Akshay Kumar's Kesari 2 overtakes Sunny Deol's Jaat to become the 5th biggest hit of the year

Akshay Kumar has once again proven his box office mettle with Kesari 2. The latest installment in the Kesari franchise , the first part had been released in 2019 and had gone on to become one of the biggest hits of the year. The film has now officially overtaken Sunny Deol’s Jaat to claim the fifth spot. As per the latest trade figures, Kesari 2 has amassed a total collection of Rs 89.85 crore, surpassing Jaat’s lifetime earnings of Rs 88.53 crore.

Directed by Karan SIngh Tygai , Kesari 2 also stars R. Madhavan and Ananya Panday in pivotal roles, offering a fresh mix of intense action, patriotism, and emotional drama. The film is based on Raghu Palat and Pushpa Palat’s book The Case that Shook the Empire - it brought to light the fight by Sir C Sankaran Nair who went on the expose the Jallainwala Bagh Massacre in front of the whole world when he took on the British Empire. Akshay Kumar’s return to drama truck a chord once again with audiences, while R. Madhavan’s fierce portrayal and Ananya Panday’s surprisingly impactful performance added to the film’s appeal.

On the other hand, Sunny Deol’s Jaat, which featured Randeep Hooda and Viineet Kumar Singh alongside him, had emerged as one of the early surprise hits of the year. The rustic action-drama, set against a rural backdrop, resonated well with audiences in North India, especially Punjab, Haryana, and UP belts. It was Sunny Deol's first release since the super success of Gadar 2 which broke the Rs 500 crore club for the first time in Hindi Cinema.

With this milestone, Kesari 2 becomes Akshay Kumar’s second highest-grossing film of the year after Sky Force and strengthens his position amidst a competitive lineup of releases. The film’s robust performance is also significant given the mixed fate of several big-budget projects this year. For now, the actor and his team can celebrate another solid addition to his blockbuster track record.