It’s a blockbuster bailout, Bollywood style. After the high-octane spy thriller War 2, starring Hrithik Roshan and Jr NTR, spectacularly underperformed in the Telugu territories, Yash Raj Films is reportedly stepping in to cover a chunk of the losses. And the film’s nemesis? None other than Rajinikanth’s Coolie, which swooped in to steal the box office crown.
According to leading reports, Telugu producer-distributor Naga Vamsi and his partners, who acquired the regional rights for roughly ₹80 crore, were left counting massive losses when War 2 failed to ignite the market. In response, YRF has put forward a compensation package amounting to ₹22 crore, handed out in structured payouts: ₹10 crore for Nizam, ₹7 crore for Andhra Pradesh, and ₹5 crore for the Ceded regions.
This news lands as a major relief for Naga Vamsi, who had anticipated a ₹100 crore haul from Telugu states alone. Instead, the Telugu version mustered just around ₹50- 60 crore in six days, a far cry from expectations.
Meanwhile, War 2’s Hindi version fared relatively better, crossing ₹150 crore domestically, while earning a worldwide total of just under ₹300 crore. Even so, the numbers were underwhelming compared to its gargantuan ₹300- 400 crore budget.
One key factor in this financial headache was Coolie. Rajinikanth’s action-packed entertainer, released on the same Independence Day weekend, refused to give ground. It not only outshone War 2 in critical South Indian markets but also held stronger momentum, thwarting YRF’s ambitions for pan-India dominance.
Adding to the pain, War 2 was beset by harsh online backlash, mixed critical reviews, and unfortunate piracy leaks right after release. All of this combined to accelerate its box office slide.
Despite the financial turbulence and public scrutiny, Naga Vamsi has assured fans he is far from exiting the industry. He dismissed rumors of quitting, revealing via social media that he is soldiering on and teasing his next project, Mass Jathara, starring Ravi Teja.
In short, while War 2’s scope and star-studded cast showed promise, box office reality hit hard. With Coolie taking the spotlight and YRF making a dramatic payout, this episode is a stark reminder that in Bollywood, even the biggest stars and budgets cannot escape the cruel verdict of the audience.
