After Dhurandhar, Border 2 Banned in Gulf Countries But Will It Really Impact Bollywood Big Releases?
After Ranveer Singh’s Dhurandhar failed to release in Gulf countries, Sunny Deol–starrer Border 2 has reportedly met the same fate, sparking concerns about whether such bans could hurt Bollywood’s biggest releases. According to industry buzz, Border 2 will not get a theatrical release across key Gulf markets such as the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Kuwait, Bahrain and Oman due to content sensitivities linked to geopolitical and nationalistic themes.
Earlier, Dhurandhar also faced a similar ban in these territories, reportedly resulting in a significant loss in overseas earnings. The recurring pattern suggests that films with strong India–Pakistan or politically charged narratives are increasingly facing resistance in Gulf countries, which traditionally form a crucial overseas market for Bollywood, especially for action and patriotic films.
However, trade experts believe the overall impact on Bollywood’s big releases may remain limited. Despite missing out on Gulf markets, Dhurandhar went on to perform exceptionally well at the Indian box office and in other international territories, proving that domestic collections continue to be the biggest revenue driver for major Hindi films. A similar trend is expected for Border 2, which is banking heavily on mass appeal, star power and strong opening numbers in India.
While the absence of Gulf releases does mean a loss of potential overseas revenue running into several crores, Bollywood films today are increasingly compensating through strong performances in India, North America, the UK, Australia and digital rights. That said, repeated bans could influence future filmmaking choices, especially for producers aiming for a smooth global release.
Bottom line: Gulf bans are financially disappointing and strategically concerning, but they are unlikely to derail the success of big-budget Bollywood films as long as domestic audiences continue to show up in large numbers.
