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Jaideep Ahlawat says he’s been asked about Paatal Lok 2 every day for the past four years

Ahlawat described the writing process for the new season as initially confusing due to its intricate subplots. “What intrigued me was that when I first read it, I struggled to comprehend it. I felt that I needed to physically be in Nagaland to truly understand the characters and their context,” he explained.

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1 year ago

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Jaideep Ahlawat’s career can be divided into two distinct phases: before “Paatal Lok” and after. Since the web series premiered on May 15, 2020, Ahlawat has faced daily inquiries about its anticipated second season.

Before “Paatal Lok,” he had already established himself as a reliable actor with notable performances in films like “Gangs of Wasseypur,” “Khatta Meetha,” “Vishwaroopam,” and “Raazi.” However, “Paatal Lok” catapulted him to fame overnight when it debuted on Prime Video during the pandemic. The show garnered widespread acclaim, including recognition from industry stalwarts like Manoj Bajpayee and Aamir Khan, who praised his portrayal of Hathiram Chaudhary, a fatigued Delhi Police officer tasked with a high-stakes investigation in the first season.

Ahlawat remarked, “Everything changed after May 15, 2020. I genuinely haven’t had a single day in the last four years without someone asking me about ‘Paatal Lok 2.’ Whether in person, on social media, or through messages, the inquiries never stopped.” He further explained that when he posts anything online, he receives numerous comments asking, “When is season two of ‘Paatal Lok’ coming?” He humorously noted that while he wasn’t exhausted by the questions, he often had to reply, “It will be out soon.”

In the first season of “Paatal Lok,” directed by Avinash Arun Dhaware and Prosit Roy, Ahlawat’s character was pivotal in investigating the assassination attempt on a popular TV journalist, portrayed by Neeraj Kabi. Reflecting on his career progression, Ahlawat shared that after the show’s success, he received an uplifting call from Bajpayee, who expressed that watching Ahlawat inspired him like attending a rejuvenating workshop.

“I was deeply moved and could only respond with a heartfelt ‘Thank you.’ Such acknowledgement can come only from someone who understands cinema well,” expressed Ahlawat, who had previously worked with Bajpayee in “Gangs of Wasseypur.”

In a separate interaction, Aamir Khan reached out to Ahlawat via video call, eager to learn about his preparation for the role. Ahlawat recalled being surprised by Khan’s interest, saying, “When someone like Aamir sir, renowned for his method acting, seeks your insight, what can you say, except share your experience?”

The success of “Paatal Lok” opened many doors for Ahlawat, leading to roles in the ZEE5 series “The Broken News” and films such as “An Action Hero,” “Three of Us,” “Jaane Jaan,” and “Maharaj,” which marked the acting debut of Khan’s son, Junaid. Ahlawat noted that he hasn’t taken a “single holiday” over the past four years due to a flurry of projects. “Touchwood, it’s encouraging. A wealth of compelling stories has come my way, and I’ve collaborated with numerous talented individuals. Some films have been released, while more are on the cusp this year, especially with ‘Paatal Lok 2’ kicking off this promising start.”

Scheduled to premiere on January 17 on Prime Video, the second season of “Paatal Lok” has Ahlawat returning as Hathiram, who will uncover a new mystery set in Nagaland. As part of his preparation, Ahlawat rewatched the first season to reconnect with his character’s history, particularly his relationship with rookie cop Imran Ansari (Ishwak Singh), who will now assume a more senior role.

Ahlawat described the writing process for the new season as initially confusing due to its intricate subplots. “What intrigued me was that when I first read it, I struggled to comprehend it. I felt that I needed to physically be in Nagaland to truly understand the characters and their context,” he explained.

Another challenge he faced involved gaining approximately 20 kg to authentically portray the middle-aged, weary cop, transitioning from the lean physique he had for his previous film “Maharaj.” He elaborated, “When you gain weight, your body responds in various ways. You stop exercising, your joints begin to ache, and you feel the weight. Sleeping positions change and your breathing can become heavier, yet mentally, you find satisfaction—it’s quite an interesting phase.”

Ahlawat will also soon share screen time with Bajpayee in the third season of the Prime Video series “The Family Man.” He noted the experience of working with Bajpayee as an enriching opportunity. “Collaborating with great actors elevates your performance naturally. We have limited scenes together, but they are intricately written. I hope future seasons build upon this quality. He is undoubtedly one of our finest actors.”

Looking ahead, Ahlawat has several exciting projects lined up, including a neo-noir thriller titled “Jewel Thief” alongside Saif Ali Khan, Sriram Raghavan’s war drama “Ikkis,” “Hisab” reuniting him with his “Three of Us” co-star Shefali Shah, and Aanand L Rai’s production “Hawai Fire.” The actor expressed a desire for better work-life balance, stating, “I got caught up in the midst of shooting for four projects across different locations, which was quite hectic. I hope to avoid that situation in the future.”

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Border 2 box office collection day 12 crosses Rs 286 crore, eyes Rs 300 crore milestone

Border 2 box office collection reaches Rs 286.75 crore after 12 days, putting the Sunny Deol-led film close to the Rs 300 crore milestone.

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13 hours ago

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February 4, 2026

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Sunny Deol in Border 2

Sunny Deol’s Border 2 continues its impressive run at the domestic box office, edging closer to the Rs 300 crore mark by the end of its second week. The war drama, which hit theatres on January 23, has shown consistent collections since its release.

On its second Tuesday, the film earned an estimated Rs 5.75 crore, taking its total earnings to Rs 286.75 crore after 12 days.

Border 2 box office performance so far

The film matched its Monday earnings on February 3, adding Rs 5.75 crore to its tally. With this, Border 2 has managed to hold firm on weekdays, a sign of sustained audience interest.

The film delivered a robust opening week, collecting Rs 224.25 crore, supported by the extended Republic Day holiday period.

Second weekend boosts collections

The second weekend provided another lift to the film’s box office numbers. Friday saw collections of Rs 10.75 crore, followed by Rs 17.75 crore on Saturday. Sunday emerged as the strongest day of the weekend, contributing Rs 22.5 crore to the total.

Monday, which coincided with Republic Day, turned out to be the film’s highest single-day performer so far, with earnings touching Rs 59 crore.

With its current pace, Border 2 has already surpassed the opening weekend figures of Ranveer Singh’s Dhurandhar.

Border 2 review

In a review, film critic Saibal Chatterjee noted that Border 2 succeeds in highlighting the courage of soldiers while also touching upon their emotional vulnerabilities. The film explores themes of separation, loss, fear, and hope, presenting moments of heroism amid personal struggles.

About the film

Directed by Anurag Singh, Border 2 features an ensemble cast including Sunny Deol, Diljit Dosanjh, Varun Dhawan, and Ahan Shetty. Set against the backdrop of the 1971 India-Pakistan war, the film is positioned as a spiritual successor to the 1997 classic Border.

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Why Dhurandhar on Netflix runs shorter than its original theatrical cut

Dhurandhar’s Netflix release sparked confusion over its shorter runtime. The difference is linked to muted dialogue and an updated theatrical cut.

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5 days ago

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January 30, 2026

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Dhurandhar

Dhurandhar has finally made its much-awaited debut on Netflix, just days after the Ranveer Singh-starrer completed a blockbuster theatrical run across India. While the film crossed Rs 1,000 crore domestically and went past Rs 1,300 crore worldwide, its OTT release has triggered confusion and criticism over its shorter runtime.

Several viewers took to social media early Friday, claiming that a “censored” version of Dhurandhar was streaming on Netflix. The runtime displayed on the platform is 3 hours and 25 minutes, nearly nine minutes shorter than the film’s originally reported duration of 3 hours and 34 minutes.

What caused the runtime difference

The confusion stems from changes made after the film’s initial theatrical release. According to the revised censor certificate, Dhurandhar now has an approved runtime of 3 hours 28 minutes and 56 seconds. This updated version replaced the earlier cut in cinemas starting January 1.

The revision followed directions to mute two specific words and one dialogue referring to the Baloch community. These changes were implemented without removing scenes, resulting in a marginally shorter runtime.

What viewers noticed on Netflix

Audiences streaming the film on Netflix observed muted portions during a scene involving Sanjay Dutt’s character, SP Chaudhary Aslam. In the original version, the dialogue included a direct reference to a former Baloch police partner. In the revised cut now available on Netflix, those references are muted, while English subtitles offer a generalised translation without naming the community.

Some viewers also pointed out that the film appears to play slightly faster on the platform, contributing to the perception that content had been trimmed.

Is Netflix streaming a censored cut

Industry insiders have clarified that Netflix is carrying the final theatrical version approved by the authorities. As an OTT distributor, the platform uploads films exactly as provided by the producers. The version streaming online is the same revised cut that has been screening in theatres since January.

Importantly, the film’s intense and graphic depiction of violence remains unchanged in the OTT version.

In short, Dhurandhar on Netflix is not a specially edited or censored cut for streaming. It is the updated theatrical version, adjusted for muted dialogue and presented with a slightly faster frame rate.

Following its OTT release, audiences can now look ahead to the sequel, Dhurandhar: The Revenge, scheduled for release on March 19, 2026.

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Border 2 box office collection day 1 crosses Rs 30 crore

Border 2 opens to Rs 30 crore on day one, becoming the biggest opener for Varun Dhawan, Ahan Shetty and Diljit Dosanjh.

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2 weeks ago

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January 24, 2026

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Sunny Deol in Border 2

Border 2 has made an impressive start at the Indian box office, collecting Rs 30 crore on its opening day. The war drama, headlined by Sunny Deol along with Varun Dhawan, Ahan Shetty and Diljit Dosanjh, opened to largely positive audience and critical response.

According to industry tracking data, the film recorded an overall occupancy of 32.1 per cent on day one. Night shows contributed the highest footfall, indicating strong word-of-mouth towards the end of the day.

Strong show count and urban traction

Border 2 was screened in nearly 6,000 shows across the country on its opening day. Major centres reported heavy traction, with over 1,000 shows in Mumbai and more than 1,500 shows across the Delhi-NCR region. Trade sources noted that urban circuits played a key role in pushing the film past the Rs 30 crore mark.

The opening performance places Border 2 ahead of Dhurandhar, which collected Rs 28 crore on its first day despite having a similar nationwide show count. Dhurandhar later saw consistent growth over its opening weekend, a trend that Border 2 is also expected to follow.

Career-best opening for key cast members

Border 2 has emerged as the biggest opening-day film in the careers of Varun Dhawan, Ahan Shetty and Diljit Dosanjh. For Varun Dhawan, the film marks his first box office success since Bhediya in 2023. Ahan Shetty, who made his debut with Tadap in 2021, has registered his first theatrical hit with the war drama.

For Sunny Deol, however, Border 2 does not surpass the opening records of Gadar 2, which remains his highest-grossing film with a worldwide collection of Rs 686 crore.

Dhurandhar sees slowdown after Border 2 release

Meanwhile, Dhurandhar’s box office run has slowed following the release of Border 2. The film reportedly earned under Rs 1 crore for the first time in nearly 50 days, reflecting the impact of the new release.

Directed by Anurag Singh and produced by JP Dutta and Nidhi Dutta, Border 2 also features Sonam Bajwa and Mona Singh in prominent roles.

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