Border 2 first review gives 'thunderous' film 4.5 stars, hails 'vintage' Sunny Deol: 'Varun Dhawan springs a surprise'

Border 2 first review praises the film, calling it outstanding and a must-watch experience in theatres. There is special praise for the actors.

Updated on: Jan 23, 2026, 06:50:32 IST

By Abhimanyu Mathur

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Sunny Deol-led war drama Border 2 is releasing in theatres today (January 23), and on the eve of the release, the film’s first review was revealed. Trade expert and critic Taran Adarsh took to social media a little after midnight on Friday to share his detailed review of the Anurag Singh film, praising it for its balance of spectacle and sentiment, while calling Sunny ‘the beating heart of the film’.

Border 2 first review

Taran shared a detailed Border 2 review on Twitter (now called X), giving it 4.5 stars, and adding, “Border 2 makes your heart swell with pride... The film salutes the nation as well as the armed forces... STRONGLY RECOMMENDED.” The review praised director Anurag Singh for delivering a “thunderous, emotionally charged war epic that stands tall on scale, sincerity, and soul, while honouring the legacy of the cult classic Border.” Taran added that the film is spectacular, but the director balances spectacle with sentiment, ‘while staying true to the spirit of the 1971 war.’ Calling the war sequences ‘breathtaking’, Taran added that action does not seem hollow, and serves both the story and characters’ emotions.

He reserved special praise for the dialogues and music. Calling the dialogues a high point, he wrote, “Dialogues are a major high point – sharp, hard-hitting, and patriotic without being jingoistic... Written for big-screen impact, several punchlines are destined to become crowd favourites, triggering applause and whistles across single screens and multiplexes alike. The music is exceptional, with the recreated versions of two iconic tracks from the first part – #GharKabAaoge and #JaateHueLamhon – striking a deep emotional chord in Border 2.”

Praise for Sunny Deol, Varun Dhawan, and Diljit Dosanjh

The review also praised the performances, particularly that of Sunny Deol. “Sunny Deol is the film's beating heart... When he roars, the theatre is sure to erupt, especially when he delivers the power-packed lines... This is vintage Sunny Deol – commanding, righteous, and unforgettable,” Taran wrote, adding, “Varun Dhawan springs a big surprise... He brings intensity, vulnerability, and fire to his role, proving once again that he thrives when backed by strong writing and a well-etched character.”

Calling Diljit Dosanjh ‘a sheer delight to watch in every sequence’ and praising Ahan Shetty for ‘holding his own alongside seasoned performers’, the review praised the other leads too.

About Border 2

A sequel to JP Dutta’s iconic 1997 blockbuster Border, the 2026 film is a war drama directed by Anurag Singh. Border 2 stars Sunny Deol, alongside Varun Dhawan, Diljit Dosanjh, and Ahan Shetty in lead roles. Produced by Bhushan Kumar, Krishan Kumar, J.P. Dutta, and Nidhi Dutta, the film released in theatres on January 23, ahead of the Republic Day.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Abhimanyu Mathur
Abhimanyu Mathur is Deputy Editor, Entertainment at Hindustan Times. With almost 15 years of experience in writing about everything from films and TV shows to cricket matches and elections, he inhales and exhales pop culture and news. Currently, he watches movies and TV shows and talks to celebrities for a living, while occasionally writing about them as well. A journalism graduate of Delhi College of Arts and Commerce, Delhi University, Abhimanyu began his career with Hindustan Times at the age of 20, swapping classrooms for newsrooms at an early age. He began his journey in the early days of digital journalism, later switching to the madness of print journalism. Work has led him to far off places like Japan and Jordan, as well as to the interiors of Haryana and the Indo-Pak border. He dabbled in city reporting in places like Meerut, Gurgaon, and Delhi, covered the Olympics and Cricket World Cups, before finding his calling in entertainment and lifestyle during the pandemic. A Rotten Tomatoes Certified Film Critic, he is equally at home covering stories on ground as he is interviewing celebrities and studios, and sometimes prefers to shepherd teams in delivering traffic through the day. Even as his role has evolved from reporter to supervisor over the years, his first love remains writing (and of late, talking on camera). With a good understanding of cinema and its trends, and a keen eye for detail, he continues to spark conversations around showbiz for readers around the world.Read More

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