Akshay Kumar’s Kesari Chapter 2: The Untold Story of Jallianwala Wagh has completed its second week in cinemas and is starting to register signs of upward traction at the box office. The courtroom drama, which brings to life the courageous tale of Justice C Sankaran Nair, is recording a small hike in collections on Day 8, which points towards a good beginning to its second weekend.
Decent First Week, Slow but Steady Rise
Backed by Dharma Productions, Leo Media Collective, and Cape of Good Films, Kesari 2 earned ₹3.50 crore on its seventh day, bringing its total first-week collection to ₹45.35 crore net. While the film has had a lukewarm performance so far, early morning trends for Day 8 (Friday) show a slight increase in footfalls, hinting at stronger weekend numbers. The leap is timely, as the movie goes into a tough second week competing with strong holdover hit Jaat and new releases Ground Zero and Andaz Apna Apna.Star Power and a Powerful Narrative
The movie features Akshay Kumar as Justice Chettur Sankaran Nair, the fearless Indian jurist who legally combated the British Empire for the 1919 Jallianwala Bagh massacre. R Madhavan is Advocate Neville McKinley, and Ananya Panday returns to the stage after two years as the young, feisty Dilreet Gill. Regina Cassandra plays Sankaran Nair’s wife, Parvathy Nair, and adds emotional depth to the historic tale.
Kesari 2 is based on the award-winning novel The Case That Shook the Empire, and explores the lesser-known judicial fight that challenged the atrocities committed by the British Raj, primarily the Jallianwala Bagh atrocity.
What’s Next for the Lead Cast?
This is Akshay Kumar’s second release of the year 2025, after Sky Force. He’s going to return to comedy and drama with a busy schedule with Housefull 5, Jolly LLB 3, and Welcome To The Jungle. For Madhavan, Kesari 2 is his first Bollywood film after Shaitaan, while Ananya Panday’s performance is being awaited after a hiatus from theatrical releases.
Weekend Outlook
If the trend persists, Kesari 2 stands to gain from the weekend boom, with an even greater hike in collections on Saturday and Sunday. The good word-of-mouth and increased curiosity about India’s legal and colonial past can perhaps reverse the fortunes of this gripping, performance-based drama.
