After a long wait, Sunny Deol’s Border 2 is finally set to hit theatres on January 23, 2026. However, fans in several Gulf countries may miss out on watching the war drama on the big screen.
According to a report by Bollywood Hungama, director Anurag Singh’s action film will not be released in Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, or the UAE.
Border 2 faces Gulf ban ahead of release
The news has disappointed Bollywood fans across the region. An industry insider told Bollywood Hungama that despite efforts from the makers, the film failed to secure clearance in these countries.
“By now, it’s understood that films perceived as having ‘anti-Pakistan’ content usually don’t get a release in this belt,” the source said. “The team did try, but unfortunately, their attempts didn’t work out.”
While Border 2 is scheduled for a worldwide release on January 23, the chances of it opening in these Gulf markets remain slim.
The situation mirrors what happened earlier with Ranveer Singh’s blockbuster Dhurandhar, which also did not receive theatrical clearance in the UAE and other GCC countries. Still, the Border 2 team appears unfazed.
“They know that if the film connects with audiences, there’s no ceiling to how big it can go at the box office,” the insider added, pointing out that Dhurandhar went on to become a massive success despite missing out on the Gulf market.
Strong advance bookings signal solid opening
Meanwhile, Border 2 is seeing encouraging momentum ahead of release. Advance bookings have been open for three days, with tickets selling briskly. As of January 22 afternoon, around 60,000 tickets had been sold across major national chains, including PVR INOX and Cinepolis.
Led by Sunny Deol, the action-drama also stars Varun Dhawan, Ahan Shetty, and Diljit Dosanjh, among others. With strong advance sales and high expectations, the makers are betting on a powerful response from audiences back home and overseas — even without the Gulf markets.