Anurag Singh’s *Border 2*, which hit theaters on January 23, has quickly become one of the year’s major blockbusters. Marking Sunny Deol’s return to the action genre, the war drama enjoyed an impressive opening weekend and has since surpassed the ₹400 crore milestone at the box office. However, for producer and writer Nidhi Dutta—who continues her father J.P. Dutta’s cinematic legacy—the film’s success isn’t solely about numbers. ‘I’ve never focused on box office figures,’ she told *Mid-Day* shortly after the film’s release. ‘My father never taught me that approach.’
She reminisces about her father’s decision to create the lengthy *LOC Kargil*, fully aware that its four-hour runtime would limit its theatrical runs. ‘Our focus has always been storytelling, not commercial success.’
### The VFX Discussion
While *Border 2* has received positive feedback post-release, it faced scrutiny regarding its extensive use of VFX even before hitting screens. Addressing this, Dutta argues that comparing it to the 1997 original is unfair. ‘Everyone keeps saying that the original didn’t rely on VFX, but we didn’t have naval elements to consider back then. You can’t realistically blow up a ship in real life. I’m grateful for the advancements in VFX.’
The sequel broadens the narrative to cover naval operations, which Dutta believes would have been impossible to authentically depict without modern technology. ‘I couldn’t have conceptualized including the Navy without today’s capabilities to create that. VFX has been instrumental in bringing this vision to life. How else could I depict what happened in the ocean to my sailors or my captain?’
### Why Varun Dhawan’s Character Goes Without a Helmet
All characters in *Border 2* are based on real-life heroes. Varun Dhawan plays Major Hoshiar Singh Dahiya, who was integral to the 1971 war. A notable detail that caught many viewers’ attention was Dhawan’s frequent absence of a helmet during intense combat scenes.
‘You’ll notice Varun often isn’t wearing a helmet during action sequences. We made this choice intentionally because Hoshiar Singh refused to wear one. His son, who is also a colonel in the army, confirmed this,’ Dutta explains. ‘It’s significant. He stood in front of bullets without a helmet; these details are essential.’
### On Casting Varun Dhawan
Before the film premiered, some expressed doubts about Dhawan’s casting. However, Dutta remains steadfast in her decision. ‘I was blown away by Varun’s performance. It felt like he truly embodied the character.’
On the first day of filming, her father penned a letter to the cast, including Varun, Diljit Dosanjh, and Ahan Shetty. ‘He often said, “You think you’re casting, but it’s not you; it’s the heroes above who choose who will walk in their footsteps.”’
‘In my eyes, they were destined for these roles. When I saw Varun perform, I just knew he was the perfect fit. The same goes for Diljit and Ahan—they truly brought their characters to life.’ Interestingly, Dutta had an instinct that Ahan should portray a naval officer. ‘When I wrote the script, I never pictured him as an army character. I just felt that for the Navy, Ahan was the right choice. Each military branch has its own distinct body language.’