‘Border 2’ Review: An Epic Tale of Courage, Patriotism & Sacrifice

Border 2 is an epic film of scale that tells a rousing story of patriotism and courage.

An extension of JP Dutta’s Border (1997), the film sees Sunny Deol return as the main protagonist, renamed as Fateh Singh Kaler, an Indian Army Officer from 6 Sikh.

The film is directed by Anurag Singh and also stars Varun Dhawan (Hoshiar Singh Dahiya), Diljit Dosanjh (Nirmal Jit Singh Sekhon), and Ahan Shetty (M.S. Rawat).

Mona Singh (Simi Kaler), Sonam Bajwa (Manjit Sekhon), Medha Rana (Dhanvanti Devi Dahiya), and Anya Singh (Sudha), also appear in the film in key roles.

The grand movie was released on January 23, 2026, fittingly coinciding with the Republic Day Weekend.

However, Border 2 is not just hours of flying bullets, exploding planes, sinking ships, and fallen soldiers.

It is an inspiring tale of sacrifice for one’s motherland, even at the cost of leaving one’s home and loved ones behind.

But is this enough for you to invest over three hours of your time?

DESIblitz is here to help you decide if you should watch Border 2 or not.

An Invigorating Story

Like its predecessor, Border 2 is set against the backdrop of the Indo–Pakistan war of 1971.

Fateh Singh Kaler enjoys a happy marriage with his wife, Simi, and loves his son, Angad (Guneet Sandhu).

In 1961, Fateh led a batch of budding soldiers in an academy which combined hopefuls for the Indian Army, the Indian Navy, and the Indian Air Force.

Hoshiar, M.S. Rawat, and Nirmal respectively train for these three forces.

What starts as a rivalry among the three soon becomes a deep brotherhood.

As the personal lives of the four soldiers flourish, all hell breaks loose years later when the Indo-Pakistan war begins.

The story of Border 2 is adorned with lovely scenes between the couples, which strengthen the realism of army life when the men must leave their partners behind for the battlefield.

Promises are made, hearts are broken, and families are divided, but this makes for an inspiring tale with sacrifice and duty to the country at the film’s heart.

Admittedly, the climax of the film feels overlong, and the audience could perhaps be forgiven for longing to go home after a point.

But while the audience can return home after watching Border 2, in war, soldiers from both sides don’t have that option.

The dragging of the climax is overlooked in the final scenes, which underscore not only the legacy of the franchise but also a fitting salute to the armed forces of India, who gave their lives for the nation.

If you don’t leave a screening of Border 2 feeling invigorated, buy another ticket and watch it again!

Performances

With the release of Gadar 2 (2023), Sunny Deol enjoyed a new lease of superstardom.

Judging by his crowd-pulling ability, as well as the cult status of the original Border, many predicted that Border 2 would be a Sunny Deol show.

However, while the film depends significantly on Sunny’s shoulders, the star doesn’t overshadow his younger co-actors.

Therein lies this film’s victory. For Border 2 to meet its required goal of touching the audience, all four soldiers in this war had to be convincing.

Varun, Diljit, and Ahan all invest every pore of their being into their respective roles.

Unlike his colleagues, Varun’s Hoshiar has suffered heartbreak before entering the armed forces. Varun encapsulates these emotions with skill and compassion.

Meanwhile, Nirmal and M.S. Rawat portray angst, humour, and courage, all in the right places, giving the three soldiers equal moments of glory.

As the courageous wives and mothers, the leading ladies are terrific, too.

Their performances aptly describe that the unsung heroes of war sometimes lie behind the doors of a home, holding families together and anchoring their partners who are putting their lives on the line.

Sunny, with his motivating voice and unparalleled action skills onscreen, is the captain of this brave boat, delivering his dialogues with unmatched fervour, guiding his platoons through terrifying danger.

That being said, one cannot ignore the liberties some of the war scenes take, based on the actor’s Herculean image. 

Be aware – in this film, you are expected to believe that a legitimate grenade explodes right next to Sunny, and of course, the actor emerges from the smoke unscathed.

However, despite these liberties, there is no doubt about it: More than the heroic characters, the winners of Border 2 are the actors who bring those heroes to life.

Music

An undeniable contributor to the exhilaration of this film is its winning soundtrack.

The number, ‘Sandese Aate Hai’, was an anthem that propelled the original Border to victory, rendered magnificently by Roop Kumar Rathod and Sonu Nigam.

The song is recreated in Border 2. Sonu and Roop return to sing, aided by the talented voices of Arijit Singh, Vishal Mishra, and Diljit Dosanjh.

‘Sandese Aate Hai’ underlines the heartbreak of men at war being away from home, and it also emboldens their determination to one day return.

While recreations of classic numbers are often doubtful, any film from the Border franchise would be incomplete without this number, which is picturised and performed beautifully in Border 2.

Other numbers, such as ‘Ishq Da Chehra‘ and ‘Mitti Ke Bete’, are also astounding.

The latter, in particular, pays tribute to the fallen soldiers of war. It is a song that makes the heart swell and the eyes numb.

Decorated by amazing voices, with multifaceted composers, the music of Border 2 adorns the film in resplendent and unexpected ways.

Direction & Execution

When the teaser of the film was released, questions were raised regarding the movie’s seemingly underwhelming visual effects.

The film’s visuals are a bit clunky in places, especially in the final battle sequences.

Some aerial shots of Nirmal and the Pakistani soldiers fighting could also be a little slicker.

However, for the most part, Border 2 is a grand spectacle, filled with colour and heartwarming messages.

And so, the weaker visuals do not necessarily distract from the film.

For any director, new or experienced, a project like Border 2 would be a daunting and challenging task, especially when one considers the expectations riding on such a picture.

However, Anurag Singh does not disappoint. He is clearly living for this film behind the camera.

The cinematography, background score, and sound design are echoing triumphs, capitalising on the epic scale of the film.

The screenplay of the film, as previously mentioned, could perhaps be shorter. However, it can also be argued that the film needs to show all the challenges and sacrifices of soldiers in battle.

The entire message of India prevailing over Pakistan has also been bandied a lot of times in Bollywood. A more balanced focus on both nations would be an improvement.

However, at its heart, Border 2 is a compelling saga.

Although this sequel has come about nearly three decades after its predecessor, the message of sacrifice and bravery will never get old.

The film is an unforgettable salute to the soil of India.

In a time where several unfortunate conflicts are raging in the world, such stories are essential reminders of what our heroes are enduring to keep us safe.