The Independence day holiday has usually seen some really big clashes at the box office and this is not new. Big movies have clashed at the box office on Diwali, Independence Day, Christmas for many years now. One remembers how ‘Gadar 2’ has clashed with ‘OMG 2’ in the recent years. And now, we are going to witness one of the biggest clashes ever. Rajikinath’s ‘Coolie’ directed by Lokesh Kanagraj, is set to clash to Hrithik Roshan, Jr NTR starrer ‘War 2’. Both the movies look promising. Exhibitors across India are betting big on this dual release, hopeful that it will push ticket sales to new heights, much like how the musical romance ‘Saiyaara’ recently ended the industry’s prolonged lull. Audiences, meanwhile, are bracing for a celebratory movie weekend. From its ticket prices, to advance booking sales, here’s all the update around ‘War 2’, which also stars Kiara Advani. Serving as a follow-up to Siddharth Anand’s 2019 hit War, the latest installment marks the sixth entry in YRF’s ambitious Spy Universe. Coming on the heels of Salman Khan’s Tiger 3 (2023) — which failed to meet expectations and finished as an average grosser — War 2 is carrying the weight of reviving the franchise’s momentum. Still, its fortunes will hinge heavily on the early crowd’s verdict, especially since Coolie hits theatres the same day.Marking Mukerji’s debut outing in the YRF Spy Universe, War 2 is slated for release on Thursday, August 14, perfectly timed with the extended Independence Day weekend. Alongside Hrithik Roshan and Jr NTR, the film also features Kiara Advani and Ashutosh Rana, with music composed by Pritam, cinematography by Benjamin Jasper ACS, and editing by Aarif Sheikh.Ranked among the most expensive Indian films ever made, War 2 is reportedly mounted on a staggering Rs 400 crore budget, per Bollywood Hungama. The portal also reports that Jr NTR has commanded a jaw-dropping Rs 70 crore fee, while Hrithik Roshan is said to have charged Rs 50 crore plus a share in profits.In anticipation of the big weekend, theatres have hiked ticket prices steeply, with some venues charging over Rs 2,000. In Mumbai, most multiplexes have pegged prices at Rs 300 and above, premium seats in several locations are tagged between Rs 700–800, and upscale venues are touching the Rs 1,000-plus mark. At Maison INOX in Jio World Plaza, BKC, the priciest War 2 ticket — for prime recliner seats — is listed at Rs 2,620, with normal recliners at Rs 2,520. Despite the steep rates, these shows are nearly sold out.Currently, War 2 is trailing in advance sales compared to its rival, but the numbers remain decent. As per Sacnilk, the film has so far collected Rs 4.71 crore from advance bookings in India (Rs 9.1 crore including block seats), translating to 1,44,081 tickets sold across 8,716 shows. Coolie, in contrast, has already crossed Rs 20 crore in pre-sales. For perspective, Tiger 3 had clocked Rs 22.97 crore in advance bookings, while Pathaan (2023) posted Rs 32.01 crore before release — with the Shah Rukh Khan-starrer opening at Rs 57 crore nett on day one and Tiger 3 starting at Rs 44.5 crore. Whether War 2 can challenge or surpass these records, especially with Coolie breathing down its neck, is the question everyone’s asking.