Dharma Productions’ ‘Kesari Chapter 2’ is poised to invigorate the exhibition sector further after the robust theatrical run of Sunny Deol’s ‘Jaat’ last week. The Akshay Kumar, R Madhavan and Ananya Panday courtroom drama, which releases this Friday, is projected to open in the range of 9-11 crore at the domestic box office, as per industry estimates.

The advance bookings have opened and are steadily gaining traction, signaling a promising start for this A-certificate film with a runtime of 2 hours and 15 minutes. While the adult certification may slightly temper its overall business potential, the film has definitely generated substantial buzz among its target audience, thanks to its compelling teaser, a well-received trailer, and an aggressive marketing campaign by Dharma Productions.

The weekend and lifetime business of ‘Kesari Chapter 2’ hinges on audience reception, as it's a content-driven film that relies heavily on word-of-mouth. However, the early reviews from special screenings have been overwhelmingly positive, with critics and industry people praising the film’s hard-hitting dialogues, gripping courtroom sequences, and its unflinching portrayal of one of India’s most tragic historical events — the Jallianwala Bagh massacre of 1919. Akshay Kumar and R. Madhavan, who play opposing lawyers in the film, have garnered widespread acclaim for their nuanced and powerful performances and riveting courtroom confrontations.

‘Kesari Chapter 2’ is expected to mark a career-redefining turn for Akshay Kumar, coming at a time when the actor has faced a challenging phase at the box office. With this Karan Singh Tyagi directorial supposedly marking his second biggest opening in recent years following ‘Sky Force’, Akshay is definitely turning the tides with his latest crop of films this year. His next film, ‘Housefull 5’, which releases in cinemas on June 6, also seems to be a sure shot box office blockbuster.