Over the years, films released around January 26 have not only stirred national pride but also delivered massive earnings. From war dramas to historical epics and larger-than-life entertainers, these movies turned the Republic Day weekend into a celebration for cinema halls across the country.
Border 2
Border 2, released in theatres on January 23, 2026, opened to strong audience response and impressive numbers. The film, directed by Anurag Singh, stars Sunny Deol returning as Fateh Singh alongside Varun Dhawan and Diljit Dosanjh. Set during the 1971 Battle of Basantar, the war drama collected over Rs 180 crore worldwide in its opening weekend, making it the biggest Republic Day release of 2026 so far.
Pathaan
Shah Rukh Khan’s Pathaan, which hit screens on January 25, 2023, turned the Republic Day weekend into a historic box office moment. The spy thriller follows a RAW agent racing against time to save India from a deadly threat. The film went on to earn more than Rs 1,050 crore worldwide, becoming one of the highest-grossing Hindi films ever and redefining how patriotic action films perform commercially.
Uri: The Surgical Strike
Released earlier in January 2019, Uri: The Surgical Strike dominated the Republic Day period through strong word of mouth. Starring Vicky Kaushal as Major Vihaan Singh Shergill, the film focused on the 2016 surgical strikes and struck a chord with audiences. By the end of its run, Uri had earned around Rs 342 crore globally, turning it into a surprise blockbuster of the year.
Padmaavat
Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s Padmaavat arrived in theatres on January 25, 2018, amid heavy controversy but still drew massive crowds. The historical drama starring Deepika Padukone and Shahid Kapoor highlighted themes of honour, courage, and sacrifice. Despite the challenges, the film crossed Rs 585 crore worldwide, proving that Republic Day releases backed by strong cultural themes can achieve huge success.
Raees
Raees, released on January 25, 2017, showed that Republic Day is not limited to war films alone. Shah Rukh Khan’s portrayal of a bootlegger rising to power in Gujarat connected with mass audiences. The crime drama went on to collect over Rs 300 crore worldwide, reinforcing the January 26 weekend as one of Bollywood’s most profitable slots.