Telugu Box Office Showdown: War 2 vs Coolie — Who Will Reign Supreme?

The Telugu film trade is witnessing an intense pre-release clash — not between two local giants, but between two pan-Indian biggies: Rajinikanth’s Coolie and the Hrithik Roshan Jr. NTR starrer War 2. Both films, despite being non-Telugu originals, have created massive buzz and fetched record-breaking deals for their theatrical rights in the Telugu states.

While Coolie has been acquired for a solid ₹53 crore, War 2 has reportedly been snapped up for a whopping ₹90 crore — a figure that makes it one of the highest pre-release deals ever for a dubbed film in the region. The buyers for Coolie, are a group of top distributors of Asian Multiplexes Pvt. Ltd (a distribution house involving Suniel Narang and D Suresh Babu, and Dil Raju) who battled it out, drawn by the unbeatable Rajini–Lokesh Kanagaraj combo and the ever-reliable Anirudh musical backing. For War 2, it’s none other than leading producer Naga Vamsi of Sithara Entertainments, betting big on Jr. NTR’s star power and the national reach of YRF’s spy universe.



To break even, Coolie must replicate the kind of numbers Jailer delivered in its full run in the Telugu states — around ₹100 crore. However, with Rajinikanth’s unmatched mass appeal, Lokesh Kanagaraj’s box office consistency, and Anirudh’s music already trending, many believe this is an achievable target. Meanwhile, War 2 carries an even bigger burden. With a ₹90 crore rights tag, it will need to outperform even some of the biggest straight Telugu releases. However, the star combination of Jr. NTR and Hrithik Roshan, coupled with the brand power of YRF’s spy franchise, makes this film a sureshot theatrical event.

What makes this comparison fascinating is not just the numbers — it’s the combination of factors: Coolie is driven by South Indian mass cinema rooted in style, punch, and fandom, while War 2 banks on a slick, high-stakes narrative with national appeal and star charisma from two industries.

Trade circles are buzzing with debates. Will the raw, rooted charisma of Rajini in Coolie sweep Telugu audiences off their feet once again? Or will the mega-scale action extravaganza War 2 ride Jr. NTR’s Tollywood dominance to break records?

One thing is certain: the Telugu box office is about to witness a pan-India face-off like never before. Fans, distributors, and trade watchers alike are counting down to what could be one of the most exciting showdowns of 2025.