Veteran actor Hrithik Roshan showcased his self-awareness and wit during a recent event in Dubai, where he openly acknowledged the disappointing box office verdict for his latest film, War 2.
The highly-anticipated sequel, which reunited Hrithik as Kabir with new co-stars Jr NTR and Kiara Advani, was released in August 2025. Despite being the third highest-grossing Hindi film of 2025 (globally grossing approximately ₹365 – 371 crore), it was ultimately deemed a flop by trade analysts due to its colossal production and distribution costs.
🎙️ The Candid Response
During the Dubai event, a host welcomed Hrithik on stage, announcing, “Oh what a moment this is guys. Big round of applause for the superstar himself over here.”
Hrithik’s immediate and unexpected reply was a rare display of humility and frankness:
“That’s really kind of you. My film just bombed at the box office. So it feels really good to get all the love. Thank you.”
Fans on social media widely applauded the actor for his honesty and secure demeanor in admitting the film’s financial failure.
📉 The Financial Reality of War 2
The sequel’s ‘flop’ status is a classic example of a high-grossing film failing to achieve commercial success due to an exorbitant budget:
- Estimated Budget: Trade sources reported the film’s landing cost (including production, prints, and advertising) was approximately ₹400 crore.
- Verdict: For a film of this scale, the break-even point was estimated to be around ₹650–700 crore worldwide.
- Final Collection: War 2 finished its run with an estimated worldwide gross of ₹365–371 crore, recovering only about 75% of its estimated cost, leading to a financial deficit for the producers.
For context, the predecessor, War (2019), directed by Siddharth Anand, was a monumental success with a budget of ₹170 crore and a worldwide gross of over ₹475 crore, making it Hrithik’s highest-grossing film to date.
🕺 A Nostalgic Surprise
During the event, Hrithik, looking dapper in a black tuxedo, gave the audience a memorable surprise by dancing to the iconic hook step of ‘Ek Pal Ka Jeena’ from his 2000 debut film, Kaho Naa… Pyaar Hai, sending the crowd into a frenzy.