Even as the box office buzz around Dhurandhar has yet to fade, Sunny Deol’s upcoming war drama Border 2 has already sparked controversy beyond Indian shores. While its commercial performance will be judged after release, the film has landed in the middle of an international debate even before hitting theatres, with reports suggesting a ban in several Gulf nations.
According to industry sources, Border 2, scheduled for release on January 23, will not be screened in key Gulf countries. The decision has reportedly been taken due to the film’s perceived portrayal of Pakistan and its military, a factor that has earlier led to restrictions on similar Bollywood releases in the region.
As per a report by Bollywood Hungama, Border 2 has been denied release clearance in Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates (UAE). The report states that films considered to contain “anti-Pakistan” narratives often face resistance in these markets, and Border 2 appears to have fallen into the same category. Despite efforts by the film’s makers to secure approval, permission was not granted, making a release in these territories unlikely.
This is not the first time such a situation has arisen. Earlier, Dhurandhar was also banned across six Gulf countries following objections to its depiction of Pakistan-related issues. The move had significantly impacted the film’s overseas theatrical footprint, though it performed strongly in domestic markets.
Sources indicate that the makers of Border 2 were prepared for this outcome, given the film’s patriotic and military-focused theme. However, they still pursued clearance in Gulf territories until the final decision was communicated.
Sunny Deol has previously faced similar restrictions. His 2023 blockbuster Gadar 2 was banned in Pakistan, while Hrithik Roshan and Deepika Padukone’s Fighter also failed to secure release approval in several Gulf nations. More recently, films like Akshay Kumar’s Sky Force and John Abraham’s The Diplomat have reportedly faced bans in the same region.
Despite the overseas setback, trade analysts believe the Gulf ban is unlikely to dent Border 2’s domestic box office prospects, where patriotic war films traditionally find strong audience support.
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