The Indian box office is currently witnessing tough competition between some of the biggest releases from Bollywood and South Indian cinema. Three major films — Hrithik Roshan and Jr NTR’s War 2, Rajinikanth’s Coolie, and Ashwin Kumar’s animated film Mahavatar Narsimha — are battling for audience attention across theatres.
While War 2 and Coolie both experienced significant drops in earnings on their sixth day, Mahavatar Narsimha, which has already completed 25 days in cinemas, continued to remain strong and attracted audiences steadily. The animated drama has proven to be a surprise hit, holding firm against big-budget action thrillers.
Directed by Ayan Mukerji, War 2 stars Hrithik Roshan, Kiara Advani, and Jr NTR. The film had a massive opening and performed strongly during its first weekend. However, by Day 6 (Tuesday), it recorded a steep decline in collections. According to industry reports, the film witnessed a 73.20% drop in its earnings compared to earlier days.
On Tuesday, War 2 managed to earn ₹8.25 crore across India. This brought its total domestic box office collection to ₹192.5 crore within six days of release. Despite the fall, the film’s overall numbers remain impressive, considering its strong start.
War 2 is the sequel to the 2019 blockbuster War, which starred Hrithik Roshan alongside Tiger Shroff and Vaani Kapoor. The original was a huge success, setting high expectations for its sequel. While War 2 has been praised for its action sequences and star power, critics have pointed out that the storyline is weaker compared to the first part.
Even so, the movie continues to draw audiences because of the performances by Hrithik Roshan and Jr NTR, making it one of the most talked-about films of the season.
Rajinikanth’s latest film Coolie, directed by Lokesh Kanagaraj, was released on August 14, 2025, the same day as War 2. The film had an explosive start at the box office and quickly became one of the highest-grossing Tamil films during its opening weekend.
However, similar to War 2, Coolie also saw a drop in earnings on Day 6 (Tuesday). The movie collected ₹12 crore on Monday, but the figure slipped to ₹9.50 crore on Tuesday, marking a 65.96% decline. Still, Coolie’s overall performance is strong, with a total collection of ₹216 crore across India so far.
Interestingly, Coolie has set a new record by becoming the biggest opening weekend grosser in Tamil cinema. It has overtaken Rajinikanth’s own film 2.0 (2018), which previously held the top spot.
The film has received praise for Rajinikanth’s powerful screen presence and Lokesh Kanagaraj’s direction, though some critics noted that the story feels familiar. Fans of Rajinikanth, however, continue to flock to theatres, helping the film maintain momentum despite competition.
While the big-budget films have been grabbing headlines, the animated mythological drama Mahavatar Narsimha has quietly emerged as one of the most successful films of 2025. Released on July 25, 2025, the film has already completed 25 days in theatres and continues to earn steadily.
On Day 26 (fourth Tuesday), Mahavatar Narsimha collected ₹2.75 crore, bringing its total domestic earnings to ₹215.60 crore. This is remarkable for an animated film, especially since it has held strong even after the release of War 2 and Coolie.
Directed by Ashwin Kumar, the film is based on the mythological story of Prahlad, the son of the demon king Hiranyakashyap, who was a devoted follower of Lord Vishnu. The movie highlights the legendary tale of Lord Vishnu’s incarnation as Narsimha, who appears to protect Prahlad and defeat Hiranyakashyap.
Audiences have praised the film for its storytelling, visual effects, and ability to connect deeply with Indian mythology. Its success shows that animated films in India can perform strongly at the box office if they offer engaging content.
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As of now, Rajinikanth’s Coolie leads the pack with ₹216 crore, followed closely by Mahavatar Narsimha at ₹215.60 crore, and War 2 at ₹192.5 crore. While the newly released action films saw sharp drops in collections, Mahavatar Narsimha continued to remain firm even after almost a month of release.
The coming weeks will be crucial to see whether War 2 and Coolie can recover their momentum or if Mahavatar Narsimha continues to hold its ground against the giants. One thing is clear — 2025 has proven to be a year full of surprises at the Indian box office.
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