War 2 controversy: Why Hrithik Roshan and Jr NTR’s film is releasing on 14 August, and it is not what you think

Soon after the teaser of War 2 dropped earlier this week, the internet has been buzzing with claims that the makers are releasing the film on Pakistan’s Independence Day i.e. 14th August. But the truth is far less dramatic. Like many big-budget films, War 2 is simply targeting the long Indian Independence Day weekend, a strategic move that Bollywood has followed for years, and definitely not a political statement.

What is War 2’s release date controversy?

When the teaser for War 2 dropped, the internet should have been talking about Hrithik Roshan’s high-octane return, Jr NTR’s powerful presence, or Kiara Advani’s blink-and-you-miss-it cameo. But instead, one small detail ended up stealing the spotlight, the release date: 14 August.

Cue the confusion. Social media quickly latched on to the idea that the film was choosing to release on Pakistan’s Independence Day, leading to speculation, memes, and even outrage about whether Bollywood was “celebrating the wrong country’s freedom.”

However, it’s certainly not what many are assuming. An industry source said, “All big films are strategically released around major festivals and national holidays. It is not about the exact date, it is about the long weekend window and the potential for a longer box office footfalls. Whether it is Independence Day, Republic Day, Eid, Diwali or Christmas, the release date is usually aligned with the surrounding weekend.”

War 2 release date

In short: War 2 is releasing on 14 August because it is the Wednesday before India’s Independence Day, 15 August, which gives it a five-day opening window. This is a tried-and-tested formula in the Hindi film industry, where Friday releases are often pre-poned to Wednesdays or Thursdays to maximise holiday footfall.

In fact, examples are everywhere. Films like Rustom, Ek Tha Tiger, and Gadar 2 have all released on or just before Independence Day, not necessarily on the 15th.

Even Christmas releases like Dangal and Dhoom 3 came out on dates like 21st or 23rd December, not the 25th, but were still branded as "Christmas releases."

However, whether this strategy helps the War 2’s box office reception or not, only time will tell. Produced by Aditya Chopra and directed by Ayan Mukerji, War 2 is set to release across Hindi, Tamil, and Telugu.