Akshay Kumar and R Madhavan headline this patriotic legal drama releasing on April 18
Akshay Kumar and R Madhavan’s much-anticipated historical courtroom drama, Kesari Chapter 2, is set to hit cinemas this Friday, April 18. Directed by Karan Singh Tyagi, the film explores the legal aftermath of the Jallianwala Bagh massacre of 1919, focusing on lawyer C Sankaran Nair’s battle against the British Raj. With an ensemble cast that includes Ananya Panday, Regina Cassandra, Simon Paisley Day, Alexx O’Nell, Amit Sial, and Masaba Gupta, the film carries both star power and a strong patriotic undertone.
Despite high expectations, the film’s advance booking response has been relatively slow. As of Wednesday evening, Kesari Chapter 2 had managed just under ₹1 crore gross in pre-sales for its opening day. When blocked seats for spot bookings are included, the figure rises to ₹1.88 crore. With limited hours left before release, trade experts say the numbers may rise but are unlikely to indicate a major opening.
According to box office predictions, Kesari Chapter 2 could open between ₹5 crore and ₹8 crore on its first day. Optimistic estimates suggest a day 1 domestic net collection of around ₹8.5-9 crore, while conservative expectations peg it closer to ₹5 crore.
The film is expected to perform lower than Akshay Kumar’s last release, Sky Force, which earned over ₹13 crore on its first day. It may also trail behind Sunny Deol’s Jaat, which opened at ₹9.5 crore last week. However, Kesari Chapter 2 might benefit from strong word of mouth due to its patriotic theme and content-driven narrative, distinguishing it from typical mass entertainers.
Another point in the film’s favour is its reportedly modest budget compared to Sky Force and Jaat, which may help its box office journey in the longer run.
As audiences gear up for this courtroom saga rooted in history, all eyes will be on how it performs over the weekend. Can Kesari Chapter 2 recreate the magic of its predecessor and leave a mark? The first day’s collections will set the tone.
Sources By Agencies
