Akshay Kumar’s Kesari Chapter 2: The Untold Story of Jallianwala Bagh is struggling to maintain momentum at the box office. Now entering its fourth weekend, the historical courtroom drama has seen a noticeable dip in collections on Day 22, with early morning trends pointing to a 25–30% drop in business.
The film, which follows the powerful legal battle led by Justice C. Sankaran Nair against the British Empire, opened to moderate buzz but has faced increasing challenges over the past week. According to industry insiders, the slowdown is being attributed largely to ongoing national security concerns, which have impacted cinema attendance in several key regions. Theatres in select cities are facing blackouts or reduced footfalls as citizens remain preoccupied with real-world events.
Jointly backed by Dharma Productions, Leo Media Collective, and Cape of Good Films, Kesari 2 has so far collected approximately ₹81.55 crore at the domestic box office, with only ₹80 lakh added on Day 21. With tensions still looming and footfalls expected to remain low over the weekend, the film is unlikely to breach the ₹100 crore mark in its lifetime run.
Directed by Karan Singh Tyagi, the sequel stars Akshay Kumar as Justice Chettur Sankaran Nair, with R. Madhavan playing Advocate Neville McKinley and Ananya Panday as Dilreet Gill. The film is adapted from the book The Case That Shook The Empire and picks up thematically from the events surrounding the original Kesari film, though it pivots from battlefield to courtroom.
Despite being the second-best performer at the box office behind Raid 2, Kesari Chapter 2 hasn’t managed to create the same impact as its predecessor. While its subject matter—centered on colonial injustice and resistance—is compelling, the timing of its release seems to have worked against it.
As the country grapples with pressing real-life issues, it appears that even Akshay Kumar’s patriotic fervor might not be enough to bring audiences back into theatres—at least for now.