Director Ayan Mukerji is putting the pedal to the metal for Yash Raj Films’ “War 2,” the highly anticipated follow-up that’s shaping up to be Bollywood’s most awaited cinematic event of 2025.
Produced by Aditya Chopra, the action extravaganza marks the sixth installment in the blockbuster-laden YRF spy universe. The franchise unites Hrithik Roshan and NTR (the “RRR” actor formerly known as NTR Jr) on screen for the first time with “War 2.”
Mukerji reveals that his primary focus centered on crafting a storyline worthy of pitting two titans of Indian cinema against each other: Hrithik Roshan and NTR. The director admits the creative process required considerable time and attention to detail.
“It is a huge responsibility to take forward a hugely loved franchise like ‘War’ and leave your own mark on it,” Mukerji explains. “I saw directing ‘War 2’ as a relishing opportunity to give a hat-tip to the first film. You can’t have fun otherwise while coming on board such a huge blockbuster franchise.”
The filmmaker emphasizes the delicate balance required when helming such a high-profile project. “One has to take what has been set and then make the fans of the film and the fans of these gigantic superstars of our country go on a journey that is new, that hopefully leaves them hungry for more. As a director, I have to be honest, I immersed myself into delivering this feeling.”
Mukerji’s meticulous approach extended to every aspect of production, with particular emphasis on the film’s action sequences and central conflict. “Everything about ‘War 2’ has been crafted with a lot of planning to elevate the theatrical experience of the audience. The maximum time spent was on the action set pieces and crafting the storyline and the conflict which was needed to mount the face-off between Hrithik Roshan and NTR.”
The director positions “War 2” as a celebration of Indian cinema’s scope and star power, bringing together two of the industry’s biggest names for what promises to be an explosive theatrical experience. “‘War 2’ is truly the coming together of Indian cinema with these two huge actors joining forces,” Mukerji notes. “We were aware of the expectations this pairing would set in the minds of their fans and the audience and every second was spent thinking of how to give them an experience of a lifetime when they sit in the theatres.”
Created by Chopra, the spy universe kicked off with the “Tiger” franchise, starring Salman Khan and Katrina Kaif, beginning with “Ek Tha Tiger” (2012) and “Tiger Zinda Hai” (2017), and continued with “War” (2019), starring Roshan and Tiger Shroff. These were followed by “Pathaan,” starring Shah Rukh Khan, Deepika Padukone and John Abraham, and “Tiger 3,” both in 2023. “Alpha,” starring Alia Bhatt and Sharvari, the first female-led film in the universe is due after “War 2,” followed by “Tiger vs Pathaan,” featuring both Shah Rukh Khan and Salman Khan.
In the “Tiger” franchise, Salman Khan plays Avinash Singh Rathore, AKA Tiger, who belongs to Indian intelligence agency RAW and Kaif plays Zoya Humaini from Pakistan’s ISI. In “War,” Roshan is rogue RAW agent Kabir Dhaliwal and Shroff his protégé Khalid Rahmani. In “Pathaan,” Shah Rukh Khan plays exiled RAW agent Pathaan and Padukone ISI agent Rubina Mohsin.
Tiger has an extended cameo in “Pathaan” and the film also features Colonel Sunil Luthra (Ashutosh Rana), who first appeared in “War” and is in “Tiger 3” as well. The character Pathaan has a cameo in “Tiger 2” as does Kabir Dhaliwal.
“War 2” is scheduled to hit theaters worldwide on August 14, during the Indian Independence Day holiday frame, and will be available in the Hindi, Tamil, and Telugu languages, catering to the pan-Indian appeal of its star cast.
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