KKN Gurugram Desk | Akshay Kumar, known for his powerful performances in patriotic and socially relevant films, is all set to return to the big screen with his latest courtroom drama, Kesari Chapter 2. Directed by Karan Singh Tyagi, the film is scheduled for theatrical release on April 18, 2025.

The film also stars R. Madhavan as the antagonist and Ananya Panday in a pivotal role. Set during the British colonial rule, the story draws inspiration from events surrounding the Jallianwala Bagh massacre and the fight for justice led by C. Sankaran Nair, portrayed by Akshay Kumar.

While the premise has generated curiosity, the film’s advance booking numbers suggest a slow start at the box office, especially when compared to Akshay’s previous outings like Sky Force.

 Kesari Chapter 2 Advance Booking Collection: Day 1 Numbers

According to early data from Sacnilk, as of 8 AM on April 16, the advance booking performance is underwhelming:

• Total Tickets Sold: 2,582

• Number of Shows Booked: 1,650

• Gross Collection: ₹7.75 lakh (as per initial sales)

• Blocked Seats Revenue: Approx. ₹88.48 lakh

These numbers are significantly lower than expected, especially considering Akshay Kumar’s box office reputation.

Regional Performance: States Driving the Numbers

Despite the slow national traction, some states are showing relatively better responses, such as:

• Maharashtra

• Delhi NCR

• Punjab

• Rajasthan

• Karnataka

• Uttar Pradesh

These regions are known to respond well to patriotic and historical dramas, which may help drive the film’s eventual performance.

 Comparison With Sky Force: A Disappointing Contrast

Akshay Kumar’s last film, Sky Force, was released in January 2025. Despite a mixed critical reception, its advance booking collection stood at a solid ₹3.78 crore.

In contrast, Kesari Chapter 2’s ₹7.75 lakh advance gross is far behind, raising concerns about its opening day performance.Key Stats Comparison:

This dramatic dip may reflect low marketing impact, content fatigue, or lack of buzz among audiences.

 About the Film: Story, Cast & Production

Kesari Chapter 2 is not a direct sequel to 2019’s Kesari but rather an independent historical courtroom drama focusing on India‘s legal resistance during colonial rule.

 Storyline:

The plot revolves around C. Sankaran Nair, a real-life Indian freedom fighter and lawyer, who challenged the British government after the Jallianwala Bagh massacre of 1919.

 Star Cast:

• Akshay Kumar as C. Sankaran Nair

• R. Madhavan as the British adversary

• Ananya Panday in a supporting role with a twist

 Production:

• Produced by: Dharma Productions, Cape of Good Films, and Leo Media Collective

• Director: Karan Singh Tyagi

• Genre: Historical, Courtroom Drama

Why Is the Buzz Low?

Despite the historical importance of the subject and a star-studded cast, Kesari Chapter 2 seems to be struggling to capture audience interest. Possible reasons:

1. Lack of aggressive promotions

2. Limited visibility on digital platforms

3. Audience fatigue from period dramas

4. Recent underperformance of Akshay’s other films

5. R. Madhavan’s role not marketed strongly

Public Expectations & Social Media Trends

Social media reactions to the trailer have been mixed:

• Some users praised the cinematography and courtroom scenes.

• Others criticized the pacing and felt the trailer didn’t do justice to the historical depth of the subject.

• The on-screen pairing of Akshay and Ananya Panday received lukewarm responses.

Hashtags like #KesariChapter2, #AkshayKumar, and #CourtroomDrama are trending, but not at the scale usually expected for a big-budget Akshay Kumar release.

 Box Office Predictions: Opening Weekend Outlook

Given the current advance booking trend and low buzz:

• Day 1 Prediction: ₹3 to ₹4 crore (net)

• Weekend Projection: ₹12 to ₹15 crore (depending on word-of-mouth)

• Lifetime Estimate: ₹30–40 crore unless strong reviews create momentum

The film’s fate may heavily depend on critical reception and positive audience word-of-mouth after release.

 Competing Releases: Is There a Clash?

As of now, Kesari Chapter 2 has no major Bollywood competition on its release date. However, it may face challenges from:

• Regional films in states like Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh

• Ongoing strong performers like Hollywood releases or streaming content that’s drawing urban youth away from theatres

 Can Akshay Kumar Bounce Back?

Akshay Kumar has had a mixed run at the box office in recent years, with some hits like Sooryavanshi and Mission Mangal, and several underperformers like Raksha Bandhan, Bachchan Pandey, and Sky Force.

Kesari Chapter 2 presents an opportunity for him to return to form, but its success hinges on engagement, emotion, and execution.

Kesari Chapter 2, despite its compelling theme and historical backdrop, has started slow at the box office with disappointing advance booking figures. However, history shows that strong content can still turn things around, especially in post-pandemic cinema where audience word-of-mouth has become a dominant force.