional blitz for the war drama Border 2 officially began today with the release of actor Varun Dhawan’s first look, confirming his role as a key figure in the upcoming film.
Shared by T-Series Films on social media, the poster shows Varun Dhawan in a soldier’s uniform, gun in hand, charging forward with a fierce and intense expression on a battlefield. The image was captioned: “Border uska farz hai aur Bharat uska pyaar (Border is his duty and India his love)! #Border2 releasing on 23rd January, 2026.”
Portraying a Param Vir Chakra Recipient
While the makers have kept official details under wraps, industry reports, now widely circulated, suggest that Varun Dhawan is set to portray the role of Major Hoshiar Singh Dahiya, PVC (Param Vir Chakra), a hero of the 1971 Indo-Pak War.
Major Dahiya was awarded India’s highest military honor for his exceptional bravery during the Battle of Basantar, where he rallied his company under heavy fire to repel multiple enemy counter-attacks. Sources indicate Varun’s preparation for the role involved meeting Indian officers and studying the life of the Param Vir Chakra awardee.
The film is the spiritual successor to J.P. Dutta’s 1997 blockbuster, Border, which chronicled the Battle of Longewala, a pivotal chapter of the 1971 war.
Fan Response and Ensemble Cast
The intense first look was met with immediate approval from fans, who praised the actor’s transformation:
- “₹1000 cr loading, super blockbuster. Can’t wait to watch this.”
- “Wow! What a poster! What an introduction.”
- “Fierce expression. He will do well in Border 2.”
Border 2 will see Sunny Deol return to his iconic role (Lieutenant Colonel, likely Major Kuldeep Singh Chandpuri, PVC) from the original. The ensemble cast includes other major actors portraying 1971 war heroes, with Diljit Dosanjh reportedly playing Flying Officer Nirmal Jit Singh Sekhon, PVC—the only recipient of the Param Vir Chakra from the Indian Air Force. Ahan Shetty is also part of the star-studded line-up.
Directed by Anurag Singh and produced by Bhushan Kumar, J.P. Dutta & Nidhi Dutta, the film is set to hit cinemas on the extended Republic Day weekend, January 23, 2026, aiming to replicate the patriotic success of its predecessor.