In anticipation of the release of "Border 2" on January 23, 2026, Sunny Deol paid a visit to INS Vikrant, India's first indigenously built aircraft carrier, to express his patriotism and pay tribute to the Indian Navy. The visit, which occurred on Wednesday, January 14, 2026, saw the actor interacting with naval officers and personnel, sharing heartfelt moments with them.
Deol shared a selfie on his Instagram account featuring himself alongside Navy officers, with the sea as a backdrop. He was dressed in a green shirt, dark green trousers, and a black turban. The caption accompanying the photo read, "Hindustan Meri Jaan... Meri Aan...Meri Shaan... Hindustan . Pride. Honour. Bravery! #INSVikrant #IndianNavy". The post quickly gained traction, with fans praising Deol for his patriotism.
INS Vikrant, commissioned in 2022, is a 45,000-tonne carrier and a symbol of India's growing naval capabilities and self-reliance. The vessel significantly enhances India's maritime security in the Indian Ocean Region. The "Border 2" team, including Deol, also visited the Karwar Naval Base.
Deol's association with war dramas goes back to the 1997 film "Border," which became a classic. At the song launch of "Ghar Kab Aaoge" from "Border 2," Deol said that his decision to act in "Border" was inspired by his father, Dharmendra, and his film "Haqeeqat". He stated that he decided he would also do a film like his father.
"Border 2" is set against the backdrop of the 1971 India-Pakistan war and expands upon its predecessor by showcasing the combined operations of the Indian Armed Forces. The film features Deol, along with Varun Dhawan, Diljit Dosanjh, and Ahan Shetty. Varun Dhawan is portraying PVC Hoshiar Singh and met with the late soldier's family to receive their blessings. Mona Singh, Sonam Bajwa, Anya Singh, and Medha Rana also appear in pivotal roles. Anurag Singh directs the film, which is produced by Bhushan Kumar, Krishan Kumar, J. P. Dutta, and Nidhi Dutta.
The film was shot at real defense installations, including INS Vikrant, and in Punjab, Uttarakhand and Rajasthan. The trailer was released on Indian Army Day and was praised for its scale.
"Border 2" is scheduled to be released in theaters on January 23, 2026, coinciding with Republic Day weekend. The film's tagline, "Hindustan ke liye ladenge... phir ek baar!" is meant to evoke patriotic sentiment.
Advance bookings for "Border 2" have commenced, and the film is expected to have a strong opening. As of Thursday morning, the film was selling close to 4,000 tickets per hour on BookMyShow. However, the film has reportedly been banned in Gulf countries for "anti-Pakistan" content. It will still clash with Ranveer Singh's "Dhurandhar" at the box office.
