Border 2 Banned in Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and UAE Due to Political Content

The much-hyped Bollywood action-war drama, Border 2, has suffered a significant setback in terms of distribution in the days before the international theatrical release. Governments of Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE officially break the film on the grounds of political content and the delicacy of geopolitical accounts. The movie, which featured Sunny Deol, Varun Dhawan and Diljit Dosanjh, is a sequel to the cult movie of 1997 and was projected to take the lead at the box office in the Middle East. Nevertheless, censors of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) have refused to give certification, following the previous example of the films such as Fighter and Dhurandhar. The move has triggered a new controversy about censorship and freedom of creativity and diplomatic sensibilities that are rapidly having an effect on the access of Indian cinema into the Gulf region. Discover more stories like this on our Entertainment page.

Reasons Behind the Border 2 Gulf Ban

The strict Border 2 Gulf ban stems primarily from the movie’s intense depiction of the 1971 Indo-Pak war. The sensors in the territory have been more alert in regards to the films that have been seen to spread particular political interests or those that showcase anti-Pakistan sentiments. It has been reported that although the production team was ready to voluntarily cut the story, the GCC board did not agree that the core story could fit their content requirements. This scrutiny on Border 2 political content highlights the growing challenge for Bollywood filmmakers who wish to create patriotic war dramas while simultaneously targeting the diverse expatriate audience base present in the Gulf nations.

Financial Impact on Sunny Deol Border 2

The Gulf market is not included, which is a challenge in terms of finances. The area is a hotbed of Indian cinema, which has frequently contributed to foreign lifetime earnings in large amounts. With the Sunny Deol Border 2 release blocked in these six nations, trade analysts estimate a revenue loss of approximately ₹15-20 crore in the opening weekend alone. However, the movie is recording remarkable pre-release ticket sales in India, due to nostalgia and patriotisms’. It is still the hope of the producers that the domestic blockbuster status will counter the revenue hit that the ban will cause and the movie will still be a commercial success despite the international challenges.